Wondering how to travel around Italy?
The good news is that Italy is actually pretty easy to get around, especially if you’re travelling between the major cities and tourist destinations.
You can travel around Italy by train, FlixBus, car or even domestic flights, depending on where you’re going. And if you’re travelling from another European country, you also have the option of arriving in Italy by train, bus or car.
Personally, I’ve used a mix of all of these. I’ve taken FlixBus around Italy, travelled by train between cities and flown into Milan before continuing my trip by train to places like Lake Maggiore and Turin.
My biggest advice?
Don’t automatically assume flying is the best option just because you’re travelling to Italy. Compare the total travel time and price, because once you’re in Italy, the train network makes it surprisingly easy to continue travelling around the country.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting to Italy and how to get around Italy once you’re there.
How to Get to Italy
How you get to Italy depends a lot on where you’re coming from.
If you’re already travelling around Europe, you don’t necessarily need to fly. Italy borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, so travelling overland can be a great option, especially if you’re starting in Northern Italy.
Your main options are:
- Flying
- Train
- Bus
- Car
Getting to Northern Italy from Other European Countries
If you’re heading to Northern Italy, travelling overland can make a lot of sense.
You can arrive by train, bus or car from neighbouring countries such as France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.
This can be especially convenient if you’re already travelling through Europe and don’t want to take a flight just to get to Italy.
Long-distance buses such as FlixBus can also connect Italy with many European cities.
However, if you’re coming from further away, I would usually compare flights first.
Flying to Italy
For most travellers coming from outside Italy, flying is probably the easiest option.
Italy has a large number of airports, meaning you don’t necessarily have to fly into Rome.
Depending on your itinerary, you could fly into places such as:
- Milan
- Rome
- Venice
- Bologna
- Florence
- Naples
- Palermo
- Catania
- Bari
- Pisa
This is actually one of my favourite things about travelling around Italy.
You can choose your arrival airport based on your itinerary rather than automatically flying into the capital.
Flying to Milan Is Often a Great Option
If you’re travelling around Northern Italy, definitely check flights to Milan.
I’ve flown to Milan several times because flights can be surprisingly cheap, and from Milan you can easily continue by train to other destinations.
For example, I’ve used Milan as a starting point for trips towards:
Milan → Lake Maggiore
or
Milan → Turin
You can also continue towards Lake Como, other Northern Italian cities and destinations further east.
My tip:
Don’t only compare the flight price. Compare the entire journey.A €30 flight isn’t necessarily cheaper if you then need a €50 transfer and several hours of travelling to reach your actual destination.
Sometimes paying slightly more for a flight into a more convenient airport saves you both time and money.
So before booking, check:
Flight price + airport transfer + train/bus ticket + total travel time
That’s a much better way to compare your options.
How to Travel Around Italy
Once you’re in Italy, you have several options for getting between cities and regions.
The main ones are:
Train — usually my favourite for longer distances
FlixBus — often the cheapest option
Car — great for road trips and rural areas
Domestic flights — useful for longer distances or islands
For most travellers, I’d start by checking train and bus prices, then consider a car or flight if it makes more sense for your specific route.
Travelling Around Italy by Train
If you’re travelling between major Italian cities, the train is one of the easiest ways to get around Italy.
Italy has an extensive railway network, and high-speed trains connect many of the country’s major cities.
This means you can often travel directly between cities without needing a car.
For example, you can build a route such as:
Milan → Turin → Genoa → Florence → Bologna → Verona → Venice
without needing to drive yourself.
And for a trip where you’re visiting several cities, that’s incredibly convenient.
The Two Main Italian Train Companies
The two train networks you’ll probably come across most often are:
Trenitalia
Trenitalia is Italy’s main railway operator and has both regional and high-speed services.
You’ll see Trenitalia trains on routes all over the country, including both short regional journeys and longer intercity trips.
Italo Treno
Italo Treno is a private high-speed rail operator.
It operates on several major routes and is particularly useful when travelling between larger cities.
If you’re travelling a longer distance, it’s worth checking both Trenitalia and Italo Treno before booking.
