Eurostar at Venice Train Station	Photo by S. Kane

Italy offers excellent, comfortable, and  reasonably-priced  public transportation by train, bus, and ferry. While a car can be a convenience in some situations, you can often do without one. The one exception is if you rent a villa or apartment that is some distance from public transportation.  

Airport Transportation

If you arrive in Italy by plane, as most travelers do, you can find excellent bus shuttle services to the center of the city.  In Rome, Milan, Pisa, and Palermo, a train link is also available.  You'll find information about the transportation options at every Italian airport here.

Strikes

One concern of travelers is  whether there might be a strike (scioppero).  Strikes are scheduled and announced well in advance (by days and even weeks)  and are often in effect for a short period of the day, such as four hours, although some are in effect for 24 hours and can disrupt your plans.  For a list of scheduled strikes, click here.

Train Travel  

Two of the most important facts to know train travel in Italy are to stamp your ticket before you board the train and to hold onto the ticket for the duration of the trip. If you don't stamp your ticket or if you don't have a ticket, you could be fined as much as 10 times the cost of the ticket. Inspection is random; inspectors may get on at any stop.  The exception to this rule is if you buy Eurostar, Intercity, or Intercity Plus train tickets on the Italian National Railways website; then you only need to show your receipt.  

Since our discovery of the Italian National Railways (Trenitalia) website a few years ago, we now start planning our vacation months in advance from the comfort of our home.  The website has improved every year.  The English version (as well as the Italian version) enables online purchase of  Eurostar, Intercity Plus, and Intercity train tickets. 

We check schedules and travel times between pairs of cities and towns we’d like to visit. We often print these schedules to take with us. If we plan any long distance trips within Italy, we buy those tickets online.

Buying Tickets Online 

To purchase a ticket online, your travel date must be less than 60 days from the current date and you must be registered on the website.  You can purchase tickets at any time of day or night. 

One of the best things about the Trenitalia website is that you can get a listing of all possible trains for a 24-hour period between any two cities or towns, for example, from Florence to Rome or Milan to Monterosso (one of the five Cinque Terre villages). You specify the departure and arrival places, the date of travel, and the earliest time you might like to travel. The display shows the total travel time for each trip, and, when a change of trains is required, the name of the station where you change.

To display ticket prices (first class and second class) for a particular trip, click on the shopping cart icon in the "Buy" column.  You will notice a difference in price depending on the class (first or second) and the type of train (Eurostar is the most expensive followed by Intercity Plus followed by Intercity followed by Regional and Direct).

To display Eurostar or Intercity Plus ticket prices, specify a travel date at least one day later than the current date and time.  (This is because you cannot purchase these tickets online less than 24 hours before the departure time.)

Sometimes, the English version of the website displays the names of cities and towns with their Italian names, such as when you specify Milan and the website prompts you to choose from several Milan train stations.  The Italian names for the major cities are Milano for Milan,  Roma for Rome, Venezia for Venice, Firenze for Florence, Napoli for Naples, and Genova for Genoa.  (The spelling of most small towns is the same in English as in Italian.)

The Purchase Guide on the Trenitalia website is an invaluable resource.  It includes a list of stations that have self-service ticket machines with a picture of the ticket machine.  You'll find it listed under "Timetable and purchasing."

Note: Before buying tickets online, contact the credit card company whose card you plan to use and tell them you are making a purchase from an Italian company.  Some credit card companies automatically disallow a purchase because it falls outside your normal purchasing pattern. However, the error message from the Trenitalia website doesn't indicate that the credit card company rejected the purchase. Instead, it can appear that Trenitalia rejected your purchase. 

When contacting the credit card company, tell them your travel dates if you plan to use the same credit card in Italy.   Do the same with any other credit card companies whose cards you intend to use.

Registering on Trenitalia and Obtaining a Password

Before you can buy tickets online, you must register and then wait for confirmation of your registration with a password.  This can take up to 48 hours, although it usually takes less than a day.  

Tip: Some AOL users have reported difficulty obtaining a password from Trenitalia. Their workaround is to establish a different email address for this purpose, such as a separate Yahoo email address. 

