There are lots of ways to get around Italy. Here are some tips on which types of transportation to use on your Italian vacation, and how to go about doing it.
Italy by Train
Italy's trains are cheap to ride. The top routes are also crowded. Since trains are subsidized for underpaid workers, fewer trains run on Sundays.
You don't need to buy a rail pass for Italy, just buy tickets at the ticket window or machine as you need them. I usually buy my ticket out when I arrive in a new city--that way I'll know exactly when I need to leave, and I'll have a ticket in my pocket. If I'm going only a short distance and there are frequent trains, I don't bother--I just buy them when I decide to hit the road.
From Italy for Visitors: Italy Train Travel (Don't forget to validate that ticket!)
If Italy is so cheap to see by train, why do some people want to go by car? Well, there's all those little places Wandering Italy touts--some quite unlikely to have train stations. And there's that scenery and little white roads so narrow you wonder what's going to happen if you have to pass someone.
Gas is expensive. Rent a Diesel. If you're going for a long time, I recommend a buy back lease from our partner Auto Europe. You get a brand new car, great insurance, and you don't have to go through the hassle of filling it up on your way outta Italy. You don't pay more for an extra driver, either.
You'll probably use the Autostrada, Italy's excellent but expensive toll roads. We have a map and information on getting the most out of the experience with our Interactive Autostrada Map.
Sure, the slow road is better, but the Belle Paese's slow roads have gotten slower as Italy cracks down on the zippy driving Italians are known for. I find myself taking the autostrada more and more these days.
Italy by Air
Flying onto the transportation scene by the droves are Budget Air Lines. You don't want to take a plane for something that's an hour away by train because of the lag time--those two hours you're going to have to allow before your flight, and the half hour it's going to take you to get to the airport. But if you're going from Venice to Sicily, or Rome to Sardinia, you'll want to take a plane because it's probably more expensive to take anything slower. See our Low Cost Airlines resources for more.
