Travelling in Italy
Once in Italy, trains, automobiles, and to some extent coaches and buses, can be used to get around.
The railway system is good and inexpensive. Owned by the state, it’s called Ferrovie dello Stato (abbreviated FS), but trains are operated under the brand name "Trenitalia". Most trains carry first and second class. First class seats often recline, there are fewer seats per car, and there is more space for luggage. On some Premier Trains, the price of a first class ticket includes a meal. Second class accommodations are less expensive, but not as spacious, as there are more seats per car. Seat reservation is now compulsory on faster trains (i.e. Eurostar, EuroStarCity, and InterCity). On other, slower categories of trains (Regionale, Suburbano) it is not possible to reserve seats. Purchase your train ticket before getting on the train, and stamp it before boarding at one of those small yellow machines on platforms. Traveling without a ticket (or failure to stamp it) can result in a €50 fine (payable on the spot to the conductor by non-residents). There are often long queues at the ticket office of the railway stations. To beat the crowds, you can buy your ticket at one of the ticket dispensing machines that can often be found in station halls or on platforms, or visit a travel agency -- most travel agencies in Italy sell train tickets, at no commission. It is also possible to buy your tickets up to 2 months in advance of your trip, and if you travel on an Eurostar, EuroStarCity, and InterCity you can buy your e-ticket (referred to as "ticketless" mode) on line on