If you’re planning to ride the train on your trip to Italy, make sure you read this guide because it’s not easy, at all. Some tickets have to be validated, some not. For some tickets, you have to check in for your trip. And there are several types of trains to choose from. I’m explaining everything below.
You can watch our video here, or read the information below!
What is the difference between Trenitalia and Italotreno?
There are two companies operating passenger trains in Italy: Trenitalia and Italotreno. The difference between them?
Trenitalia is the national company, owned by the state. It covers the entire country, reaching even the smaller cities in Italy.
Italotreno is a private passenger train service, that mostly just connects the big cities in Italy.
They are completely different companies, with different trains, different ticket machines, offices, staff, and prices. The Trenitalia tickets can’t be used on Italo trains, just as Italo tickets can’t be used on Trenitalia trains.
Is Trenitalia better? Is Italotreno cheaper? Sometimes Trenitalia has cheaper tickets, other times Italo does. Always check both.
What types of trains are there in Italy?
Trenitalia has two types of trains:
The high-speed trains, called “The freccias”
- Freccia Rossa (red arrow) – maximum speed of 300km/hour (186 mph)
- Freccia Argento (silver arrow) – maximum speed of 250 Km/hour (155 mph)
- Freccia Bianca (white arrow) – slower than Freccia Argento. It doesn’t use Italy’s high-speed rail lines, and the maximum speed is not mentioned.
And the slower trains:
- InterCity – slower than the freccias, they connect more destinations and have cheaper tickets.
- Regional trains – the slowest trains, they reach even the smallest towns in Italy, and they are the cheapest and best option for short rides.
When you book a train ride in Italy, you will have to look at the duration of the trip, the price, and the time it leaves. Also, make sure it is going to the right train station, as some cities have more than one.
The freccias are faster and more comfortable, but also more expensive than the regional trains. The freccias even have multiple classes, each offering different levels of comfort. You should book a seat on the freccia if you’re traveling longer distances.
The regional trains in Italy are comfortable, too, but not as fancy as the freccias. They are slower, but also a lot cheaper. For shorter rides (30 minutes, for example), regional trains are definitely the better option.
I’ll give you an example:
In the image below, you can see two trains traveling on the same route at a similar time. If you look at the trains’ numbers, you will notice that one is a regional train, and the other one is a Frecciarossa. As you can notice, the duration of the trip is 15 minutes longer with the first train. But the price is also very different! For 15 minutes, it is not worth paying the extra 12,70 Euros, is it? However, for longer trips, it might be worth it to pay the extra cost if it means arriving at your destination in 3 hours instead of 7. So, choose wisely.
As I’ve mentioned before, because they also have slower trains, Trenitalia also reaches smaller towns in Italy, where Italo trains don’t normally stop, as they only have high-speed trains. Their trains are similar to the Trenitalia ones in terms of comfort and speed, so when you’re looking for tickets, it’s definitely worth comparing the offers on both sites, because the prices are different, and they often have better deals.
Where to buy train tickets in Italy?
After choosing a train, it’s time to buy your ticket. You can do that on the Trenitalia or Italo websites:
Trenitalia official website: www.trenitalia.com
Italotreno official website: www.italotreno.it
There are other partner websites, but there’s no better place than the official sites. You can set the language to English, and everything should go smoothly.
You can buy train tickets:
- On the official websites
- On the official apps
- At the train stations, where you will find both offices and ticket machines.
In this video, you will learn how to buy your Trenitalia tickets on the app and at the machines in the train station, make sure you check it out:
Should you buy Italy Train Tickets in advance?
For longer rides on the freccias, yes, do buy your tickets in advance. Just note that you won’t be able to purchase tickets for rides that are too many months ahead, as they might not be displayed on the website just yet. So, 2 or 3 months before your trip should be the right time to buy your tickets.
For short rides, on the regional trains, I wouldn’t worry. There are usually several trains per day traveling on the shorter routes, and you can just get your tickets when you arrive at the station.
How to check in/validate your train ticket in Italy
The tickets for the regional trains in Italy must be validated before you get on the train. If you buy them online, you will receive an email with a confirmation, where they will tell you to check in before your ride. There’s a red button in that email, click on it and follow all the steps.
If you buy them at the train station, you will receive your tickets on paper, and you will have to validate them. Everywhere around the train station, you will find many smaller machines, they are there for this exact purpose. To validate your ticket, insert it in the slot, align it at the left, and wait for the green light that confirms validation. If you don’t do this and the control staff checks your ticket on board, they will fine you.
How to find your train in Italy
After validating your ticket, head to the platform and wait for your train. Everywhere around the train station, you will see screens displaying the departures and arrivals, mentioning the train number (you will see this on your ticket), the time it leaves, cancellations and delays, and the platform – BIN, which is short for “binari”. Follow the directions to your platform, and wait for your train.
On the regional trains, you don’t have a designated seat, which means you can stay wherever you want. On the freccias, you will have to find the seat you’ve reserved.
Inside the train, there are screens showing the following stations, so you will know when it’s time to get off.
What happens if you get on a train without a ticket in Italy?
I did witness people get fined for traveling without a ticket, and I definitely don’t recommend it. However, the following situation happened to me:
A train arrived at the station with a delay, and while you could get on it, you could no longer buy tickets for it, as sales are blocked 5 minutes before the scheduled departure.
So, we did get on the train, and asked the control staff to buy a ticket from them, which was possible, but it had an extra 5 euros charge.
What happens if you miss your train in Italy?
After the train leaves, you can’t request a refund, but for some types of tickets, it is possible to ask for a ticket change and board another, similar train.
Can I change the date and time on my ticket?
Yes, if the ticket type allows it. You can find this information on the company’s website.
Can you get a refund for your trip if you cancel your plans?
Once again, it depends on the type of ticket you’ve bought. Some are refundable, some are not, and for some, there are special conditions. Before you buy your ticket, you can check this information on the website.