Once registered, or possibly a day later (a short time elapses before your registration can be used), you can buy your tickets (up to five for the specified route)  and seat reservations online using a credit card. Mastercard, VISA, and some other credit cards are accepted.  

Ticketless Option

When buying your tickets, choose the ticketless option.  You are emailed a confirmation with all the details of your routing and seat reservations (if you purchased them or if you purchased Eurostar or Intercity Plus tickets, which include seat reservations), and a reservation code.  Print the confirmation and bring it with you to Italy.  If your confirmation is for Eurostar, Intercity, or Intercity Plus trains,  you do not need  paper tickets.  You simply present the printed confirmation to the conductor when he comes through the car to check tickets.    

If you want paper tickets,  you can obtain them from  ticket machines, which are found at larger  train stations, from the station agents, or from a travel agency (at no extra charge), using your confirmation number.  

Seat Reservations

A seat reservation is included in the purchase of a Eurostar or an Intercity Plus ticket, and is an additional charge (of a few euros) for an Intercity train ticket.   Seat reservations are not available on the Regional (R) trains or the Direct (D) trains.  

We recommend seat reservations for travel on week ends and for travel of two hours or longer, regardless of whether it's January or May. This is especially true if you are boarding a train that originated elsewhere and may already be quite full when it stops at your station. One January, friends traveling from Rome to Venice without seat reservations found themselves without seats for a good portion of that trip.  

The seat reservation includes the number of the train car (carriage) and the seat number. The train layout, with the number of each car, is posted at the head of each track (binario).  Once you locate the train car, you'll be able to locate the seats.  The seat numbers are either above the seats or at the top of the headrest on the seats.

First Class or Second Class Tickets

First class tickets typically cost 30-40% more than second class tickets. For the Eurostar between Florence and Venice, we found the second class cars immaculate. On our return to Florence from Venice, we treated ourselves to first class where we received a complimentary beverage and newspaper. The seats were slightly larger, and they swiveled, but they were also showing signs of wear.  By contrast, the first class car from Florence to Milan on one of our trips was in pristine condition.

First class train travel is a good bet if you are traveling in warm weather, because some second class cars are not air conditioned. This does not apply to Eurostar trains.  Otherwise, first class doesn’t seem to be worth the extra expense.

The designation of first or second class cars, a large number 1 or 2, is usually found on the outside of each car.

Ticket Prices for Children

Children under four years of age travel free but they are not entitled to separate seats.  Discounted fares used to be available for children but such fares no longer are displayed on the Trenitalia website.  Family discounts are once again offered to all customers, regardless of country of residence.  For children between four and twelve years old, the rate is half the adult rate, and the adult rate is discounted, too. 

Smoking or Non-Smoking Cars

All trains, including the Eurostar trains, are non-smoking now. The smoking symbol (cigarette enclosed in a circle) still appears on many of the cars of the trains, but it can be ignored.

Luggage Storage at Train Stations

Luggage storage at train stations can be very useful if you are planning a stop en route to another destination.  For example, if you are traveling between Florence and Cinque Terre, you might want to stop in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  Another popular stop is at Pompei Scavi  between Naples and Sorrento.  (No luggage storage at that train station but available at the ticket sales area of Pompeii.) 

To check whether a train station has luggage storage (Deposito Bagagli in Italian), go to the Trenitalia website:

• Select "In the Region."
• Choose the region that includes the city or town you're interested in.
• Select "Servizi in Stazione."
• Click on the first letter of the name of the town/city you're interested in.

A table is displayed that shows the services provided at each station. If the service is provided, a bullet is displayed in that column.

For example, for Naples, choose the region Campania, then "Servizi in Stazione," then  "N" to display stations whose names begin with N and the services offered at each.

Buying Your Tickets in Italy

Auto Train in Cinque Terre	Photo by S. Kane

At the Train Station

You can buy your train tickets at the train station from an automatic ticket machine (available at larger stations) or from an agent.  You can use credit cards or euros to pay for your tickets, although small stations often do not accept credit cards.  The ticket machines  have touch screens, and you can select from several languages, including English.  Our experience with the machines in Florence is that they are very popular, and there are lines of people waiting to use them.  Many of the people in line help each other because it can be complicated, especially your first time.   