Prices and departure times can differ, so comparing the two can sometimes save you money.
High-Speed Trains in Italy
If you want to see a lot of Italy in a relatively short amount of time, high-speed trains can be a game changer.
They connect several major cities much faster than slower regional trains.
This makes it possible to combine destinations that look quite far apart on a map without spending an entire day travelling.
For example, if you’re planning a multi-city Italy itinerary, high-speed trains can make routes between Northern and Central Italy much more manageable.
They’re especially useful if you only have 10–14 days in Italy and want to see several destinations.
→ Read my guide on how many days you need in Italy
My Biggest Italy Train Travel Tip: Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
Okay, this is something I really wish I had known earlier.
Do not assume you can buy your train ticket five minutes before departure.
I have made this mistake myself.
I arrived way too late somewhere, thinking I could simply buy a ticket at the last minute and jump on the train.
Nope.
That did not work.
So please learn from my mistake.
Buy your train ticket in advance.
Booking in advance is useful for two reasons:
1. You have a much better chance of getting the train you actually want.
2. Tickets can be cheaper when booked ahead of time.
For longer journeys and high-speed trains especially, I would definitely check prices in advance rather than relying on a last-minute ticket.
Can You Buy Italian Train Tickets on the App?
Yes.
You can use the train operators’ websites and apps to check routes and buy tickets digitally.
Personally, I like having the ticket on my phone because it saves you from having to find a ticket machine at the station.
However, I’ve noticed that prices can sometimes differ between buying online/in the app and buying at the station.
So if you’re staying close to the station and you’re travelling on a route where the price matters, it can be worth checking both.
You might find a different fare at the station.
But don’t take this as a reason to wait until the last minute.
Best approach:
Check the route and price in advance → compare Trenitalia and Italo Treno → book when you find a good price → keep your ticket on your phone.
That gives you the best combination of price + convenience + peace of mind.
Travelling Around Italy by FlixBus
If you’re travelling Italy on a budget, FlixBus is definitely worth checking.
I’ve used FlixBus around Italy many times and generally found it very convenient.
The biggest advantage is simple:
It’s often cheaper than the train.
You can connect many Italian cities by bus, making it a useful option if you’re backpacking Italy or trying to keep your transport costs low.
The downside is that buses are obviously more affected by traffic, so the journey can take longer than travelling by train.
That’s why I usually compare:
FlixBus vs. train
rather than automatically choosing one.
If the FlixBus is significantly cheaper and only takes a little longer, I’ll happily take the bus.
If the train is only slightly more expensive but saves me hours, I’ll usually choose the train.
Travelling Around Italy by Car
A car is another great option, especially if you’re travelling through smaller towns, countryside or rural areas.
It’s particularly useful for destinations where public transport isn’t as convenient.
A road trip through Tuscany, Puglia, Sicily or Sardinia can give you much more freedom to stop wherever you want.
You don’t have to plan your entire day around train or bus schedules, and you can reach smaller villages and beaches that aren’t as easy to access by public transport.
However, I wouldn’t automatically rent a car for a city-focused Italy trip.
Driving and parking in cities can be stressful, and many historic centres have restricted traffic zones, so a car can sometimes be more of a hassle than a help.
For a route such as:
Rome → Florence → Venice
I’d personally rather use trains.
The Dolomites Are a Different Story
One place where I really wish I had had a car was the Dolomites.
I wanted to include the Dolomites in my Northern Italy trip so badly because, honestly, they look absolutely incredible.
The problem was getting there without a car.
I looked into travelling there by public transport, and the route was honestly a nightmare. Even just getting to the Dolomites would have taken almost an entire day, with multiple connections and a lot of unnecessary travel time.
At some point I realised that I would be spending a huge part of my trip just trying to get there and back.
So if you’re planning to visit the Dolomites, I would strongly consider coming by car or renting one for a few days.
It’s not necessarily that public transport is completely impossible, but compared with having your own car, it can be much more complicated and time-consuming, especially if you want to explore different hiking areas and viewpoints.
