How to travel by high-speed train in Italy

A Trenitalia high speed train at the Florence train station.

Why travel by train in Italy?

Perhaps the most significant advantage of traveling by high-speed train in Italy is that the train stations are conveniently located in the city center. Unlike the airport, there is no long security line and you can arrive minutes before departure.

High-speed trains in Italy can reach speeds of about 200 mph. They serve many popular cities such as Milan, Florence, Rome, and Naples.

The seats are very comfortable with lots of leg room and your luggage stays with you so there are no lost bags.

Travelers can bring food on the train in addition to a cafe car or a food/beverage cart that comes through the train.

Train companies in Italy

Trenitalia is owned and operated by the Italian government and provides more train service than any other operator. Trenitalia also operated the fastest Frecciarossa or Red Arrow trains from Florence to Rome. The Frecciarossa was the nicest of the Italian trains we used with the most comfortable seats and more leg room.

Italo is a private company that started operating in April 2012. Italo’s offerings are similar to Trenitalia’s and the company receives excellent reviews.

Trenatalia ticket kiosk at the Venice train station.

How to buy Italy rail tickets

It’s effortless to purchase tickets online directly from the rail operator or a website like Trainline.

We are big fans of Trainline not just in Italy but throughout Europe. Each time we use the site it process has been flawless. The website is in English so there are no translation issues. The search is simple and well-designed plus you can save the tickets in the Trainline app or in the wallet of your phone. You can easily book Trenitalia and Italio, the two big train Italian operators, on Trainline.

You can take a look at the Trainline website here.

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You can also purchase tickets from kiosks in the train stations, these work particularly well for unreserved regional trains and specialty trains such as the non-stop train to Rome’s airport and the train to Milan’s airport.

Second class seats on a Trenitalia train at the Venice train station.

Should I buy first class or second class train tickets in Italy?

Second class (or standard class) is perfectly fine and very nice. The high-speed train trips between many of the major cities are roughly 2 to 3 hours so second-class trains are perfectly fine.

On our next trip to Italy, we may try a trip or two in first class since the additional cost is minimal (unlike air travel) and the nicer seat, fewer seats per train car, and additional luggage storage might be a nice treat.

Luggage on trains in Italy

Unlike airlines, there are no issues bringing luggage onto the trains in Italy. There are luggage storage areas at the front and back of each train car. There are also overhead racks that fit large suitcases.

While the storage options are ample it’s best to keep the luggage to a minimum. We watched numerous people struggle with their oversized bags.

Luggage on the Leonardo express train between Roma Termini train station and Rome Fiumicino Airport.

At the train station

It’s best to arrive at least 20 minutes before departure.
There is no security but your ticket may be checked before entering the platform area.
While train stations are safe be aware of pickpockets and other scams. As with all aspects of travel stay aware of your surroundings and possessions.
Check the departure board for your gate. It’s best to check by the train number.
Purchase food and drinks inside or nearby the train station, it’s no problem bringing them on the train.