Transportation Within Italy
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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. A car is recommended when you rent a villa or apartment in the countryside or base yourself in a village or town with infrequent public transportation.
Airport Transportation
If you arrive in Italy by plane, as most travelers do, you can use 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
Three of the most important facts to know about train travel in Italy are:
- Pack lightly and compactly. Toting large, heavy bags through crowded trains and then finding room for them in overhead storage bins is difficult. (On some trains, luggage storage is also available between seats that back up to each other and at one end of the car.)
- Stamp your ticket before you board the train. The machine to stamp your ticket is a yellow metal box, mounted on a post, usually at the head of each track.
- Hold onto your 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 stamping your ticket is if you bought your train tickets on the Italian National Railways website; then you only need to show your receipt.
In some stations, such as the main Florence station, Santa Maria Novella, the tracks are all on one level. In other stations, you access the tracks, except the one closest to the platform, using underground passageways (sottopassaggi). In many stations, elevators have been added so that you don't have to use the staircases. In one small station (Castiglioncello in Tuscany), we found a ramp in place of the staircase. In Pisa, we found many bicyclists using the elevators, too.
Since our discovery of the Italian National Railways (Trenitalia) website several years ago, we start planning our vacation months in advance from the comfort of our home. 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.
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.
City Names
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.)
Buying Tickets Online
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Theoretically, you can purchase all types of tickets online. However, the Trenitalia website recently adopted a different credit card verification system, and most credit cards issued in the U.S. are rejected. Trenitalia management is constantly updating their systems so we hope that making purchases online will soon be simpler for U.S. customers. Before attempting to buy your ticket online, click on "Customer Area" to register. You might want to check the FAQ section under "Traveler's Guide." Unfortunately, at time of writing, the "Traveler's Guide" is not in English.
To purchase a ticket online, your travel date must be about 90 days from the current date and you must be registered on the website. (The schedules for upcoming months are not always available on the system further out than 90 days.) You can purchase tickets at any time of day or night. Note: you cannot purchase Regional train tickets online.
After you enter your date of travel and the earliest time you would like to travel on that date, the first five departures after that time are displayed with the 1st and 2nd class prices. You can display information on later trains by clicking on Next. Discounts are available for a limited number of tickets on certain routes. Family fares are available on most routes.
Ticket Prices
To display Eurostar or Intercity Plus ticket prices, specify a travel date at least one day later (and no more than 90 days after) the current date and time. (This is because you cannot purchase these tickets online less than 24 hours before the departure time and schedules are generally not available in the system more than 90 days in advance.)
To display Regional ticket prices, you must specify a date less than seven days from the current date. Some routes, such as the routes from Florence to the five villages of Cinque Terre, are serviced, at least for part of the route, only by Regional trains.
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 may not 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.
Reduced Ticket Prices for Adults and Children
The mini-fare is offered on many routes until it is sold out. The discount is about 30% and is available for both first and second class tickets.
Note: To exchange mini-fare tickets, you must do so a day before the travel date, and you incur a 50% penalty. Mini-fare tickets are recommended only when you know you will take the trip for that date and time. The restrictions of each ticket type (Base, Flessible, Mini, Familia, etc.) are described under "More info" by the name of each ticket type.
Children under four years of age travel free but they are not entitled to separate seats. Family discounts are 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.
If the mini-fares are offered on your route, the mini-fares for the entire family can be less expensive than the family fares that are automatically calculated when you specify the number of children for the ticket type. You might want to buy adult mini-fare tickets for your children, too.
You can compare the prices by specifying the total number of tickets as adult tickets, then choosing the mini-fare price. Then specify the number of adults traveling and the number of children traveling for the family fare and compare the results.
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 Google 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) online using a credit card.
Ticketless Option
When buying your tickets online, choose the ticketless option. You are emailed a confirmation with all the details of your routing and seat reservations, and a reservation code. Print the confirmation and bring it with you to Italy. If you use a Smart phone in Italy, you can show the reservation on your phone. If you obtained a ticket reservation online, you do not need paper tickets. You simply present the printed confirmation to the conductor when he or she 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 using your confirmation number.
Seat Reservations
A seat reservation is included in the purchase of Alta Velocita (AV), Eurostar and Intercity tickets. Seat reservations are not available on the Regional (R) trains.
The seat reservation includes the number of the train car (carriage) and the seat number. The train layout, with the number of each car, may be posted on overhead signs on the track, although these are not necessarily reliable. On a recent train trip between Florence and Rome, the order of the cars was reversed. 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; Frecciarossa Classes
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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.
In addition to the extra space in first class, these train cars are usually not fully occupied so that makes finding your seat and finding enough baggage storage easier.
First and second class cars are designated by a large number 1 or 2, which is usually found on the outside of each car.
The Frecciarossa trains offer four classes of service: executive, business, premium, and standard. The Frecciarossa trains are very high speed trains with limited routes between Milan and Turin, Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples. You can find out more about them and the Frecciargento trains if you click on "Le Frecce" on the home page of the Trenitalia website.
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.
