Italian Train Travel

I would like to add to Eric's review that, unless you really have no interest in getting anywhere in a timely fashion, definitely avoid the "Regionale" rail lines. These are like the IC trains in that they stop frequently, except that Regionale stop EVEN MORE frequently. They never really seem to get going. They stop at literally every town on the line. I took a Regionale from Florence to Chuisi and it took several hours longer than it should have. So unless you're going to one of the small towns that the other rail lines do not stop in, do yourself a favor by avoiding the Regionale lines.

There are a few things to know when riding the train in Italy. One of the most important things is to avoid "IC" or "inter-city" trains if you are in a hurry. IC train tickets are generally cheaper, but they are also considerably slower. I took an IC train from Rome to Perugia and it seemed like we stopped every 200 feet, at any slight sign of habitation. To make matters worse, the train was uncomfortably cramped and hot, and there was a crazy teenager with headphones on dancing uncomfortably close to me for the entire ride. ES, or Eurostar trains are best for traveling between big cities. They are fast, reliable, and definitely more comfortable than the IC trains.

Another thing to remember is to always validate your ticket! At most train stations there are small yellow boxes where you can just slide your ticket in. The yellow box machine will stamp your ticket with a time, and then you can go board your train. Don't forget to validate your ticket!

For more information on riding the train in Italy, check out this excellent resource by Martha Bakerjian.