Automatic ticket machines are available in more than 100 train stations.  On the homepage of the English version of the Trenitalia website, select "Purchase Guide" at the lower left of the screen.  Scroll to the bottom of the display for Automatic Ticket Machines - List of Stations.  Click there and the 100+ cities and towns are displayed. 

If we are in a small town, we buy the tickets at the train station.  Often, in the smaller train stations, the agents do not speak English so be prepared with your phrases.  Better yet, write down what you want or circle the train with its departure time on the schedule that you've brought with you and show it to the agent.  

At Travel Agencies

You can purchase train tickets, at no extra charge,  from travel agencies who are authorized to sell them.  These agencies are identified by a sign with the Trenitalia logo on it, FS, for Ferrovie dello Stato. We've found that the travel agents speak excellent English, and the transaction can be completed more easily and more quickly than at large city train stations. 

When based in a city,  we bring the schedules for the optional trips we might like to take, and then buy the train tickets and seat reservations from a travel agency.  

Printed Train Timetables

Train timetables are  usually available at newsstands in Italy.  The In Treno timetable, produced by the Italian National Railways, is big and bulky.  The Pozzorario Generale, pocket-sized and yellow-orange, contains every train service in Italy, international services from Italy, and a map of the entire Italian rail network (including private lines).  It  lists the current ticket prices (first and second class) for all journeys as well as the cost of Rapido (R), Intercity (IC), and Eurocity (EC) supplements.  A smaller version for Nord e Centro Italia (north of Rome) is also available.  Another timetable is the Orariopalagi, which is a complete listing of all the lines of the Italian National Railways  and is approximately 5x8 inches in size.  It doesn't include prices, but we found it very useful.

Train from Milan to Malpensa Airport

An express train operated by the Ferrovia del Nord train company runs between the Malpensa airport and the Cadorna station in Milan. The schedule is provided here, after several other Malpensa transportation options. The Cadorna station is conveniently located near the church that contains Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper.  Depending on where you are staying in Milan, this may be a better option than the bus service between the airport and the main train station. Both the express train and the bus service are much less expensive than a taxi.  

Train Trips on Historic Trains in Scenic Areas

Train trips, some by steam train,  in scenic areas are presented on  this website.  The trains operate in several sections of the country and sometimes include a special event, such as a chestnut festival or a truffle festival.  Timetables, photos, and paintings of trains (in the Gallery section) are provided. Links to other such trains within the country are included.  For example, there is a link to the Genova-Casella Railway that links Genoa with the Ligurian inland and a link to the Ferrovie Turistiche Italiane  that covers the routes of  Bergamo (near Milan)  to Palazzolo; the Val d'Orcia (near Montepulicano and Montalcino in southern Tuscany), and the Colle Val d'Elsa-Poggibonsi, near San Gimignano, southeast of Florence. 

Train System in Central Umbria

A smaller railway, the Ferrovia Centrale Umbra serves some cities and towns in central Umbria not served by the Italian National Railway. All trips begin or end in Perugia.  Destinations include Terni and Sansepolcro.

Circumvesuviana (Between Naples and Sorrento)

The Circumvesuviana  train system runs from Naples to Herculaneum to Pompeii to Sorrento and vice versa. This is the only train line for this route. It operates approximately every half hour from Naples and from Sorrento. Pompei Scavi, the stop for the Pompeii site, is approximately halfway between Naples and Sorrento and takes about a half-hour in either direction. The fare from Sorrento to Pompei Scavi was less than 4 euros in June 2005. The Circumvesuviana train station in Sorrento is in the center of Sorrento.  The SITA buses that travel the Amalfi coast are directly across the street from the train station.

Circumetnea (Around Mt. Etna in Sicily)

The narrow-gauge Circumetnea train runs a circular route around Mt. Etna Monday through Saturday.  It is used by Sicilians for commuting from one town to another and by tourists for wonderful views of Mt. Etna and the surrounding countryside.  It runs frequently so you can get off in one town, visit, and then board a later train to continue on your way.  You can also travel a portion of the route and return.  You can board this train in Catania Borgo station, located on Via Etna in Catania, or  the Giarre station, located near the mainline Trenitalia station.

