Do you need to book trains in italy in advance

If youre travelling on ter regional trains, you can take a fully assembled bike free of charge and without booking in advance, simply hang it up in the designated space. Although these trains dont need to be prebooked, if you book in advance you can often find cheaper trainspecific prems fares which save money over the ontheday fullflex price. Ive saved hundreds of euros by booking in advance but only for train travel i knew i wanted to definitely take on a specific day but, the. Jul, 2016 rail is one of the most popular ways for travellers to get around europe but ive often heard them bemoan the fact that fares are expensive. This is especially true for longdistance trains frecciarossa, italo, frecciargento, etc. Book your seat reservations quickly and easily with our online tool. You can book your eticket online directly on omio or the website of the train company. If you miss that train for any reason, your tickets will be worthless and youll have to buy more at full price. Theyre only available as single tickets for a to b rail journeys and are nonrefundable. Once youre in italy, you can buy tickets just before you get on a train. Any segments that use an intercities train, may need booking in advance some dont, but its best if you do book to get cheaper fares and to guarantee a seat.

Whether youre traveling with a rail pass or not, its worth taking the time to figure. Travelers to italy often ask when they can buy their italian train tickets in advance of their trip to italy, or whether they even need to buy them ahead of their train travel date. Before you visit rome, visit tripadvisor for the latest info and advice, written for travelers by travelers. I have compared companies and routes for years in order to write a guide on how to buy train tickets in italy. Theres always plenty of trains going the same places for different budgets. Buying train tickets in italy the 2019 guide the hotel. However, if time is a major constraint and you have a tight budget, youd be better off early booking the high speed train called freccia rossa which takes only 2hrs from rome to naples. Tickets are oneway only, so do be sure to book your return tickets at the same time. Buying train tickets in italy the 2019 guide the hotel expert. Should i buy train tickets in advance from rome to. You can see which trains require a reservation in our timetable, or you can check by country or by train type.

Heres what you need to know when planning to take the train from milan to venice. So far, in my last 3 visits to italy, i have always bought tickets on the day of travel at the train station, and never encountered a. Find alternative ways to book your seat reservations below. Book your italy train tickets online with us and find out everything you need to know about. For the hardtoget reservation, how far in advance you need to book varies wildly. You can buy most european train tickets online from anywhere, so it all comes down to how early you are able to commit to a nonrefundable. Have looked up trains grindelwald to milan depart 07. Here there is no discount for advance purchase, you buy a ticket and it is valid on any train, but you must stamp validate the ticket before you get on the train to stop you using it twice. Though you re given the option of registering on the site, you do not need to do so in order to buy tickets. For buying international train tickets from italy, see the advice here. You can always try buy train tickets at your train station of departure. Hi, i am a bit confused whether i should book my train tickets in advance for my travel in italy. Travel with our frecce trains, at high speed, departing and arriving from the center of the main cities.

I never book trains ahead except for holidays and have never had any problems getting what we needed. If you are booking italy train tickets for two or more people, it can also be cheaper. So you can take any train, the ticket is valid for 2 months from time of purchase and what you do need to do as uomo grasso said is stamp your ticket in the machines along the tracks before getting on the train. Sometimes its wise to buy your italian train tickets in advance and sometimes its not. What you need to know august 26, 2016 august 24, 2016 silvia donati milan, transportation buying italy train tickets, how to book italy train tickets, le frecce trains, milano centrale, online italy train reservation, train from milan to venice, venezia santa lucia. If your travel details are 100% confirmed, you can book in advance for the. Traveling by train from milan to venice buying your ticket. Train travel in italy, a beginners guide tickets from 9.

Frecce services are cheaper if purchased in advance with varying penalties for changes or cancellation but regionale tickets cost the same no matter when you. Frecce services are cheaper if purchased in advance with varying penalties for changes or cancellation but regionale tickets cost the same no matter when you buy them and are therefore best purchased immediately prior to travel in case you change your mind. If you catch regional trains and not the so called frecce, you dont need to buy tickets in advance, because there is no seat reservation and the price is always the same. You can do this while youre in europe by inquiring at the train station or through your hotel concierge. There are ticket kiosks that accept credit cards and are fairly easy to use though a little intimidating the first time as youll have a line of impatient italians queuing behind you. Frances highspeed tgv trains always require seat reservations, and usually book up early. Should i buy italy train tickets in advance rick steves. Rail europe provides an exclusive seat reservation service. Hi all travelling from grindelwald to verona on 28 september 3 people. If you buy on the spot at the station, a standard class ticket to florence is approximately 60 between leonardo express and frecciarossa. And in italy, the train tickets are heavily subsidized so they are reasonably priced to begin with, and quite cheap if you buy at least a couple weeks in advance. There are only a few trains in switzerland that require a seat reservation. Jan 21, 2019 without a car, i regularly travel through italy by train. Tickets between the major italian cities do sell out so book train seats between rome, florence, milan, venice, and naples in advance.

