Taking the train in Italy

There's no better way to see the great cities of Italy than by train. Driving in Italian cities is a nightmare; flights waste a lot of time at airports and you won't see anything of Italy at 30,000 feet. You'll find trains faster, more convenient and more relaxing. Trains link just about every Italian town and city of any significance, city centre to city centre. A new high-speed network is taking shape: Rome to Florence takes just 1 hour 35 minutes at up to 175 mph, Florence to Venice 2 hours 40 minutes, Rome to Venice 3 hours 45 minutes, Rome to Naples 1 hour 10 minutes, Rome to Milan 2 hours 59 minutes. Faster than flying! Journeys to and from Sicily can be made overnight on a time-effective sleeper train. On this page... How to check Italian train schedules & fares How to buy train tickets for Italy - at the station, or buy online... What are Italian trains like? - Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, InterCity, regional, overnight trains Travel tips - Do the trains on time, ticket validation, luggage, taking a bike, catering, places not served by train, language problems How to use the Italian Railways website, www.trenitalia.com - buy tickets online at the cheapest prices! How to use the self-service ticket machines at Italian stations - to buy tickets or make railpass reservations. Hotel booking in Italy On other pages... Getting from the UK to Italy by train - take an afternoon Eurostar to Paris, then a direct sleeper train to Rome, Florence or Venice. Easy! General European train travel information - luggage, bikes, pets, maps, timetables and advice. The Thello sleeper train from Paris to Venice - Paris to Milan, Verona or Venice by direct overnight train...