Train Travel Between Italy and Another Country

If you will be traveling between Italy and another European country and would like to display routing, you can do that for some cities on the Trenitalia website.  For travel from Italy to other destinations, click on International and then enter the departure and arrival cities. Passes for travel between Italy and other European countries are also described on the Trenitalia website.  

You can also use the German national railways website for travel between Italy and other European countries.  Click on "Internat. Guests" to display information in English.  

For travel between France and Italy, use the French national railways website. 

Buses

Two of the most important facts to know about bus travel in Italy are to stamp your ticket as soon as you board the bus and to hold onto the ticket for the duration of the trip. If you don't stamp your ticket or if you don't have a ticket, you could be fined as much as 10 times the cost of the ticket. Inspection is random; inspectors may get on at any stop.  

Bus travel can be a very convenient and comfortable form of travel in Italy. Florence, Milan, and Rome have excellent municipal bus systems. In Florence, a fleet of small buses, operated by battery, connect some of the famous tourist sites. These electric buses can maneuver on the narrowest streets.  It's a very pleasant way to sightsee.

A bus pass is a convenience if  you plan to take several trips.  In Florence, Milan, and Rome, as well as in Venice for the boat system,  you can buy a pass for a day, for three days, and for a week (and longer). In Florence, you can also buy a weekly pass, a Carta Arancia (Orange Card), that includes transportation on all the buses that operate in the province of Florence and the train system as well. 

 A monthly bus pass is also available in Florence but be aware it is for the calendar month, not for 30 days.  

 You will save money but even more important, you will save time. You can hop on a bus (or the vaporetto in Venice) without having to shop for the ticket. (In many cases, the bus drivers do not sell tickets.  If they do, the price is often double or triple the normal price.)

Buses Companies Throughout Italy

The Travel Rabbit

The Travel Rabbit website enables you to choose a city and then display the transportation options available there, including the city bus system, other bus systems that you can use to travel to other destinations, the airport that services that city, and, when a coastal city, all the boat transportation available from there.  This website is easy to use and very responsive; an excellent tool.

Orari Autobus; TImetables by Region and Province

This website is very useful for locating bus companies and their timetables throughout Italy.

The Bus Station

This website provides a list of bus companies throughout Italy with their websites.

Milan to Lake Maggiore

S.A.F. Duemila

S.A.F. Duemila operates bus service between the Milan Malpensa airport and cities on Lake Maggiore, including Stresa and Verbania.  This website shows many other connections, too, and other providers.

Florence and Tuscany

ATAF

The Florence municipal bus system, ATAF, offers bus service within the city of Florence, between the airport and the Santa Maria Novella train station in the city center (bus line 62), and transportation to many of the neighboring towns and villages, such as Fiesole, Settignano, and Galluzzo.  The ATAF website provides excellent maps, as well as descriptions of each route.

Autolinee F.lli Lazzi

Lazzi buses operate on routes to Lucca, Pisa, Montecatini Terme, and other towns and cities east, north, and west of Florence. This web site is available in English and offers its timetable and prices on line.

CAP Bus Lines

This CAP Bus Line provides bus service from Florence to many of the surrounding towns, including Impruneta, which is famous for several festivals, including its Festival of the Grape in September. The CAP bus station is located very near the main train station in Florence, at 9 Largo Fratelli Alinari.

TRA-IN Bus Lines

This bus line provides service to many towns and cities in Tuscany, including routes such as Florence to San Gimignano, Siena to San Gimignano via Poggibonsi, and Siena to Montepulciano,  as well as service within the city limits of Siena and other towns.

