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Getting Around In Italy |
 Your travel source with a personal touch! |
I find it quite easy to get around in Italy by using a combination of public
transportation and taxis. It is also a place where you may want to rent a
car. Especially in the northern hill towns. What follows are some
suggestions for getting around in Italy.
By Air
By Sea
By Rail
By Road
Urban Transportation
Tours
AIR:
Alitalia and other airlines run
services to all the major cities. There are over 30 airports. For additional
details, see the section above, contact the airlines direct, or ENIT, Italian
Tourist Office, 212-245-4822.
SEA:
Italy's principal ports are Venice, Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples,
Messina, Cagliari, Bari, Pescara, Ancona, Trieste, Palermo, Catania, Livorno and
Brindisi. A number of car and passenger ferries operate throughout the year
linking Italian ports. Regular boat, ferries, and hydrofoil services run to the
islands of Capri, Elba, Giglio, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily) and the
Aeolian Islands. There are also some links along the coast. Ferry Travel in Italy and Greece
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RAIL:
There are nearly 16,000km (9400 miles) of track in the country, of which over
half is electrified. The Italian State
Railways (FS) run a nationwide network at very reasonable fares, calculated
on the distance traveled, and there are a number of excellent reductions.
I have never had a problem using the train in Italy and normally have been able
to just walk up to the ticket counter and purchase a ticket for the next
train. I do recommend you travel first class on any trip of over an hour.
A variety of tickets offering travel at a reduced rate are available.
Travel at Will tickets (Biglietto turistico libera circolazione), offer
unlimited travel on any Italian train. They are available from most Italian
stations and authorized agents for the following time periods: 8 days, 15 days,
21 days, and 30 days. Chilometrico: Valid for five people traveling
together over a distance of 3000km (1875 miles), making a maximum of 20 separate
journeys. There are also reductions for larger parties: 20% off for 6-24
persons, 30% off for 25 persons or more.
You will also find several local railway companies, most of whom run short-distance trains on narrow-gauge track. In Sicily, frequent services run from Palermo and Catania/Siracusa to mainland destinations via the Messina train ferries. There are also local trains which run from Palermo to Agrigento and Catania. On Sardinia, several daily trains run from Cagliari to Porto Torres and Olbia.
ROAD:
There are more than 300,000km (185,500 miles) of roads in Italy, including over
6000km (3700 miles) of limited access highways which link all parts of the
country. Tolls are charged at varying distances and scales, except for the
Salerno–Reggio Calabria, Palermo–Catania and Palermo–Mazara Del Vallo
stretches which are toll-free.
Secondary roads are also excellent and require no tolls. Road signs are
international. Many gas stations are closed 1200-1500. Visitors are advised to
check locally about exact opening times.
Traffic drives on the right. Speed limits are 50kph (30mph) in urban areas,
90/110kph (55/65mph) on country roads, 130kph (80mph) on motorways. Be sure to
put on your headlights when passing through tunnels. All vehicles must carry a
red warning triangle, available at border posts. Note: Fines for speeding and
other driving offences are on-the-spot and particularly heavy. In case of
breakdown on any Italian road, dial 116 at the nearest telephone box. Tell the
operator where you are, your plate number and type of car and the nearest
Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) office will be informed for immediate assistance.
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URBAN
TRANSPORTATION:
All the big towns and cities (Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Genoa and Venice) have
good public transport networks.
Metro (Underground or Subway):
In Rome there are two underground lines – Metropolitana A from Via Ottaviano
via Termini station to Via Anagnina, and Metropolitana B between Termini Station
and Exhibition City (EUR) (Via Laurentina). Both day and monthly passes are
available.
Milan also has an excellent metro service, with tickets usable on both metro and
bus. Just look for the big red M.
If you are arriving in Milan at Malpensa, the Paniucci Taxi Service offers taxi services (13 cars: Mercedes, Minivan, Minibus, etc.), bus & coach services (up to 55 passengers), parking at Milano Malpensa Airport, and an air taxi service. Although Paniucci is based at the Milano Malpensa Airport (the intercontinental airport that is about 40km from the city center of Milan), they offer taxi services all over Italy (north & center) and can also provide services to other areas such as Nice (France) or Lugano (Switzerland). They also work in conjunction with the Italian air taxi companies to provide air taxi services form/to Italy to/from all over the world, especially Europe.
There are plans to construct a Metro in Turin.
Tram:
There is a 28km (17-mile) network consisting of eight routes in Rome; Milan,
Naples and Turin also have tram services.
Bus:
Services operate in all main cities and towns; in Rome, the network is extensive
and complements the metro and tram systems. The fare structure is integrated
between the various modes. Buy a flat-fare ticket or a weekly pass in advance
from a roadside or station machine. Information is available from the ATAC booth
in front of the Termini station. Trolleybuses also run in a number of other
towns. In larger cities, fares are generally pre-purchased from machines or
shops. Bus fares – generally at a standard rate per run – can be bought in
packets of five or multiples and are fed into a stamping machine on boarding the
bus.
Taxi:
Available in most towns and cities. In Rome and Milan they are relatively
expensive, with extra charges for night service, luggage and taxis called by
telephone. All charges are listed on a rate card displayed in the cab with an
English translation. Taxis can only be hailed at strategically located stands or
by telephone. Avoid taxis that are not metered. A 10% tip is expected by taxi
drivers and this is sometimes added to the fare for foreigners. Whenever
possible, I avoid taking a taxi and rely on the bus, underground, or trams.
CITY TOURS:
Run by many travel agencies, these tours allow first-time visitors to get a
general impression of the main sights and enables them to plan further
sightseeing. Information is available from the local tourist office. Horse
carriages are available in Rome. Charges are high. In Venice, privately hired
boats and gondolas (but quite expensive) are available, as well as a public
ferry service. Check with local information offices for the best tour for
you.
