ITALY | Travel | Transport

Transportation in Italy

Bus: Italy does not have a national bus service. The bus service and prices vary from town to town. The bus is the most common form of travel in towns. The basic procedure for using the bus/tram in Italy is to buy your ticket in advance and validate it when you enter the bus by inserting it in the machine you find near the exit or entrance door of the bus.

Train: The Italian rail system provides an inexpensive way to travel around Italy. Rail travel enables one to leisurely view the country's scenic beauty, cities and small villages and to meet the local people.

The Italian railway network, operated by the state-owned Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), spans over 16,000 km. The trains in Italy are clean, comfortable, and nearly always on time.

There are two basic options for paying for train travel in Italy: "point to point" (individual) tickets and rail passes. Point to point means that you pay for train tickets as you go. A rail pass requires the prepayment of a fixed sum which allows you unlimited train travel for a limited period of time.

Where to buy a ticket?

from tobacconist shops- " Tabacchi " - sign with a white T on a black background;
from news stands;
from green bus company kiosks found outside train stations or at the beginning of bus routes;
from automatic ticket dispensers available in some bus stations.

Point to point tickets

Tickets for Italian trains are significantly cheaper than those in other European countries. Before buying a ticket, make sure you are aware of what the total cost of the ticket will be. In particular, many trains in Italy require the payment of a supplement, over and above the regular or quoted ticket price. This is invariably the case with couchette (or sleeper) trains, but many regular trains also charge a supplement. In most cases, train trips that require a supplement will be marked in red ink on the train schedule.

After you have purchased your ticket, you must have it stamped at one of the yellow validation machines. These machines are normally located at the platform entrances. Failure to validate your ticket could make you liable for a fine.

For trips of 200 km or less, you have six hours to complete your travel from the time of the validation stamp. For trips of more than 200 km, you have 24 hours to complete your trip.

The purchase of a ticket does not guarantee you a seat on the train; it is best to pay the extra minimal fee for a reservation, which will guarantee you a seat. First and second class seating on Italian trains is not all that different. Second class seats are quite clean, roomy, and comfortable.

Finally, if you plan to travel overnight, it is essential that you reserve a couchette at least one day in advance.

Rail passes: Depending on your itinerary, a rail pass may save you money. There are a variety of train passes available for traveling in Italy and the most popular of these are:

Eurail Passes: Eurail allows unlimited first-class travel in 17 different European countries for various lengths of time (15, 21, days or 1, 2, or 3 months).
Eurail Flexipass: A Eurail Flexipass permits the holder to travel a fixed number of days within a particular time period, such as any 10 days or 15 days in a 2 month period. It is less expensive than the regular Eurail pass.
Italy Rail Cards: This rail pass permits unlimited travel throughout the entire Italian rail system during the period of validity (8, 15, 21 or 30 days). The Italy Flexi Rail Card entitles the holder to travel throughout the Italian rail network for either 4, 8 or 12 days within a one month period. The Italy Rail Card is available only to residents of European countries outside Italy, whereas the Italy FlexiRail Card is available only to residents of non-European countries.

Rail passes valid for travel in Europe and Italy can be purchased online from https://www.raileurope.com/en. They may also be available from travel agents in your home country. Discounts are granted for youths (under 26), seniors (over 60) and for two people traveling together.

Car: If you intend to travel by car you must carry your driver's license. All driving licenses issued by EU countries are recognised in Italy. There are three major types or categories of roads in Italy, as follows:

Autostrade (Motorways): These are 2-4 lane highways, marked by green signs. The Autostrade is usually the fastest and safest way to get from one place to another in Italy.
Strade Statali (State Roads): These are 2-3 lane roads, marked with blue signs, that connect many of the smaller towns to the Autostrade.
Strade Comunali (Local Roads): These are Italy's local roads

Many of the major car rental companies offer rental cars in Italy but, it is better to reserve your car prior to your departure in order to get better rates. You can arrange to pick up your car at a major airport or at the main rail station. Remember that rental cars in Italy are usually manual (not automatic), so if that is an issue for you, ask for a vehicle that is automatic.

Speed limits on Italy's roads

130 km/h (81 m.p.h.) for all cars and motor vehicles over 1100 cc. on the Autostrade
110 km/h (69 m.p.h.) for all cars and motor vehicles up to 1099 cc. on the Autostrade
90 km/h (56 m.p.h.) for all cars and motor vehicles on main state and rural roads
50 km/h (30 m.p.h) for all cars in cities and towns

Things to note: The Italian highway code conforms to the Geneva Convention and Italy uses international road signs. Driving is on the right and passing is on the left. On the Autostrade, no u-turns are permitted. Stopping is permitted only in designated emergency parking areas. All vehicles are required to keep their low-beam headlights on at all times while on the Autostrade. The center lane of three-lane roads is reserved for passing.

Seat belts are mandatory. A helmet is mandatory for motorcycles and scooters. In southern cities car horns are frequently used and some drivers do not use their seatbelts.

Accidents & Breakdowns

In case of an accident or breakdown on any Italian road, proceed to the nearest telephone and dial 116 for (multilingual) assistance. On the Autostrade, emergency telephones are placed every 2 km.

Tolls

Most of Autostrade are toll roads and the cost varies depending on the distance you've traveled between toll booths. Toll tickets may be obtained upon entering the Autostrade system and paid in cash upon exiting. However, the easiest way to pay tolls is to use a credit card. At automatic barriers, the card is inserted into a slot on the toll machine and a receipt is printed. Tolls can also be paid with a Viacard. Drivers can purchase a €25 Viacard from toll booths, banks and tourist offices.

Taxis

Italian taxis are different colours depending on the town (usually white or yellow). Avoid paying your fare with large bills - invariably, taxi drivers claim that they don't have change, hoping for a bigger tip (stick to your guns and give only about 10%). Don't count on hailing a taxi on the street or even getting one at a stand. If you're going out phone for yourself.