Getting Around Italy: Trains, Cars, Buses, Planes, and Ferries

For a first trip to Italy, I would consider taking the train for long-distance travel between cities and renting a car to explore regions where the drive itself is part of the experience.

And depending on your itinerary, combining the two can be much more interesting than trying to do everything by car or by train.

Introduction

Hi! My name is Bruna, and I’m the author of this blog. In this article, I’ll help you choose the best way of getting around Italy based on what you want to see in the country.

The good news is that you don’t need to choose just one mode of transportation for your entire trip.

For large, well-connected cities, the train is usually one of the most convenient options.

For exploring small villages, scenic roads, and regions like Tuscany, renting a car can make much more sense.

And for islands like Sicily and Sardinia, planes and ferries come into play.

What Is the Best Way to Travel Around Italy?

There is no single answer.

Italy has an extensive railway network, high-speed trains connecting several major cities, regional train services, buses, a wide road network, and ferry connections to the islands.

Here’s a quick overview:

The most important thing to understand is that you can combine these different modes of transportation.

For example, a trip could look like this:

Brazil → fly to Rome → train from Rome to Florence → rent a car in Florence → road trip through Tuscany → return the car in Florence.

This is the kind of combination I like most when I think about my own first trip to Italy.

Traveling by Train in Italy

If there’s one mode of transportation that deserves special attention when planning a trip to Italy, it’s the train.

Italy has a fairly extensive railway network. Between major cities, high-speed trains make it possible to cover considerable distances in just a few hours.

Besides Trenitalia, you’ll also find Italo, a private company that operates high-speed trains on several routes.

High-Speed Trains

This is the option I would look at first for routes such as:

• Rome → Florence;
• Florence → Bologna;
• Florence → Venice;
• Rome → Naples;
• Rome → Milan;
• Milan → Venice;
• Rome → Bari;
• Naples → Florence.

And the difference in travel time can be huge.

Italo currently lists the following travel times, for example:

• Rome → Florence: around 1 hour 25 minutes;
• Rome → Naples: around 55 minutes;
• Rome → Milan: around 2 hours 52 minutes;
• Milan → Venice: around 2 hours 15 minutes;
• Bologna → Florence: around 37 minutes. (Italo Treno)

That’s what would make me prefer the train for a trip between major cities.

I wouldn’t want to spend five or six hours driving just to reach the next destination when there’s a fast train that drops me practically in the city center.

How Much Does It Cost to Travel by Train in Italy?

This is probably one of the things I would most want to know before planning a trip to Italy.

The thing is, there isn’t one fixed price for train travel in Italy.

The fare depends on the route, train type, ticket category, departure time, and how far in advance you book.

Examples of Current Ticket Prices

These are reference prices currently published by Italo. They don’t mean you’ll necessarily find these fares for your travel dates. Booking in advance usually gives you access to lower fares.

So How Much Would I Set Aside in My Budget?

To avoid building a travel budget around those promotional fares that might disappear by the time you actually book, I would set aside approximately €20 to €50 per high-speed train journey as an initial planning estimate.

Some short routes can cost less than €20 when booked in advance, while longer journeys can easily exceed €30 or €40.

So, for a trip with approximately 4 to 5 intercity train journeys, I would start planning with a budget of around:

€80 to €250 per person for train tickets.

If you manage to find good advance fares, you could spend less. If you book close to your travel date or travel during busy periods, I would leave some extra room in the budget.

My tip: Don’t build your budget using only the lowest fare you find in a search. Use a realistic range and treat promotional fares as a bonus.

What About Regional Trains?

Not every trip in Italy will be on a Frecciarossa or Italo train.

Regional trains are very important for reaching smaller towns and taking day trips. Trenitalia has regional fares specific to each region, and prices are determined by factors such as distance and regional fare rules.

A particularly interesting example is Cinque Terre.

In 2026, the train service within the national park has specific fares ranging from €5 to €10 per journey, depending on the fare category for that day.

In many destinations, regional trains can be an affordable and practical option.

Trenitalia or Italo: Which One Should You Choose?

This is a common question, and I don’t think you need to turn it into a permanent choice.