Once you re in italy, you can buy tickets just before you get on a train. Well explain you more about reservations a bit further down on this page. Renee, you can certainly buy tickets for the premium trains in advance ie. Any segments that use a regional train called ter in france dont need advance booking, and can be purchased on the day. That includes taking regional trains to get to smaller towns or short distances, and fast speed trains to travel between major italian cities. Book restaurants about a week in advance, unless they have michelin stars. Trenitalia are increasing this to 180 days in early 2018. To book a train in italy you can do it with trenitalia or italo depending on the company you have chosen. Martha bakerjian is an italian travel expert who uses her home in northern tuscany as a base for her indepth explorations of the country. On most of europes trains, reservations arent required, and theres plenty of seating for everyone. Yes there are good savings to be had financially but the convenience of prebooking is great.

Be sure to specify if you need personal assistance whether with a wheelchair, boarding, etc. I realise that i am missing out on the cheap ticket deals for booking ahead. How to buy italian train tickets before you leave home. This site uses proprietary or thirdparty profiling cookies to send online advertising with your preferences. If youre planning to see a lot in a short amount of time on your eurail trip, then youll most likely need to buy some seat reservations for highspeed routes before you go. Italian train tickets and rail passes can be purchased through eurail, italiarail and rail europe, all private entities, the latter of which are brokers of trenitalia tickets. In general, the earlier you book, the more youll save the cheapest ticket fares tend to sell out way faster than the more expensive ones, so make sure you buy your tickets in advance. Train travel in france, a beginners guide paris to nice. But if you do want to drive, you should definitely read our top 6 tips for driving in italy. Martha bakerjian is an italian travel expert who uses her home in northern tuscany as a base for her in depth explorations of the country. In spain, should i book train and bus tickets in advance. Start by selecting whether you want oneway or roundtrip travel, then start typing in your station of origin. How to buy train tickets in italy an american in rome. You can buy your train tickets roughly 2 months ahead of when you ll need them, and can even book them the day before your train trip.

Even with a eurail pass, you still need to pay a little extra to ride the fastest trains on. If you plan to use the high speed trains trenitalias frecciarossa, frecciargento or frecciabianca as well as italo trains you better book them in advance to save some money, perhaps going for a more flexible fare. You can compare fast and slow trains or filter them out completely if you dont want to worry. Most regional trains, also known as local trains, do not require a seat reservation. The short answer is that you dont need to book seats for trains in switzerland, except for a few scenic trains. The good news is that you can generally get a decent discount on the full fare if you buy at least a month in advance. If you plan to use the high speed trains trenitalias frecciarossa, frecciargento or frecciabianca as well as italo trains you better book them in advance to save some money, perhaps going for a more flexible fare on the other hand, if you plan to take conventional trains there is no need at all to buy the tickets in advance because. However, for the highspeed trains youll need to book a seat reservation. In actual fact, if you can book your european train tickets well in advance, fares are likely to be less expensive than you think. All intercites have plenty of room for luggage, toilets, and often some form of catering either a trolley service or a cafebar. Trains from the surrounding countries to switzerland usually do require seat reservations. When i create a custom italy itinerary for a new client, one of the most important parts of the initial discussion revolves around logistics, and the conversation quickly moves to italy train travel. Though some train rides should be booked in advance, its generally easiest to. Europe booking trains in italy should i book in advance.

Check the timetable to see whether your train requires seat reservations. To buy your train ticket in english, and to compare over 300 train and bus companies on the omio app. Venice to milan, florence to rome in advance, or can i buy them day of while we are there. Buying tickets soon after theyre released gives you a better chance of securing seats during busy travel days, and may give you access to sales or ticket discounts that are only available for advance purchases. How far in advance can i book european train tickets. You can buy your train tickets roughly 2 months ahead of when youll need them, and can even book them the day before your train trip. Cheap advance train tickets advance tickets info trainline. For all other sncf trains the rules differ depending on the type of train and time of day, bike spaces may need to be booked in advance and may require a ticket to travel. Passholders seat reservation guide rail europe train. Regional train tickets are usually only available about 60 days in advance. Though youre given the option of registering on the site, you do not need to do so in order to buy tickets. Theyre also nonflexible, meaning you ll need to be fairly confident that you can catch your train. Italy is one of those few countries you dont really need to book train tickets in advance, even in high season. Should we book in advance, or will we be able to secure tickets on the day we want to travel.

Is that something we should book in advance or can i wait until we are in venice on the 15th and ask the concierge to handle. Train tickets are one size fits all and are valid only for the specific date and times requested no refunds are given for missed trains. Heres how to find the train schedule, choose the train you want, book your. In spain, should i book train and bus tickets in advance for traveling from one city to another.

