Compare Train Ticket Costs: Map shows point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail pass will save you money. For 1st class fares, add 50%. Source: www.trenitalia.com.
Best Value: Most train travelers in Italy take short rides on the Milan-Venice-Florence-Rome circuit. For these trips, it's cheaper to buy point-to-point train tickets in Italy, especially in second class. Do the math with our train ticket-cost map on this page. Fares shown on the map include reservations when required. In summer, it's worthwhile to spring for first class for its smaller crowds and better air conditioning. First-class train tickets cost 50% more than second-class tickets, but a first-class rail pass costs only 22% more than a second-class pass.
Reservations: A rail pass doesn't provide much hop-on convenience in Italy, since many trains require seat reservations in addition to the rail pass, as indicated in train schedules (optional for InterCity trains, required €5 for EuroCity and international trains, required €10 or $15 for Eurostar Italia, Alta Velocita, or Le Frecce departures). Fast, reserved Eurostar Italia or Le Frecce trains provide most of the service on the main lines between Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples. Regional trains, such as most Florence-Pisa-Cinque Terre service, don't need reservations. You can buy train tickets or rail pass holder seat reservations at major travel agencies in city centers, reserving several key trains at one stop. There is no deadline to reserve and no limit to the number of seats allocated to rail pass holders on the Italian State Railways. Rail passes also cover the Austrian railways bus between Venice (Mestre and Tronchetto stations) and Villach, Austria (reservation extra, plus supplement if your pass does not cover both countries).
Paris-Italy Route News: Paris-Milan-Venice night trains no longer accept rail passes as of December 11, 2011. Buy the night train ticket separately and up to three months ahead for the best price. There is no direct Paris-Florence-Rome overnight service until mid-2012. Direct Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV daytime trains have new rules: Travelers with a France Rail Pass qualify for a seat reservation fee of $22 in 2nd class or $37 in 1st. The reservation fee has increased to $80 in 2nd class or $109 in 1st when using a Eurail-brand pass that covers France and at least one other country. Any rail pass that does not cover France (such as an Italy Eurail Pass) is not accepted on this train. Both rates have limited seats available and are not sold online. Daytime connections via Switzerland (e.g., transfering in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) may now be the more economical choice for Eurail travelers with a Global or Select pass for all three countries. Flying between Paris and Italy can also save time and money (e.g., versus 13 hours by train Paris-Rome).
Private Trains: Rail passes do not cover private, high-speed "Italo" trains connecting Italy's main cities (from Spring, 20102; see Rail News), so passholders should choose Eurostar Italia or Le Frecce departures instead. To buy Italo tickets, see www.italotreno.it or separate Italo ticket machines and counters in the stations served. Rail passes do not cover the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Pompei and Sorrento ($5, see www.vesuviana.it for train schedules), Milan's Malpensa Airport Express ($14, see www.malpensaexpress.it/en/index.php), Gargano Railways from San Severo (www.ferroviedelgargano.com), Bari-Alberobello-Taranto ($10, www.fseonline.it), nor Bari-Matera trains ($5, www.fal-srl.it). Rome's Fiumicino Airport Express ($16) is part of the national railways, but is considered all first class, so it accepts only first-class rail passes.
Two-Country Eurail Passes: Options later on this page work for those traveling between Italy and one neighbor: France, Greece, or even Spain (but not Switzerland, Austria, nor Slovenia).
| Italy Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 3 days in 2 months | $279 | $239 | $228 | $196 | $186 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 7) | $31-38 | $26-33 | $25-31 | $20-27 | $20-25 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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| France-Italy Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 4 days in 2 months | $401 | $343 | $343 | $293 | $261 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 6) | $45-50 | $38-40 | $38-40 | $31-37 | $28-32 | ||
| Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Extra day prices approximate. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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Paris-Italy night trains no longer accept rail passes and daytime Paris-Lyon-Torino-Milan TGV reservation prices are high (see top of page). Daytime train connections from Paris to Italy via Switzerland (e.g., connecting in Basel, Geneve, or Zürich) cost an additional $60-80 in second class if Switzerland is not covered by your rail pass.
| Greece-Italy Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 4 days in 2 months | $372 | $317 | $299 | $255 | $243 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 6) | $37-40 | $32-34 | $30-32 | $25-27 | $25-27 | ||
| Saver price per person for two or more. Youth = under 26. Kids 4-11: half adult or saver fare, under 4: free. Covers deck passage on overnight Superfast Ferries between Patras, Greece and Bari or Ancona, Italy (starts use of one travel day). Or 30-50% discount on Hellenic Med. Line ferry with basic cabin Patras-Corfu-Brindisi (does not use a travel day). Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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Since it's affordable to buy train tickets locally in both Italy and Greece, and since Greece has just a few rail lines operating, this pass is not a big seller.
| Italy - Spain Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 4 days in 2 months | $401 | $343 | $343 | $293 | $261 | ||
| Extra rail days (max 6) | $46-48 | $39-43 | $39-43 | $30-38 | $30-33 | ||
| Does not cover travel in France! Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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Italy and Spain can be connected by Grimaldi ferry service (20% discount with rail pass), or you can fly, but if you plan to travel by land, you should include France on a Select pass for three or more countries.