Both companies may operate on the same route.

I would do something very simple:

Search both companies for the same day and time, then compare prices, travel times, and ticket conditions.

Italo currently serves several major Italian cities and advertises promotional fares on its routes. Trenitalia, on the other hand, operates both high-speed services and an extensive network of regional and Intercity trains. (Trenitalia)

When planning, I wouldn’t worry about choosing a company, I would choose the best train for that particular journey.

Is It Easy to Travel by Train in Italy?

My impression after researching how the system works is that yes, it is, especially between major cities.

The network is extensive, trains run frequently, and tickets can be purchased online, through the companies’ websites and apps, or at stations.

But pay attention, okay?

Don’t leave everything until the last minute.

Especially if you have:

• A specific departure time;
• A connection to a flight;
• Accommodation reservations;
• A scheduled tour;
• A day trip;
• Travel plans during peak season.

And I would save the ticket on my phone and keep an offline copy accessible.

Is It Safe to Travel on Italian Trains?

This is something I would be concerned about.

If I were traveling with a suitcase, phone, documents, cash, and other belongings, I wouldn’t want to let my guard down too much at a busy station either.

That doesn’t mean I would avoid trains. On the contrary, I would still use them, but I would take a few basic precautions.

What I would do:

• Keep documents and money in a secure place;
• Avoid leaving my phone or wallet in easily accessible pockets;
• Keep an eye on my luggage when boarding and getting off;
• Avoid leaving my bag open;
• Avoid leaving important belongings loose in the luggage rack;
• Keep a digital copy of my documents;
• Be extra careful at very busy stations.

And most importantly: I wouldn’t keep all my documents, cards, and cash in the same place.

If I were traveling with luggage, I would be especially alert during boarding, getting off the train, and changing stations.

Train or Car: Which Is Better in Italy?

For some trips, I think having a car would be wonderful.

For others, I think it would be an unnecessary expense and headache.

This isn’t an absolute rule, but it’s how I would start thinking about my itinerary.

Is Renting a Car in Italy Worth It?

For me, the answer would be that it’s worth it when the car is part of the trip, not just a way to get to the next destination.

If I were spending a few days in Rome, I wouldn’t rent a car just to drive around the city.

If I were taking a trip through Tuscany, visiting small towns, wineries, country roads, and scenic landscapes, that would be a completely different story.

But pay attention to this detail: for visitors from countries outside the European Union, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required along with the necessary driving documents.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Italy?

There’s a huge difference between the lowest price that showed up on a comparison website and what I would actually include in my budget.

So, I would work with these approximate ranges:

Small car

€25–€50 per day

Midsize car

€40–€70 per day

SUV

€50–€80+ per day

And I would leave some extra room for peak season.

These figures are only planning estimates. The final price can vary considerably depending on the city, travel dates, exchange rates, availability, driver’s age, insurance, automatic transmission, fuel policy, and other factors.

Compare the options on GetRentACar!

If you decide that renting a car is a must, I recommend comparing the available options on GetRentACar before booking: See GetRentACar options

But How Much Does a Road Trip by Car Cost?

Now comes the question I would ask before deciding between a train and a car.

The rental fee is only part of the equation.

You need to consider:

rental + fuel + tolls + parking + insurance/coverage + any additional fees.

And fuel is far from cheap right now.

On August 28, 2026, the national average price of self-service gasoline in Italy was approximately €2.014 per liter, according to data from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT). On highways, the average was around €2.095 per liter. (MIMIT)

So I would use €2 per liter as a rounded reference price when calculating a trip planned today.

If you don’t like math, you’re allowed to skip this part of the article 🤭

Example

Imagine a car that uses approximately:

6 liters per 100 km.

For every 100 km, you would spend approximately:

6 × €2 = €12

So:

This is fuel only.

Tolls and parking still need to be added.

What About Tolls in Italy?

Italian highways use different toll collection systems, and the cost depends on the road, distance, and vehicle category.

That’s why I wouldn’t set a fixed amount for my budget.

I would calculate each route separately.