SITA Bus Lines

The SITA bus line offers excellent service between Florence, Greve, Lamole, Panzano, Radda, Lamole, and many other towns throughout the province of Florence. It also operates bus service between the airport and the center of Florence. The SITA bus line provides bus service in many other parts of Italy, including the Amalfi Coast. The SITA bus station in Florence is also very close to the main train station in Florence at 17 Via Santa Caterina da Siena. Although the site is currently available only in Italian, one great value is that the timetables (Orari Linee)  for the regions where it operates (Basilicata, Campania, Lazio, Puglia, Toscano, and Veneto) are available there. If you select Toscana, then Chianti e Val di Pesa, you can find the timetable for the Firenze to Gaiole route, the bus that travels to Greve, Panzano, and beyond. Note that Feriale (represented by crossed sledge hammers) on a schedule means Monday through Saturday and Festivi (represented by a cross) means Sundays and holidays.  

Sena Bus Line (Throughout Tuscany and to and from Rome)

This bus line is part of the Lazzi Group, which operates from Florence, too.  It provides bus service from Siena to many destinations throughout Tuscany, as well as service from Rome to Siena.

Rome Bus Service

ATAC, Rome Bus Line

The bus line for the city of Rome is available on this website.  At time of writing, there is no English version. Fares and routes are provided, including the "electric line" (battery-powered) minibus routes of 116, 117, and 119 that connect many of the major sights.  For example, the 116 bus stops close to the Pantheon (the piazza in front of the Pantheon is closed to traffic) and at the Galleria Borghese.  For the excellent electric bus route map, click on "Linee e mappe: bus, metro," then on "Linee elettriche."

This website covers the city of Rome as well as the greater metropolitan area and has some excellent maps of Rome.

Sulga Bus Line (Rome to Umbria destinations)

This bus line operates between the Fiumenca airport in Rome and the center of Rome to destinations in Umbria including Perugia, Assisi, Todi, Gubbio, and Citta di Castello.  It also offers service between Assisi, Perugia, and Florence.  

This site is currently in Italian, only.  On the home page, on the upper lefthand side, select Linee (below Autolinee).  Then select the route of interest to you.  The departure time, the price, and the address of both the departure point and arrival point are given.

Sena Bus Line (Rome to Siena and throughout Tuscany)

This bus line is part of the Lazzi Group, which operates from Florence, too.  It provides bus service from Siena to many destinations throughout Tuscany, as well as service from Rome to Siena.

Sorrento and Amalfi Coast

Curreri Shuttle Service (Naples Airport to Sorrento)

The Curreri Shuttle Service operates between the Naples Airport and Sorrento (Piazza Tasso) with approximately 10 departures each day in each direction. There are a few intermediary stops, too. The trip takes 1 hr. 15 minutes to 1 hr. and 30 minutes. At this website, you can reserve seats for the departure time of your choice. To display the schedule, select Bus Routes and enter the destination and departure locations. In 2008, the cost is 10 euros each way.

Marozzi Busline  (Rome to Sorrento; in summer, to Amalfi)

The Marozzi bus line operates two or three buses per day, depending on the season, between the Rome Tiburtina station and Sorrento or Amalfi (with a stop in Praiano). You can display the schedule and reserve tickets on this website. Fill in the date of travel so the correct schedule is displayed. Click on Prenotata Marozzi -> Prenotazione. At this time, the website is in Italian. There is an email service, so you can write to them, in English, with any questions you might have.

 

Flavio Gioia Bus, Praiano	Photo by S. Kane

SITA Bus Company

The SITA bus company operates between Sorrento and Salerno and from Amalfi to Ravello. At the link provided above, scroll down to the Campania/Amalfi section.) You must buy SITA bus tickets at a SITA office or tobacco shop before boarding the bus. 

Flavio Gioia Bus Company

The Flavio Gioia bus company operates within Positano and its hilltop villages, within Praiano, and between Positano and Praiano.   You can buy tickets aboard the Flavio Gioia buses.

Travel by Boat

The Travel Rabbit

The Travel Rabbit website enables you to choose a city in Italy and then display the transportation options available in that city.  For coastal cities, this includes all the boat transportation.  It also has excellent information about bus travel within the city and to other locations, and provides a link to the website for the closest airport. This website is easy to use and very responsive; an excellent tool.

Ferry Services Worldwide; S. Europe

On this website you will find the names of ferry services that operate in Italy with links to their websites. These ferries provide transportation to Elba, Sicily, and Sardinia, and the smaller Italian islands.

