spinnerex

I will be coming to Europe for the first time and will be going to
Venice -> Florence -> Sorrento -> Rome (in this order due our departure city)

Can someone tell me the fastest method to take to get to each city? I'm assuming it's the train? Trenitalia? Is there anything else I should consider? Any other competing companies?
Do you recommend that I buy these train tickets ahead of time?

Thanks so much for your help!

pookymimi

Train in my opinion, although you may get some air tickets with easyjet, ryanair for cheap flights.

If you know your actual dates you may want to check on www.lefrecce.it the train italia fast trains website and look for the MINIs rates, some run for 9eu a bargain, but some tickets are already sold out and their calendar isn't posted too far into the Spring yet.

We have other threads going about the Minis and train system that you may want to read.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...aria-fares.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-to-venice.cfm

bobthenavigator

I would buy all of your tickets in Venice as early as you can to get mini fare discounts. Your ticket will to Naples from Florence---you must take local commuter train to Sorrento from Naples.

spinnerex

Thanks for your quick responses. Do you know how far in advance these Mini fares become available? I am going in May. So I can wait until I get to Venice to get the tickets and don't have to buy them from the U.S. now?

J62

If you know which trains you wish to take you can buy them in advance on www.trenitalia.com, or the lefrecce link above.

There are some separate companies which run trains in some areas (like around Vesuvius), but there is only 1 rail network in Italy. Trenitalia is the Italian national RR.

kybourbon

On Trenitalia, you will need to buy Venice/Florence, Florence/Naples, Naples/Rome. Tickets for May are available now online. If you use the Le Frecce link, you must enter the Italian spelling of the cities.

For Naples/Sorrento, it's a local commuter train Circumvesuviana (downstairs from Trenitalia). Tickets are only a few euro and don't need advance purchase. These tickets need to be stamped in the yellow box trackside before boarding in Naples.
http://www.vesuviana.it/web/en