And honestly, the Dolomites are so worth it.
If dramatic mountain scenery, hiking and nature are high on your Italy bucket list, I wouldn’t skip them just because getting there by public transport is inconvenient. I’d simply change the way you travel there.
My tip for the Dolomites:
If you’re adding the Dolomites to a Northern Italy itinerary, consider renting a car for several days rather than trying to reach and explore the area entirely by bus and train. You’ll have much more freedom and won’t lose an entire day to complicated connections.
So for me, my general rule is:
Big cities = train
Budget travel = FlixBus
Countryside, mountains & road trips = consider a car
For a countryside or island road trip?
That’s a different story.
Travelling Around Italy by Plane
Domestic flights can make sense in some situations, especially when you’re travelling between mainland Italy and the islands.
For example, flying can be worth considering if you’re travelling a long distance to or from Sicily or Sardinia.
But for many mainland routes, I would check the train first.
Once you include airport transfers, security and waiting time, a short flight isn’t always as fast as it looks on paper.
If you’re travelling between major cities connected by high-speed rail, the train can often be much more convenient.
What’s the Best Way to Travel Around Italy?
There isn’t one best form of transport for the entire country.
It depends on your route.
Here’s how I’d choose:
| Transport | Best for | My opinion |
|---|---|---|
| Train | Major cities & longer distances | My favourite |
| FlixBus | Budget travel | Very good |
| Car | Countryside & road trips | Great in the right places |
| Plane | Long distances & islands | Useful, but compare carefully |
If you’re backpacking Italy on a budget, compare FlixBus and trains.
If you’re visiting several major cities, look at trains first.
If you’re exploring rural areas, consider renting a car.
And if you’re travelling between the mainland and a major island, compare flights with other options.
How I Would Travel Around Italy
If I were planning an Italy trip from scratch, I’d probably use a combination of transport rather than sticking to one.
For example:
Fly into Milan
↓
Train to Lake Maggiore
↓
Train to Turin
↓
FlixBus or train to Genoa
↓
Train to Florence
↓
Train to Verona & Venice
That’s the beauty of travelling around Italy.
You don’t have to commit to one method.
You can simply choose whatever makes the most sense for each part of your route.
Is It Easy to Travel Around Italy Without a Car?
Yes.
If you’re sticking mostly to the major cities and well-known tourist destinations, you can travel around Italy without renting a car.
Trains connect many of the main cities, and buses can fill in some of the routes where trains aren’t ideal.
In fact, for a first Italy trip focused on cities, I would probably not rent a car at all.
A car becomes much more useful when you want to explore:
- Tuscan countryside
- Puglia
- Smaller villages
- Rural Sicily
- Sardinia
- Mountain areas
- Remote beaches
So don’t feel like you need a car just because you’re travelling around Italy.
You really don’t.
How to Save Money on Transportation in Italy
If you’re travelling Italy on a budget, transportation costs can add up quickly.
These are the things I’d do:
1. Compare trains and FlixBus
Don’t automatically book the first option you see.
Check both.
Sometimes the bus is dramatically cheaper. Other times, the train is only slightly more expensive and much faster.
2. Book trains in advance
Especially for longer journeys and high-speed trains.
Booking earlier can give you better prices and more choice.
3. Compare Trenitalia and Italo Treno
They don’t always have the same prices or departure times.
4. Check different airports
If you’re flying into Italy, don’t assume Rome is automatically the cheapest or most convenient option.
For Northern Italy, Milan is definitely worth checking.
5. Look at the total journey
The cheapest flight isn’t necessarily the cheapest way to reach your destination.
Always consider airport transfers and onward trains or buses.
6. Don’t book everything blindly
If you’re doing a longer backpacking trip, you don’t necessarily need every single transport ticket months in advance.
But for popular routes and high-speed trains, I would definitely avoid leaving everything until the last minute.
Do You Need to Book Transportation in Italy in Advance?
For the cheapest prices and the most choice, yes.
You don’t necessarily need to book every regional train weeks ahead, but for high-speed trains and longer journeys, booking in advance is usually the safer option.