Rail Passes vs Point-to-Point Tickets
Train tickets in Italy are generally less expensive than in many other European countries. Generally, you would need to take many train trips to make a rail pass worthwhile. One other potential drawback of using a railpass is that the pass alone doesn't guarantee a seat on a train. There are several classes of trains for which you must have a reservation. So, when using a rail pass, you must plan ahead to buy seat reservations on the trains that are most desirable for longer distances, such as the Eurostar or Alta Vista or Euro City. Buying a seat reservation takes about as much time as buying a ticket for these desirable trains because the tickets automatically include a seat reservation.
You can find out if a rail pass would save you money at the Railsaver.com website. You specify the train trips you plan to take and how many days you plan to spend at each destination, then choose "if less expensive" to get the result.
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. Another popular stop is 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:
- Choose the Italian version.
- At the top menu-bar, select "In Regione." A page with an alphabetized list of the regions of Italy is displayed.
- Choose the region in which the train station of interest is listed. For example, choose Toscana (Tuscany) for Florence (Firenze).
- Click on "Servizi in Stazione." A table with an alphabetized list of the region's train stations is displayed with a column for each service offered. If a service is provided at a station, a red dot is shown in that column. You will see that luggage storage is provided only in the Firenze S.M. Novella station and the Pisa Centrale station.
Buying Tickets in Italy
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Auto Train in Cinque Terreee |
Photo by S. Kane |
At the Train Station
Automatic ticket machines are available in many, if not most, train stations.
When in a small town, we buy tickets at the train station. Often, in the smaller train stations, the agents do not speak much English so be prepared with your phrases. Better yet, write down what you want or, using the printout of the train schedule you've brought with you, circle the train trip for which you want tickets and show it to the agent.
Note that some very small train stations are no longer staffed. Typically, you can buy train tickets from the closest Tabacchi shop or newsstand. If you're making a round-trip to a small town, such as Paestum, it is best to buy your return tickets at the same time you buy your outbound tickets.
At Travel Agencies
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 (1st and 2nd 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, a complete listing of all the lines of the Italian National Railways, approximately 5x8 inches. It doesn't include prices, but we found it very useful.
Malpensa Airport to the Center of Milan
An express train operated by Trenord runs between the Malpensa airport and the Cadorna station and the Central station in Milan and costs about 11 euros. See the schedule here. The Cadorna station is conveniently located near the church that contains Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper.
Train Trips on Historic Trains in Scenic Areas
Train trips, some by steam train, in scenic areas are presented here. 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 is about 4 euros. 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.
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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.)
Bus Companies Throughout Italy
Orari Autobus; TImetables by Region and Province
This website is very useful for locating bus companies and their timetables throughout Italy.
This website provides a list of bus companies throughout Italy with their websites.
Milan to Lake Maggiore
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
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.
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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.
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.
This bus line provides service to many towns and cities in Tuscany, including routes such as Florence to Siena, Florence to San Gimignano, Siena to San Gimignano via Poggibonsi, Radda to Siena, and Siena to Montepulciano, as well as service within the city limits of Siena and other towns.
The Rama bus line, based in Grosseto, operates principally in the Maremma area of Tuscany, including the coastal towns of Castiglione della Pescaia, Porto Ercole, and Grosseto and inland towns, including Massa Marittima, Manciano, Saturnia Terme, and Arcidosso and between Arcidosso and Montepulciano and Chiusi.
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. The symbol of A in a circle means Monday through Friday.
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
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.
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Flavio Gioia Bus, Praiano |
Photo by S. Kane |
The SITA bus company operates between Sorrento and Salerno and from Amalfi to Ravello. At the link provided above, click on Orari Sita Costiera Amalfitana.pdf. Buy SITA bus tickets at a SITA office or tobacco shop before boarding the bus.
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 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
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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.
The famed gondola can accommodate from one to six passengers. The fare depends on the time of day and whether you choose to have a singer accompany you.
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 15 euros per person and takes about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the line you take. 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 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 rents motorboats of all sizes and types as well as canoes and paddleboats. They are very prompt in responding to inquiries.
Sicily
Aeolian Islands
Salina Relax Boats is based in the town of Santa Marina on the island of Salina, a short distance from Lipari. The owners are Caterina Merlino whose ancestral home is Salina, although she comes from Sydney, Australia and her Italian partner, Simone. They operate excursions around Salina and other islands for groups and individuals. You can join one of their groups.
Funiculars, Cable Cars, and Chairlifts (for Sightseeing)
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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
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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.
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.
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 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
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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.
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 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.
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 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 provides transportation between the Rome airports and the center city as well as touring services in Rome and transportation for larger groups.
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.
Amalfi Coast Transfers offers chauffer-driven car services from cruise ports, train stations, and airports to destinations on the Amalfi Coast. They also offer custom touring, and have received excellent reviews on TripAdvisor.
Renato Cuomo Limousine Service
Renato Cuomo's limousine service provides limo service between Sorrento and Positano and other locations on the Amalfi coast.
Salvatore Lucibello of Drive Amalfi provides excellent limousine service, shore excursions, and private tours 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.
Northern Lakes and Umbria Regions
Italian Lakes
Italian Lakes Driver offers excursions and transfer services in Northern Italy, including Milan, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Garda. The owner of this company also owns the Umbria Driver company, which is highly regarded.
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.
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, with offices in Milan, Florence, Rome, and Sorrento, rents cars and motorcycles. They have been in business since 1983.
Copyright 2003-2011 by Suzy Kane & Associates. All Rights Reserved