There are official calculators that let you enter your starting point, destination, and vehicle class to estimate the toll. I thought that was pretty cool, so take a look: (Strada dei Parchi)

And this is one of the things I would do before finalizing a road trip:

1. Plan the itinerary;
2. Calculate the kilometers;
3. Estimate fuel costs;
4. Calculate tolls;
5. Research parking;
6. Compare the total with train ticket prices.

Because then we can figure out whether renting a car is actually worth it.

Is a Car More Expensive Than a Train, Then?

It can be. But it might not be.

This comparison depends mainly on how many people are sharing the car.

Imagine, for example, renting a car for €45 per day for four days:

€180

Add:

• €80 for fuel;
• €40 for tolls;
• €60 for parking;

Total:

€360

For two people:

€180 per person.

For four people:

€90 per person.

See how much it changes?

Where Would I Take a Road Trip in Italy?

Thinking about my own travel style, Tuscany would probably be the first region where I would want to do this.

Tuscany

To me, Tuscany is almost the perfect setting for a road trip.

Not necessarily because it’s impossible to explore by train, but because I would love to visit small towns, discover villages, stop to admire the scenery, take detours, and not depend on a specific train schedule.

I wouldn’t want to spend my entire trip on a train just so I could say I managed to visit more cities.

I would rather visit fewer places and enjoy each one more.

And that’s my personal opinion based on the kind of trip I would like to take, not a rule for everyone, of course.

Can You Travel Around Italy Without a Car?

Yes. And for some itineraries, I think it’s the best choice.

If your trip is focused on Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Naples, Bologna, or other major cities connected by train, I wouldn’t feel the need to rent a car.

In addition, major Italian cities have buses, trams, and, in some cases, metro systems.

Can You Travel All Around Italy by Train?

Technically, you can reach a huge number of places by train. But I don’t think that means you should try to do everything by train.

And this may be one of the biggest conclusions I reached while researching this article.

I wouldn’t want to plan a trip like this:

Rome → Florence → Venice → Milan → Naples → Bari → Sicily → Sardinia → Rome

just because everything is connected in some way.

You might be able to do it.

But how much time would you spend getting from place to place instead of actually exploring them?

For me, a first trip should leave room to breathe.

How I Would Plan Transportation for My Trip to Italy

If I were starting from scratch, I would do things in this order:

1. Choose the regions

Before thinking about transportation.

2. Build a realistic itinerary

Without trying to squeeze the entire map of Italy into, say, 10 days.

3. Separate the journeys

I would mark which ones would involve a train, car, bus, ferry, plane…

4. Research prices

For each leg of the trip.

5. Compare the total cost

Especially when deciding between a car and a train.

6. Only then would I book

Starting with the most important journeys and those with the most time-sensitive schedules.

How Much Would I Set Aside for Transportation in Italy?

If I were putting together an initial budget and didn’t have specific travel dates yet, I would use these estimates:

🚆 A trip mainly by train

For a trip with 4 to 5 intercity journeys:

€80–€250 per person

This doesn’t include public transportation within cities.

🚗 A road trip by car

For approximately 4 to 5 days:

€150–€350 per person, assuming a trip for two people and an estimate covering rental + fuel + tolls + parking.

This amount could be lower with a good deal, more people sharing the car, or a shorter route. It could also be considerably higher during peak season, with an automatic car, additional insurance, expensive parking, or long journeys.

🚆 + 🚗 A combination of both

This is probably the option I would consider most.

For example:

Rome → Florence by train + Tuscany by car.

You only pay for the car on the days you actually need it.

So, Is It Better to Travel by Train or Car in Italy?

If you’ve made it this far looking for a single answer, I’m sorry to inform you that I’ll have to give you a generic answer and tell you that it depends on your itinerary.

But I would try to sum it up like this:

Choose the train if…

• You’re traveling between major cities;
• You want to save time;
• You don’t want to drive;
• You don’t want to worry about parking;
• You’re taking a city-focused trip;
• You want to avoid ZTLs.

Choose a car if…

• You want to explore small villages;
• You’re planning a road trip;
• You want to explore rural areas;
• You like the idea of driving through scenic landscapes;
• Your itinerary includes several small places;
• You’re traveling with other people to share the costs.

