Getting Around

Transport in Italy

Trains (Treno)

• Validate your ticket before boarding or risk a €50+ fine — even with a reserved seat.
• Trenitalia — National rail operator — book at trenitalia.com or Trainline app. Regional trains (Regionale) are cheap; Frecciarossa is the high-speed option between cities.
• Validating — Insert your paper ticket into the yellow/green stamping machine (obliteratrice) on the platform before boarding. E-tickets don't need validating.
• Classes — 1st class is worth it on long Frecciarossa routes. Regional trains have no class distinction.
• Strikes (Sciopero) — Strikes are common. Check trenitalia.com the day before. Core services must run 9–13:00 and 17–21:00 by law.
• Luggage — No luggage restrictions but overhead racks are small — a 56×45×25cm cabin-sized bag fits most racks.

City Buses & Trams

• Buy before boarding — Tickets from tabacchi (tobacco shops), newsstands or apps — not usually on the bus. Validate immediately on boarding.
• Rome — ATAC buses run across the city. Bus 40 and 64 link the train station to the Vatican. Avoid peak hours (8–9am, 6–7pm).
• Milan — ATM runs an excellent network. Buy 90-minute tickets (€2.20) or a day pass (€7).
• Florence — ATAC buses and trams. Much of the centre is ZTL (restricted zone) — cars banned, buses and taxis only.
• Naples — Buses are crowded and slow. The Circumvesuviana train is far better for Pompeii and Sorrento.

Metro / Underground

• Rome — Line A (orange) serves Vatican, Spanish Steps, Termini. Line B (blue) serves Colosseum. Single ticket €1.50 — valid 100 minutes.
• Milan — Best metro in Italy — 5 lines, runs until 12:30am (2am weekends). Integrated with buses and trams.
• Naples — Limited but useful — Line 1 serves the historic centre, Piazza Garibaldi and the airport.
• No metro — Florence, Venice and most small cities have no metro. Walking and buses are the way around.

Taxis

• Only use licensed white taxis with a meter — avoid unlicensed drivers at airports and stations.
• Hailing — Taxis can't be hailed on the street in most cities — find a taxi rank (posteggio) or use the IT Taxi app.
• Fares — Meter starts at €3–4. Airport surcharges apply. Sunday and night rates (10pm–6am) are higher.
• Tipping — Not expected but rounding up is appreciated — e.g. pay €20 on a €17.50 fare.
• Apps — IT Taxi is the official app (works nationwide). Uber operates in Rome and Milan but is pricier.

Venice — Vaporetto

• What is it? — The vaporetto is Venice's water bus — the only public transport through the city. Operated by ACTV.
• Tickets — Single ride €9.50 — expensive. A 24-hour pass (€25) or 48-hour pass (€35) is far better value if you explore.
• Line 1 — Slow boat down the Grand Canal — stops at every landing. Best for sightseeing. Line 2 is express.
• Validate — Tap your ticket or pass at the yellow reader before stepping onto the pontile (landing stage).
• Water taxis — Private water taxis are beautiful but cost €80–150 per journey. Split with others to make it worthwhile.

Driving in Italy

• ZTL zones (Zona a Traffico Limitato) are camera-enforced restricted areas in most historic centres — fines arrive months later by post.
• Autostrada — Toll motorways — pay at booths with cash or card. Fast and well-maintained.
• Driving style — Italians drive confidently. Lanes are treated as suggestions on country roads. Assertive but calm wins.
• Parking — Blue lines = paid parking, white = free, yellow = residents only. Parcheggio signs lead to official car parks.
• Speed limits — 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on roads, 110 km/h dual carriageways, 130 km/h autostrada. Strictly enforced by speed cameras.
• Headlights — Mandatory outside urban areas at all times of day — even in sunshine.