It also means you don’t have to arrive at the station and hope that the next train still has a suitable ticket.
And trust me:
Learn from my five-minutes-before-departure mistake.
Check your train in advance.
Book your ticket.
Then go enjoy your Aperol without having to sprint through the station.
Final Thoughts on Getting Around Italy
Italy is actually a pretty easy country to travel around once you understand your options.
You can fly into Italy, take trains between major cities, use FlixBus when you want to save money and rent a car when you want more freedom in rural areas.
Personally, I use a combination depending on the route.
For Northern Italy, I often find flying into Milan + continuing by train really convenient.
For travelling between major cities, I usually look at the train first.
And when I’m travelling on a tighter budget, I always check FlixBus too.
The biggest thing I’d recommend is simply to compare your options before booking.
Look at the price, but also look at the total travel time and how easy the journey actually is.
Because spending €10 less isn’t necessarily a bargain if it adds five hours to your day.
And please…
Don’t be like me and arrive at the station five minutes before your train thinking you’ll just buy a ticket.
Italy has many wonderful things waiting for you.
Running through a train station because you forgot to book your ticket does not need to be one of them.
Planning Your Trip to Italy?
Planning a trip to Italy can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re choosing between huge historic cities, beautiful coastlines, charming smaller towns, mountains, lakes and islands.
That’s why I’ve created my Italy Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, local tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Italy.
→ START HERE: Italy Travel Guides
Frequently Asked Questions About Travelling Around Italy
What is the best way to travel around Italy?
For most travellers, trains are the best way to travel around Italy, especially between major cities. Italy has a good high-speed rail network, and trains are usually faster and more comfortable than buses. For smaller towns, rural areas and the Dolomites, however, renting a car can give you much more freedom.
Is it easy to travel around Italy without a car?
Yes! You can easily travel between many of Italy’s biggest cities by train or bus. Cities such as Milan, Turin, Florence, Rome, Naples and Venice are well connected by rail. You may need a car, or at least more planning, if you want to explore remote mountain areas or smaller villages.
Is it better to travel around Italy by train or bus?
It depends on your route and budget. Trains are usually faster and more comfortable, especially for longer journeys between major cities. FlixBus is often a cheaper option and can be great if you’re travelling on a budget. I have used FlixBus many times in Italy and found it very easy.
Should you book Italian trains in advance?
Yes, especially if you are travelling on a high-speed train or during a busy period. Booking in advance can give you better prices and means you don’t have to worry about finding a ticket at the last minute. I personally prefer booking my Italian train tickets ahead of time.
Can you travel to the Dolomites by public transport?
You can reach parts of the Dolomites by public transport, but I personally found getting there from other parts of Northern Italy extremely time-consuming. During my own Northern Italy trip, the route I found involved complicated connections and would have taken almost an entire day. If the Dolomites are a priority for your trip, I would seriously consider renting a car for a few days.
Is renting a car in Italy worth it?
A rental car can be very useful if you want to explore the countryside, smaller villages, mountain areas or places that are not well connected by public transport. For big cities, however, I would usually choose trains instead, as driving and parking can be more stressful and expensive.
What is the cheapest way to travel around Italy?
There isn’t one cheapest option for every route, but FlixBus is often one of the most budget-friendly choices. Trains can also be affordable when booked in advance, especially if you find a good fare on a high-speed service.
Can you fly between cities in Italy?
Yes, but for many popular routes, flying doesn’t make much sense. Once you include getting to and from the airports and waiting at the airport, a high-speed train can be just as convenient or even faster. I would compare both options, especially if you’re travelling a long distance.
Which train companies operate in Italy?
The two main train operators you’ll come across are Trenitalia and Italo. Both operate high-speed services between major Italian cities, although the routes and prices can differ, so it’s worth checking both before booking.
What is the easiest way to get to Italy?
That depends on where you’re travelling from. From neighbouring countries, you can reach Northern Italy by train, bus or car. Flying can also be a very convenient option because Italy has many international airports, and from places such as Milan you can easily continue your journey by train.