Venice

Vaporetto in Venice	Courtesy of actv, Venice Municipal Transportation Service

The Venice Municipal Transportation Service website provides timetables, routes, and fare information  for the waterbus (vaporetto in Italian)  service in Venice.  The vaporettos are the main source of transportation along the Grand Canal, to the Lido, and to the principal islands of the Venetian lagoon, including Murano, famous for its glass blowing studios, and Burano, famous for lacemaking.   This website also provides similar information for the bus service which is available on the mainland, such as the buses between the airport and the train station and the buses on the Lido.

Although the traghetto service is not mentioned on the Venice Municipal Transportation Service website, it's a very useful service and a very affordable gondola ride.  This service uses older gondolas that operate on a regular schedule from morning to early evening, crossing the Grand Canal in four or five locations. One route is between  the Church of the Salute and the  Piazza San Marco. (Actually, the traghetto landings are a short distance from each of those stops.) The cost each way is about one euro. 

Il Burchiello Cruises  between Venice & Padua

Il Burchiello, a mini cruise ship, operates half day and whole day excursions on the Brenta River from Padua or from Venice with stops at historic villas along the way.  Luncheon is served either at a riverside restaurant or on board the ship.

Alilaguna Ferry Service  (Between Venice Airport & Venice Locations)

This website provides the timetable and routes of the ferry service between the Venice Airport and several locations in Venice, including St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), the Zattere, and the Lido.  This ferry service costs 10 euros per person and takes about an hour.  It's a lovely approach to Venice and a convenient way to reach the airport for early morning flights. 

Cinque Terre, Lerici, and Portovenere and More

Maritime Consortium, 5 Terre, Gulf of the Poets

The Maritime Consortium 5 Terre Gulf of the Poets operates seasonally.  For 2007, service begins March 31.  Many routes are offered.  You can go from Cinque Terre to Lerici, or to Portovenere, and between the villages of Cinque Terre.  You can choose a half-day or full day ticket.  Note that the boats stop running by 6 pm.

Rome

Batelli di Roma (Along the Tiber)

This boat  service offers three routes along the Tiber, two within Rome and one from Rome to Ostia Antica.  It also offers dinner cruises on the Tiber.  Currently, only available in Italian.  However, you can obtain most, if not all, of the information you need, such as timetables, prices, and destinations.  You can even see the boats that are used.

Amalfi Coast, Naples, and Capri

Note that ferry service on the Amalfi Coast is seasonal. The height of the season, when service is most frequent and between most towns, is from the end of June to early September.  Some lines operate only during that time.  Service is reduced in the spring and fall and further reduced in the winter.   Some of the following websites only display summer schedules, without dates, which might lead you to believe the schedule is year-round.  Check with your hotel or rental agency or the local tourist office for the most up-to-date schedule.

The Linee Marittime Partenopee (LMP) boat line operates between Sorrento and Capri with 1-3 hydrofoil boats departing every hour from Sorrento. (The timetables (orari) are available on the Italian version of the website.)

The Caremar boat line also operates the Sorrento-Capri route, as well as many other routes, including some from Naples. The timetables are available on this website, too.

The Coop. San Andrea ferry service operates between Sorrento and Amalfi Coast towns and between Amalfi coast towns.  (Sorrento is not on the Amalfi coast but on the northern side of the peninsula.)  It provides frequent, convenient service between many towns, service to isolated beaches, special excursions, and charter and water taxi services.

The Alicost ferry service operates between: 

• Salerno and Capri 
• Salerno and Positano
• Salerno and Amalfi
• Amalfi and Capri
• Amalfi and Positano
• Positano and Capri

Metro del Mare operates, year round, between Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, and Salerno and adds many other ports during the summer season, including several on the Cilento coast south of Salerno.  The website is easy to use.  It lists schedules for the various seasons and a map showing all the routes it provides.

Boat Rentals and Charters on the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Charter

Amalfi Charter provides excursion and transfer services along the Amalfi Coast and between the islands of Capri, Ischia, Procida, Ponza, and the Amalfi Coast. Amalfi Charter also rents smaller motor boats for customers who wish to travel on their own. The owners are professionals and a pleasure to do business with.

