Train ticket in Italy?

Question

Is it cheaper to buy train tickets in Italy in advance online? Or should I buy tickets at the stations in Italy?

Answer 1

Always cheaper in advance - http://www.inhousevacations.com

Booking engine direct linke -

http://etravelman.vacationmedia.net/book...

thanks

Answer 2

We never bought tickets in advance when we were in Italy. We just bought them at the station on the day of our travel. It depends on what time of year you are there, and also at what station you are leaving from or going to. If you are going to the stations in Milano, Roma, or Firenze, I suggest getting your tickets at least the day before, so then you can get the Eurostar. Those trains are more comfortable, a bit more expensive but well worth it. Good luck.

Answer 3

Hi!

I'm Italian and I live in Italy. You do not get many special rates buying tickets in advance on internet.

Basically you can get a discount up to the 20% when travelling on special trains and in special days (currently there is an offer for which you can get a discount of 20% if travelling on Tuesdays, Wednesday or Saturday). But you don't need to book much early. I would suggest you buy your tickets at the railway station on your arrival in Italy. Consider that the italian railways website seems to me to be in Italian only!!!

Answer 4

It may be cheaper to but tickets in advance if you time it so that special fares (Amica fares or the "Smart" prices) are available. If you're buying tickets for regional trains rather than Eurostar or intercity trains, the prices will be the same. I usually just buy tickets at the station on the day I need them.

Answer 5

We lived in Italy for 5 years so we mostly booked our tickets either at the station or with a travel agent.  However, since we created our website Traveler's Guidebook, I have realized that there are tons of great deals to be found if you book in advance online and it is what we will be doing in the future.  There are discounts for youth (under 26 for Rail Europe) as well as Seniors.  It really just depends on where you want to travel, when you want to travel, and how many places you want to travel.....clear as mud?  ;o) Below I am including some information about the Italian trains from my website  http://www.travelersguidebook.com/Italy%...

Oh....also on my website (it is actually on the page listed just above), I have a link which can help you decide which type of tickets are right for you based upon your travel plans.  

I hope that this can help you decide what is right for you as well as help you find the most affordable tickets.  Have a wonderful time in Italy!  It is such a wonderful country.

There are several national trains with the fastest being the Alta Velocita (AV), or high speed, Eurostar Italia trains. These trains are very modern and that offer deluxe service to large cities within Italy. The Eurostar Italia Trains, or ES, are a step down from the high speed; however, they still offer fast, comfortable service to many of the main cities within Italy. Reservations for the Eurostar Italia Trains are required; however, they are free and issued with the ticket. The ticket is valid only for the specific day and train that was booked. With the Eurostar trains you don't need to stamp your ticket before departure.

Local connections among the smaller towns and cities are serviced by Eurostar City, Intercity (IC), and Intercity Plus trains. These trains are still fast because they bypass many of the smaller towns. The Eurostar City trains are very comfortable and nicely designed. Reservations are required for the Eurostar City and are issued with the purchase of the ticket. It is not necessary to validate the ticket before boarding the train. The Intercity trains allow seat reservations, for a surcharge of 3 Euro, but they are not required. The Intercity tickets are typically valid for 2 months and therefore they must be validated before boarding. You will notice machines to stamp your ticket close to where you will board. On the Intercity Plus trains, reservations are already including in the price. and takes place when the ticket is issued. Bookings can be made up until the train's departure. Tickets are valid only for the specific day and train booked and it is not necessary to validate the tickets before departure.

The regional, or local, trains generally circulate within a single region, stopping at almost every station en route, connecting them with the larger towns. Typically, these regional trains only offer second class seats, do not require any type of reservation, must be validated before departure, and may not be included if you purchase a rail pass. Regional direct trains are faster than the local trains, they stop at fewer stations, and will circulate within a specific region as well as the bordering regions. The inter-regional trains go beyond regional boundaries; however, they only operate during certain times of the year and on weekends. Of all the regional services, the Inter-regional trains are the fastest and have the fewest stops.