Train Trips in Italy You Must Experience

1. The Cinque Terre Express

This short but iconic journey clings to the cliffs of Liguria as it meanders through all five villages of the Cinque Terre—Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The entire ride is only about 30 minutes, but each minute is packed with those postcard views you’ve seen a thousand times… except in real life, they feel far more dreamlike.

My tip? Go early in the morning before the crowds arrive. The locals are just opening their shutters, the sea is still sleepy, and the villages feel quietly alive in a way you’ll never forget.

2. The Bernina Express

Few rail routes anywhere in the world can compete with the Bernina Express for sheer, jaw-dropping beauty. Beginning in Tirano in northern Italy and curling up into the Swiss Alps toward St. Moritz, this journey is a masterpiece of engineering and scenery.

Glaciers, spiraling viaducts, sparkling lakes, tiny mountain villages—you get it all. Sit on the right side leaving Tirano for the best views and prepare for a steady stream of “wow” moments.

3. The Circumetnea—Around Mount Etna on a Vintage Train

Mount Etna

Sicily is full of surprises, and the Circumetnea might be one of the best. This historic little train circles the base of one of the most active volcanoes in Europe, Mount Etna, a volcano that is often huffing and puffing. The train has seen it all, though, and calmly rolls past lava fields, pistachio orchards, vineyards, and rugged old towns that feel suspended in time.

It’s about three hours from Catania to Riposto, but it feels like stepping back a century. Combine it with an Etna tour and you’ve got a full day of adventure with a volcanic twist.

4. The Trenino Verde

Bosa, one of the towns the train calls at

Sardinia isn’t usually the first place people think of for train travel—but it should be. The Trenino Verde (“Little Green Train”) winds through some of the island’s most remote landscapes: mountain passes, thick forests, lonely valleys, and old stone villages that barely seem touched by modern life.

There are several routes to choose from, each offering something different. Just be sure to book early; this one is popular with those who know about it.

5. Treno dei Sapori: A Journey for Food Lovers

Lake Iseo

What happens when you combine Italy’s love of trains with its love of food? You get the Treno dei Sapori—the “Train of Flavors.”

Running through the Lake Iseo region, this slow, joyful journey includes wine tastings, gourmet meals, and stops in beautiful lakeside towns. The scenery is stunning, of course, but the food… well, this is Italy. Nothing else needs to be said.

Most departures are on Sundays and some Saturdays. If you love food, wine, and gentle landscapes, this may become your favorite Italian experience.

6. The Orient Express

Orient Express train by Elimende Inagella via Unsplash.com

It is time to pamper yourself and live a little like royalty. There is no better way to do this than the Orient Express. Stepping aboard feels like stepping into the 1920s: polished wood, crisp linens, elegant dining, and that soft, luxurious hush that only old-world travel can produce. You expect to bump into Hercule Poirot at any minute.

It’s not exactly cheap. In fact, it’s very much a super expensive bucket-list splurge. But, any route you might take, from Paris to Venice, Florence to Rome, or anything in-between, it’s the kind of experience that becomes part of your life’s story. Even one night onboard feels like living inside a beautifully filmed movie.

7. Frecciarossa or the Italo Train

Not all great journeys need mountains, lagoons, or vintage carriages. Sometimes the thrill is in the speed.

Italy’s Frecciarossa and Italo trains slice across the country at up to 300 km/h, linking major cities faster than most people expect. Rome to Milan in under 3 hours. Florence to Venice in 2. Naples to Bologna in 3½.

The trains are clean, sleek, and comfortable, and they are the perfect way to maximize your holiday time. I’ve always loved how effortlessly Italy blends ancient history with cutting-edge modernity, and nowhere is that more obvious than onboard one of these trains.

8. InterCity Notte: A Sleeper Train Adventure to Sicily

How about something unique, something you’ll talk about for years? Then you really must take the InterCity Notte to Sicily. This is the train that actually boards a ferry and crosses the Strait of Messina while you relax in your cabin. It’s one of the only train-on-ferry experiences left in the world.

The journey from Milan, Rome, or Naples down to Palermo or Catania takes 10 to 14 hours. Book a private cabin and enjoy waking up in Sicily as the sun rises over the mountains. It’s magical.