Lucibello in Positano

Lucibello in Positano rents motorboats of all sizes and types as well as canoes and paddleboats.  They are very prompt in responding to inquiries.

Funiculars, Cable Cars, and Chairlifts (for Sightseeing)

Because Italy is hilly and mountainous, funiculars, cable cars, and chairlifts are used in many places. Traveling on a funicular is a delight. Unlike a cable car or chairlift that is suspended in the air by a cable, a funicular hugs the ground on railroad-type tracks and is connected to the tracks by a cable. The cable is controlled from the engine house at the top.

The funicular that runs between Montecatini Terme and Montecatini Alto operates from spring through fall.

Funiculars are also in use on Capri and in Orvieto, as well as in  many other locations.

Cable Car between Trapani and Erice, Sicily

The cable car that operates between Trapani and Erice saves considerable time getting to Erice compared to traveling up the mountain by car or bus. It also offers incomparable views on the ascent and descent, as you'll see on this website.

Chairlift on Capri to Monte Solaro

Chairlift, Capri	Photo by S. Kane

The chairlift to the top of Monte Solaro begins in Anacapri on the island of Capri.  The trip to the top of Monte Solaro takes 12 minutes.  The views are stunning, as are the views from the top of the mountain.  There is a good walking path in both directions, too.  We chose the chairlift up and the walk down.

Orvieto Funicular

The Orvieto funicular is remarkably convenient and coordinated with a small shuttle bus when you reach upper Orvieto.  The shuttle bus is there waiting for you to take you to the Piazza Duomo, where the excellent tourist office is located.  The one ticket that you buy for the funicular includes the cost of the shuttle bus.  In Oct. 2008, the ticket price was 1 euro.

Car Rentals, Highways, and Parking

If you are considering  renting a car,  we recommend that you check out The Tourist Survival Guide  on the DolceVita website.  It includes very helpful information about traveling on the autostradas in Italy, as well as tips on using the trains.

Many of the major American car rental agencies operate in Italy, including Avis, Hertz, and Budget. In addition, many European agencies rent cars in Italy.

AutoEurope

While we have done business with Avis and Hertz in Italy, we have chosen AutoEurope consistently after first using them. (In September 2004, AutoEurope  became an affiliate of Idyllic Italy.) They have offered the best prices, excellent service, and the peace of mind of a toll-free number to the U.S. in case there is any problem. If you rent through AutoEurope, you will likely pick up your car from Avis or EuropeCar. AutoEurope does not own its own fleet. Instead, they act as a consolidator and provide rentals from other agencies.

Autostrade

The Autostrade website, available in English, has many excellent features.  You can find out routes and the costs of these routes, where highway repair is taking place, weather reports, and the various types of services available on the highway you'll be traveling, such as restaurants, motels, and ATMS (called bancomats in Italy).  At time of writing, the main panel is in English.  However, when you select a route, you must use the Italian city names, such as Firenze for Florence, Roma for Rome, Napoli for Naples, and Genova for Genoa.  Then the display, in the upper left, is in Italian.  Nevertheless, it is useful.  

For example, if you request route information from Florence to Rome, the display lists the distance from Firenze Sud to Roma nord  (234.7 kilometers), the duration (2 hrs., 36 minutes),  the cost (12.3 euros), and the services available along the way (bancomat, garage, motel, and GPL, a type of efficient fuel that some cars use).

Parking

Many cities have municipal lots and also designated parking areas along certain streets.

Florence Parking Lots

Florence has many parking lots with good bus service to the center of the city. In many cases, the distances are within walking distance.

Parking Permit Dispensers

Parking permit dispenser, Sant' Agata dei Goti	Photo by S. Kane

The permits are valid for the number of hours for which you paid. A typical charge is 1 or 2 euros per hour but can be as high as 5 euros per hour, depending on where the parking spaces are. Place the permit on the dashboard of your car so it is easily visible.

Limo/Transfer/Excursion Services

Note to Readers: Check also under "What to Do," Tours. Many tour providers also provide limo services.

