Is it better to drive in Italy or take a train?

The best way to travel around Italy, if you mainly want to visit the cities like Rome, Florence and Venice, is by train. Italy has an extensive network of both fast speed inter-city trains and regional services that connect the smaller cities and towns.



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Getting around Italy by train is a great option. The Italian train system is pretty efficient and one of the least expensive in Europe. Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane runs trains under the brand name Trenitalia, operating a large network across the country.

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For many travelers, the pleasure of journeying along Europe's rails really is as good as the destination. Train travel, though not as flexible as driving, can be less stressful. On a train, you can forget about parking hassles, confusing road signs, speed limits, bathroom stops, and Italian drivers.

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While renting a car isn't necessary or even advised if you're only visiting major tourists city (you can't even bring your rental car into the old town Florence, and having a car in Rome is a very bad idea not just because of traffic but also because many main attractions are only accessible by foot anyway), if you ...

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My personal favorite way of getting around Italy is traveling by train. Most cities are connected to a local train station making train travel convenient, easy, and relatively fast. While regional and intercity trains get you where you need to go, faster trains also exist that allow you to travel Italy in style.

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Traveling Italy by train is more cheap and convenient than by car. In fact, traveling by car can be quite expensive for tourists.

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Driving in Italy can be intimidating for a foreigner, but it is safe if you prepare and follow Italian rules. While it is easier to travel between big cities by train, sometimes renting a car is the best option.

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Perhaps the most popular scenic train route in Italy is the Bernina Express, which connects Tirano in Italy to St. Moritz in the Swiss Alps. Along the way you'll see mountain peaks covered in snow, alpine lakes, and gorgeous valleys.

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However, to experience Italy at its best, you'll need to factor in three or four weeks. That way, you'll have enough time to discover a large part of the peninsula and one (or perhaps both!) of its major islands, Sardinia and Sicily.

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While you can make local friends on trains or experience rural life on a road trip, there's no better way to see Italy than with the help of a local tour guide.

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Overall, Florence is one of Italy's best cities to visit for first timers who love to immerse themselves in new cultures. Wondering where to stay in Florence (or where to stay in Tuscany, Italy's famous countryside)? Our guides offer a rundown of the best places to stay.

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If you do not hold a full EU driving license, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to be able to rent a car in Italy. This includes UK, US, Australian, and New Zealand driving license holders. An IDP costs $15/£12.50.

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If that's the kind of traveler you are, renting a car in Europe is the way to go! Sure, many parts of Europe have an excellent train system compared to the United States. But EuroRail passes can be surprisingly expensive, and they can also limit your options for where to travel.

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The cheapest way to travel across America depends on the mode of transportation. Generally speaking, taking the bus or the train is the most cost effective way to cover a long distance. If you plan ahead, long-distance bus companies such as Greyhound and Megabus often offer discounted fares.

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“When traveling by train, the security and boarding are much faster and simpler, the luggage limitations go away, and there's easily twice as much leg room on a train even in the lowest class. You don't have to worry about the size of your liquids or whether your bag fits a certain dimension to carry it on.”

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