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Italian trains are excellent, and they are a wonderful way to travel. The Italian high-speed network covers most major towns and cities in Italy, from Turin in the north all the way down to Calabria.
There are three main high-speed trains: the Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Frecciabianca are the high-speed trains operated by TrenItalia, while a private company called Italo also offers high-speed services between Italy's major cities.
Details on train speeds, etc., are at the end of the article, as are some tips on how to get the best deals on tickets.
For shorter distances, Italy operates an excellent network of regional and commuter trains.
Trains such as the one from Turin to Nice and the route along the Italian Riviera offer stunning scenery; further down the page, you'll find details of these and the other train journeys that are rated as the most spectacular train journeys in Italy.
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🚆 You can find and buy cheap train tickets for your trip in advance here
With regards to exploring Italy in general; trains are great, but only when it comes to towns and cities as most of the countryside regions and little villages aren't well covered by the rail network. There are a few exceptions though - the Cinque Terre villages have a superb train service and so too does the coast of Calabria
Many many years ago, long before I met and married my Italian wife, Maria, I visited Italy by train on a Eurail Pass. It was a great first introduction to Italy, and I saw all the main cities - the typical tourist cities of Rome, Venice, and Florence, but I never really understood Italy or saw the real Italy.
The following year I bought myself a Trenitalia Pass, it was great value, I made lots of friends on the trains, and I saw more big towns and cities... but I only saw the countryside from an Italian train window.
So, if you are focusing on visiting one region or want to really discover the Italian countryside, then a car is best.
The type of holiday where you base yourself in one town or village, find a characteristic place to stay, and explore with your own car or a hire car is the best way to discover Italy. The small villages, markets, and traditions of this ancient land can only really be discovered in this way, not by train.
Having said that, there are definitely some train journeys one really should take - some of the best ones I've listed below, but there are at least 10 others that are fantastic. If you are a supporter, you are always welcome to contact me for personalized advice.
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🚆 You can find and buy cheap train tickets for your trip in advance here
Question 1: Which are the most beautiful train rides in Italy?
Answer:
Question 2: How fast are Italian trains?
Answer: The maximum recorded speed in testing is 393.8 km/h (244.7 mph), although operating speeds are limited to 300 km/h (186 mph). The fastest trains are the Frecciarossa 1000 trains, followed by the Italo trains that can reach a maximum speed of 360 km/h (160mph).
Question 3: When is the best time to buy train tickets?
Answer: I find that booking for the fast trains between one and three months before traveling generally works out the cheapest. If you are booking a regional train, the prices are generally the same regardless of when you book. A good idea is to download the Trenitalia app so that you can buy tickets online, and then the ticket inspector simply scans the QR code on your phone.
Question 4: How to avoid fines when traveling by train in Italy
Answer: If you don't buy tickets online, you will need to physically validate your train ticket on the platform before boarding and fill in the date and sign if it is a multi-day ticket. Not validating your train ticket, together with the fines from getting caught in ZTL zones, is the most common way tourists get fined in Italy. You can find out about ZTL zones and other mistakes here.
Question 5: Are trains in Italy expensive?
Answer: No, the tickets are very affordable and, considering the quality of Italian trains, are often a real bargain.
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🚆 You can find and buy cheap train tickets for your trip in advance here
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