The price of limo service for transportation to or from airports is similar to or less than taxi prices and can be very useful when you first arrive in Italy and for special itineraries.

Florence/Tuscany

Alessandro Cammelli

Alessandro Cammelli has significant experience giving private tours of Tuscany as well as providing limo services to and from destinations.  His services have been praised by his customers.  He can be reached at alecamma@hotmail.com.

Best Italian Tours

Angelo Chiarlone, a native Italian who attended college in Boston, MA, provides tours, transfers, and special services from his home base of Florence.  The tours offered by his company range from Florence itself, to the Medici Villas and Gardens that surround Florence to Siena/San Gimignano/Chianti and further afield.  Prices and customer comments are provided on his website, too. 

Rome

Roma Shuttle

Roma Shuttle specializes in service between the Rome airports and Rome and offers excellent rates.  In addition, they offer a full array of transportation and tour services to many destinations including Pompeii, the Amalfi coast, Assisi, and Florence. 

RomeinLimo Company

The RomeinLimo Company, whose touring services extend far beyond Rome to include the major cruise line ports as well as Florence, Siena, and the Amalfi coast, has received high marks from its customers.  They offer one of the most complete line of limo and touring services available.

Rome Shuttle Limousine

Rome Shuttle Limousine offers limo services between the airports of Rome and the center of Rome at very competitive prices. They have been in business for more than 20 years and receive very high marks from their customers. They offer limo and shuttle services between Rome and the major cities of Italy and tour services as well.

Limousine Service Rome

Limousine Service Rome  provides transportation between the Rome airports and the center city as well as touring services in Rome and transportation for larger groups.

Presto Tours

In addition to group tours of Rome, Presto Tours offers private tours and limo services, including services to and from the Rome airports and private sightseeing tours or transfers from Rome to Florence, Siena, the Amalfi Coast, etc.

Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi Coast

Autoservizi O.A.SI. di Tommaso Fusco

We had the pleasure of having Tommaso Fusco drive us from our apartment in Ravello to the Naples airport.  The Mercedes van was extremely comfortable, and Tommaso was a superb driver and personable guide. Besides limo services, he also offers touring services of the Amalfi coast and the major attractions of Naples.

Renato Cuomo Limousine Service

Renato Cuomo's limousine service provides limo service between Sorrento and Positano and other locations on the Amalfi coast.  His company is highly recommended.

Drive Amalfi

Salvatore Lucibello of Drive Amalfi provides excellent limousine service on the Amalfi coast.  You can receive a quote for service by sending email to:  info@driveamalfi.com. He receives high praise from his customers.

Francesco Marrapese Private Driver

Francesco Marrapese offers excursions and transfers to Sorrento and the Amalfi coast.   Based in Sorrento, he offers transports to and from airports, train stations, cruise ports, etc. and can offer you customized tours of the Amalfi coast.  Customer comments and photos are on his website.

Entire country with Specialty of Excursions Along Amalfi Coast

Benvenuto Exclusive Chauffeur Services

The Benvenuto Exclusive Chauffeur Services company was founded over 50 years ago by the grandfather of the present owner.  This company offers a wide range of services, including transfers from all the major airports throughout Italy and excursions.  It  is highly recommended.

Sicily

Sicily Life provides limo services and tours from Messina and Catania.  Sicily Life specializes in tours in the vicinity of Taormina and Mt. Etna, including stops at wineries, cooking classes and wine tasting at a local restaurant, cooking classes and dinner in a private home, boat trips, and bicycle touring. 

Sicily Limousine Service, based in Giardini-Naxos, provides limousine services of all types, from airport transfers to excursions for cruise ship passengers to special transportation for weddings.  They also offer personalized sightseeing tours and excursions.

Scooter Rentals and Tours

To ride on a Vespa in Italy is an experience that some visitors dream about.  You can do this in several locations. 

Scooter Bella

The Scooter Bella company offers guided and self-guided tours in Tuscany and Puglia as well as Provence.  Scooter Bella is a division of an established tour company, "Custom Walks."

Happy Rent

Happy Rent, with offices in Milan, Florence, Rome, and Sorrento, rents cars and motorcycles.  They have been in business since 1983.

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