Combine both if…

You want the best of both worlds.

That would be my choice.

What Would I Do on My First Trip to Italy?

I haven’t visited Italy in person yet, so this isn’t a recommendation based on personal experience.

But after researching the country’s transportation system, I would plan a more focused first trip.

Rome would be a priority for me.

After that, I would love to visit Florence and use the city as a starting point for a road trip through Tuscany.

I would take the train for longer journeys and rent a car only when it would genuinely add something to the trip.

Because I love the idea of traveling by car, but I don’t want to drive just to reach the next point on the map and then discover that I spent thousands of euros more than I would have spent taking the train. Thousands is an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

I want to stop along the way.

I want to see a beautiful landscape and think, “Let’s stop here.”

I want to discover a small town just because it appeared along the way.

I want to be able to change my itinerary a little.

And I think that’s where having a car starts to make sense for me.

But the biggest tip I would take with me when planning a trip to Italy is this:

Don’t choose your transportation first. Choose the trip you want to take. Then find the mode of transportation that best fits it.

FAQ – How to Get Around Italy

Is it better to travel by train or car in Italy?

It depends on your itinerary. For major cities and routes between well-connected destinations, the train is usually more convenient. For rural areas, small villages, and road trips, a car can offer much more freedom.

How much does a train ticket cost in Italy?

Prices vary considerably. Italo currently offers fares starting at around €9.90 on short routes and fares starting at €14.90–€35.90 on several high-speed routes. For planning a trip, I would set aside approximately €20–€50 per journey as a reference, keeping in mind that the actual price depends on the date and how far in advance you book. (Italo Treno)

How much does it cost to travel by train in Italy?

For a trip with approximately four or five intercity journeys, I would start my budget with €80–€250 per person for train tickets. This amount doesn’t include public transportation within cities.

Can you explore Italy without a car?

Yes. Major cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and Naples have good public transportation options and railway connections. (Italia.it)

Is renting a car in Italy worth it?

It can be well worth it for exploring rural areas, small villages, and taking road trips. In major cities, however, a car can end up being more inconvenient and expensive than useful.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Italy?

Prices vary considerably depending on the city, season, and vehicle category. Current KAYAK searches show average daily rates for small cars in Rome and Florence of approximately €23–€37, but the final price can be very different. (KAYAK)

How much does gasoline cost in Italy?

On August 28, 2026, the national average price of self-service gasoline was approximately €2.01 per liter, while the average on the highway network was close to €2.10 per liter. (MIMIT)

Do I need to rent a car to explore Tuscany?

Not necessarily. It’s possible to explore the region by train, bus, and organized tours. However, for a trip focused on small towns, scenic landscapes, and freedom to change your plans, a car can be a very interesting option.

Is it better to travel by car in Sicily?

It depends on your itinerary. If you want to explore several parts of the island, a car can make getting around much easier. For a trip focused on just a few cities, public transportation may be enough.

How do you get to the Italian islands?

You can travel by plane or ferry, depending on the island. Italy has air connections to Sicily, Sardinia, and other islands, as well as an extensive network of ferries and boats. (Italia.it)

How does transportation work in Cinque Terre?

The train is one of the main ways to travel between the five villages. In 2026, the Cinque Terre Express service has fares ranging from €5 to €10 per journey, depending on the fare category for that day. (Trenitalia)

Conclusion

Italy is one of those destinations where the best way to get around depends much more on your itinerary than on the country as a whole.

I would take the train for longer journeys, especially between cities like Rome, Florence, Milan, and Naples. Then, when it was time to explore a region like Tuscany, I would rent a car and enjoy the freedom of taking a little road trip.

If my trip included an island, I would first research flights and ferry connections and then decide whether I would need a car to explore it.

So, what would you choose? Train or car?

Don’t go just yet! How about checking out these articles that might interest you?

→ Italy Itinerary: How I’d Plan My First 10-Day Trip

→ How Much Does It Cost to Travel to Italy for 10 Days? My Budget for 3 Travel Styles

→ Rome in 5 Days: The Itinerary I’d Follow on My First Trip