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Getting To Italy |
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Most visitors from North America arrive in Italy by air. Many European
visitors arrive by train or on the excellent road systems of Europe. Here
is some information to help you get to Italy.
By Air
By Rail
By Sea
On the Road (driving and by coach)
Discount Air Fares
Tours to and in
Italy
AIR:
Italy's national airline is
Alitalia
which offers service from several places throughout the world, including North
America.
Here is a listing of the major international airports in Italy, all of which
also offer domestic flights within Italy:
Rome (FCO) (Leonardo da Vinci or Fiumicino)
The airport is located about 26km (16 miles) southwest of the city with travel
time into the city center between 30 and 55 minutes. Airport facilities include
outgoing duty-free shop (0800-2330), car hire, bank and 24-hour bureau de change
and 24-hour bar/restaurant. There is a direct rail link to Termini Station and a
bus service every 15 minutes. Taxis are also available to the city. I
recommend you take the direct rail link or a bus.
Rome (CIA) (Ciampino) This
airport is about 32km (15 miles) from the city and travel time is about an
hour. Airport facilities include a bank/bureau de change, duty-free shop
and souvenir shop and café. Buses are available to the underground station
Anagnina. Taxis are also available. Bologna (BLQ) (G Marconi), 6km (4 miles)
northwest of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Buses and taxis are
available to the city. If you have little luggage (carry on), you may opt
to take the bus to the underground station at Anagnina and go on to your hotel
from there either by underground, bus, or taxi to save a little money.
Genoa (GOA) (Cristoforo
Colombo, Sestri) The Genoa airport is only about is 6km (4 miles) west
of the city with travel time into the city about 20 minutes). Duty-free
facilities. Buses are available to the city.
Milan (LIN) (Linate)
Linate is the closer of the two Milan airports located about 10km (6 miles) east
of the city. Travel time into the city center is about 30
minutes. The airport is small, but facilities include outgoing duty-free
facilities, car hire, bank/bureau de change and bar/restaurant. Taxis and buses
are available to the city. You may want to take the express bus to Milan's Centrale
Station from which you can take the underground, a bus, or a taxi to your
hotel. SEAV buses leave
for the Stazione Centrale every 20 to 30 minutes, from 6 A.M. to 11 P.M., but
may be available at other times to meet arriving flights. The fare is about
3,000 lira ($2). There are taxis at the central station that you can take to
your destination. Additionally, you can take city bus n.73 which runs from
the airport to downtown (Piazza San Babila, Underground Station), leaving every
10 minutes during the day. Tickets are 1,500 lira and can be purchased at newsstands. Both of the busses have ample space for your luggage. Taxi
fare to the center will be about 24,000 to 28,000 lira ($13 to $15). Travel time
will be 20 minutes, but up to 40 minutes during the morning peak travel hours.
If you plan to rent a car, you will find Avis, Sixt, Europcar, Hertz, and Maggiore-National all at the airport. Some have
offices at the central rail station.
Milan (MXP) (Malpensa)
The new airport of Malpensa is very nice with excellent facilities to included
just about anything a traveler would need. However, it is quite a ways
from the city (45km (29 miles) northwest of the city) and a taxi ride into Milan
could cost upwards to $75, depending upon where your hotel is located, and the
travel time will be around 40 to 80 minutes. My
suggestion is that you take the Malpensa Express train which will get you into the city nicely.
The 40-minute trip makes intermediate stops at Milan Bovisa Politecnico and
Saronno. Trains run every 30 minutes throughout the day. From the train
station you can hail a taxi, take a bus or trolley, or use the underground to
complete you journey to your hotel. There is regular bus service from
Malpensa to Porta Garibaldi Station and Stazione Centrale (central rail
station). From the central station it is easy to get a taxi to your final
destination. The buses run about every 1/2 hour from 6 A.M. to midnight. The
fare to the central station is around 13,000 lira ($8) and the travel time will
be about 1 hour. Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, and Maggiore are at the
airport. Some have offices at the central rail station.
Naples (NAP) (Capodichino)
The Naples airport is located about
7km (4.5 miles) north of the city (travel time – 20-30 minutes). Take a taxi
into town or to your hotel. Duty-free
facilities.
Pisa (PSA) (Galileo Galilei) The Pisa airport is only about 2km (1.5 miles) northeast of
the city with travel time being about 10 minutes. Take a taxi into town or
to your hotel. Duty-free facilities.
Note: Travelers to Florence can fly in to Pisa and then
take the new train service directly from Pisa Airport to Florence. The
trip takes about one hour. The rail station in Pisa is practically inside the airport. Rail
services connect with arrivals and departures of all international flights and
major domestic services.
Palermo (PMO) (Punta Raisi) Airport is about 30km (19 miles) west of the
city with travel time being about 40 minutes.
Turin (TRN) (Citta di Torino)
Airport is about 16km (10 miles) northeast of the city with travel time being
about 35 minutes.
Venice (VCE) (Marco Polo)
Marco Polo Airport is located about 10km (6 miles) northwest of the city with
travel time into the city about 20 minutes.
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SEA:
International sailings to Italy run from Croatia, Greece, Libya,
South America, the Far East, Malta, Spain, France, Tunisia and Turkey. For
details, contact shipping agents direct or consult the Travellers' Handbook,
available from ENIT, the Italian
Tourist Office, 212-245-4822.
Mediterranean Cruise Discounts!
RAIL:
The main rail connections from London (Victoria) and Paris to
Italy are:
arial (Paris/Rome). Couchettes and sleeping cars only.
Naples Express (Paris, Turin, Genoa, Pisa, Rome, Naples).
Simplon Express (Paris, Lausanne, Brigue, Domodossola, Milan, Venice,
Trieste).
Italia Express (Calais, Lille, Strasbourg, Basle, Milan, Bologna,
Florence, Rome).
Many other European trains have through-coaches to the main Italian cities. For additional information check FS OnLine.
ROAD:
If you plan to drive into Italy, road routes to Italy run through France, Austria,
Switzerland and Slovenia and most routes use the tunnels under the Alps and
Appennines. The road system is very good and you should not have any
problems at all. You can also take your car on the train.
Italian Railways run regular daily services called 'autotreno' to convey cars,
especially during the summer holiday season: Milan–Genoa–Naples–Villa San
Giovanni; Bologna–Naples–Villa San Giovanni. These services operate from
special railway stations and are generally bookable at the departure station.
Owners must travel on the same train. The documents required are the log-book,
valid driving license with Italian translation, Green Card insurance and
national identity plate fixed to the rear of the vehicle. For information on
routes, contact the Italian State Tourist Office.
If you plan to arrive by coach, Eurolines run coach services from the UK to the
following destinations: Bologna, Florence, Milan, Padua, Rome, Turin, Venice and
Verona. For information on timetables, call Eurolines in the UK. Tel: (0171) 730
8235 (reservations).
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