Sbb runs an eurocity stopping in luzern with terminus in venice. You have a busy wish list and you lose any chance to relax and enjoy somewhere if everything is prebooked. Long distance train tickets are cheaper if bought in advance, but you then lose the flexibility to alter your ittenary at will. Aug 26, 2016 traveling by train from milan to venice. Night trains can be a way to save time and money in europe, but they arent as great as this sounds.

Some european trains cant be booked through our reservation service. I have hardly ever bought tickets in advance in italy, because like you i prefer to have a flexible. Without a car, i regularly travel through italy by train. If youre looking for the cheapest possible ticket between a and b especially if a and b are in the same country this is the way to go. Please note that we do not offer discounted or special offer tickets at this time. I have hardly ever bought tickets in advance in italy, because like you i prefer to have a flexible schedule. On the other hand, if you plan to take conventional trains there is no need at all to buy the tickets in advance because. You can check schedules and buy tickets on trenitalia, the italian national train site. Buying tickets soon after theyre released gives you a better chance of securing seats during busy travel days, and may give you access. When i first started travelling, i used to prebook all of my accommodations well in advance. I was still quite inexperienced and i wanted to have the reassurance that i had a place to sleep every night. Advance tickets can be an especially smart buy for popular highspeed trains such as frances tgv trains and italys le frecce trains, which frequently sell out.

Europe do i need to book train switzerland to italy in advance. The conductor will scan your eticket while travelling. And booking a week in advance is almost always cheaper than booking on travel day. I want to go from madrid to malaga by train, from malaga to granada by bus, and from madrid to barcelona by train. Special equipment is also available for use by disabled travellers but must be reserved locally in advance. Highspeed trains in italy require to have a seat reservation booked in advance to boarding a train or you could be kicked out of the train. You can purchase tickets to skip the line, but that can also be done a day in advance and often on the same day. You show up at the station 15 minutes before, look for your track, when the train is ready you board your car in your reserved seats. All other trains can just be boarded with a rail pass or a ticket and do not need to be booked in advance. You dont necessarily need to make the reservations that far in advance, but if youre traveling with a rail pass, dont assume you can hop on any italian train with just your pass in hand. This is how seat reservations work for swiss and european. Do i need to book train switzerland to italy in advance. We will be headed to venice, milan, cinque terre, florence, rome, naples, almalfi coast and finishing in bari should i buy train tickets tofrom major cities i. If you plan to travel on an overnight train, longdistance trip or during peak holiday times.

To avoid lines at the ticket counter and to be sure youll be able to travel at your desired time, buy your train ticket in advance on select italys website. However, it is safer to create one in case you need to update or. Advance train tickets are fares that go on sale well before the day of travel. France, which tickets do i need to book in advance. Faq rail europe rail travel planner europe train travel. That said, train tickets do sell out in high season, so definitely book a month or so in advance, at least.

You cannot book more than 90 days in advance for train travel in italy. First things first choose which pass youre going to travel europe with. Trains in italy the fastest and best value routes omio. One of the best ways to see the pope in rome is to attend the sunday angelus. That said, if you book in advance, you can change your ticket if you miss the train. Choose where you want to go and check whether you need to reserve a seat.

You can book italian train tickets online using a credit card. The best sites for buying italy train tickets in 1st and 2nd class. For example, pisa to florence, florence to siena, milan to como or milan to tirano. Be aware that there are two broad categories of train services in italy. To book your tickets for the train from rome to florence, you can do it on the day of travel, right at the train station at the kiosks there. If youre planning to see a lot in a short amount of time on your interrail trip, then youll most likely need to buy some seat reservations for highspeed routes before you go. There is also a frecciargento that departs from the airport, with no changes required. Regionalle trains local trains do not require a reservation. Search for your route and well tell you if you need a. Whereas if you do not pre book then you have to show up early to buy your ticket along with a throng of other travelers that for most part do not understand the system and you need to be aware of pickpockets and scammers trying to help you. On your trip from florence to the cinque terre, its likely that some or all of the trains youll be using will be regionale, and you wont be able to buy tickets in advance for those. Italy has an extensive highspeed train network, which will get you where you want to go a lot faster compared to the regional train system.

For the hard to get reservation, how far in advance you need to book varies wildly. I agree fully with avoiding the schedule constraints. If you are travelling with a rail pass, then you just need to board the train, find a seat and relax. This means all tickets for these trains are sold without a time or date. Theres absolutely no need to buy in advance and no advantage in doing so other than saving time at the ticket office. I am a bit confused whether i should book my train tickets in advance for my travel in italy. Travel light, book em in advance and you may get considerable discounts because you will travel as family. Buying european train tickets by rick steves rick steves europe. Eurail passes are only available to noneu citizens and residents and must be purchased in advance of your trip to italy. You can show up at the station and buy your tickets just before departure, from the machines or the ticket office. If you buy ahead, make sure you give yourself a lot of time between the scheduled landing and the train departure. Hello, my hubby and i are heading to italy in may 2018. Plan your journey ahead and book your italy train tickets with us.