Airport Transport

• Never use unlicensed taxi touts at airports — they will charge €80–150 for journeys that should cost €25–50. Only use white licensed taxis from the official rank, or pre-book.
• Rome Fiumicino (FCO) — Leonardo Express train runs every 30 min to Roma Termini — €14, takes 32 min. Much faster and cheaper than a taxi. Also FL1 regional trains to Trastevere, Ostiense and Tiburtina — €8.
• Rome Ciampino (CIA) — Terravision and SIT buses to Roma Termini — €6, takes 40 min. No train link — bus is the best option.
• Milan Malpensa (MXP) — Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale (35 min, €13) or Cadorna (30 min, €13). Malpensa Shuttle bus to Centrale — €10 but slower. Taxi fixed fare: €65 to central Milan.
• Milan Linate (LIN) — ATM bus 73 to Centrale — €2, takes 25 min. Taxi: €25–30 fixed rate to centre.
• Venice Marco Polo (VCE) — ACTV water bus (vaporetto) to Venice — €15, scenic, takes 75 min. Alilaguna ferry — similar price. Land taxi to Piazzale Roma — €40, then on foot or water bus. No direct train.
• Florence (FLR) — Tramvia T2 tram to Santa Maria Novella station — €1.70, takes 20 min. Taxi fixed rate: €22.
• Naples (NAP) — Alibus to Piazza Garibaldi — €5, takes 30–50 min. Taxi fixed rate: €23 to centre.
• Taxi scam warning — Always insist the driver uses the meter (tassametro), or agree a fixed price before getting in. Licensed taxis have the city's coat of arms on the door and a meter display.

Ferries & Boats

• Sicily — Regular ferries from Villa San Giovanni (Calabria) to Messina — 20 min crossing, run by Caronte & Tourist, very frequent. Overnight ferries from Naples to Palermo (10 hrs) and Genoa to Palermo (20 hrs) via Grimaldi and GNV.
• Sardinia — Ferries from Civitavecchia (near Rome), Genoa, Livorno and Naples. GNV, Tirrenia and Moby Lines operate routes. Crossings take 6–19 hours. Book well ahead in July/August — very busy.
• Amalfi Coast — Ferry and hydrofoil services connect Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and Salerno from spring to autumn — far more scenic and quicker than the coastal road. ALICOST and TravelMar operate these routes.
• Capri & Ischia — Hydrofoils (aliscafi) from Naples Beverello pier — 40 min to Capri, 50 min to Ischia. Multiple sailings daily. Slow ferry also available.
• Lake Garda — Navigarda ferries connect towns including Sirmione, Bardolino, Malcesine and Riva del Garda. Car ferries cross between Torri del Benaco and Maderno. Excellent way to avoid lake road traffic.
• Lake Como — Regular ferries between Como, Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio. Car ferries between Bellagio and Varenna. Buy tickets at the dock — no need to book ahead outside peak season.
• Booking tips — For overnight ferries book 4–6 weeks ahead in summer. A cabin is worth the extra cost for overnight crossings. Bring your own food — on-board restaurants are expensive.

SIM Cards & Mobile Data

• Roaming (UK) — Since Brexit, most UK networks charge for EU roaming again. Check your tariff before travel — some (e.g. O2, Three) still include EU data; others charge £2–5/day.
• Buy an Italian SIM — Cheapest option for longer stays. Available at airports, phone shops and tabacchi. You'll need your passport.
• TIM — Best rural coverage across Italy, especially in southern Italy and islands. Visitor SIM: ~€15 for 30GB + 200 min.
• Vodafone Italy — Good coverage, especially in cities and northern Italy. Tourist SIM: ~€15 for 20GB.
• Iliad — Cheapest option — €9.99/month for 150GB with no contract. Coverage slightly behind TIM/Vodafone in remote areas but excellent in cities.
• WindTre — Good city coverage, competitive tourist packages. Available at airports.
• eSIM option — Airalo, Holafly and Ubigi offer Italian eSIMs you can buy before travelling and activate instantly. From around £8 for 5GB. Ideal if your phone supports eSIM.
• Free WiFi — Most hotels, bars and restaurants offer free WiFi. 'Avete il WiFi?' (Do you have WiFi?) and 'Qual è la password?' (What's the password?) are useful phrases.