Italy Train Prices
 

I am trying to get a ballpark price of what the cost would be for taking the train on our trip. I am having no luck with the trenitalia site or Eurostar site, etc. All I'm wanting to know is approximately how much it will cost to go from Naples to Rome to Florence to Milan to Venice? My trip isn't until Oct 2010 and I know you can't book ahead of time, but I'm hoping somebody can help with this. Thanks

I am no expert but take into account that the Intercity which is a fine train, is much cheaper than the Euro star. For instance, in three one way tickets last month, we saved like 50% using the Intercity between Rome and Florence instead of the Euro, it takes a little longer, but confort is the same.
The big difference was due that on top a cheaper base rate it is easier to get Amica discount in Intercity . For instance when we arrived in Rome it was too late to take advantage of any discount in the Euro Star
but it was ok to get the discount in the Intercity.
In this particular trip I was amazed because it was a very nice trip, and although it stop in a different station in Florence ( not in ROme) the difference was that the taxi was 4 euros more.
btw we used the 30 + minutes longer it took to bring a delicious lunch on board and have lunch.

Even in Rome it may be cheaper to hop an IC train in the secondary Tiburtina station for Florence - just like Graziella describes for the IC trains in Florence that do not serve the main Santa Maria Novella station in the heart of town. And though IME this may take an hour or even more longer they are much cheaper and i even enjoy stopping at sleepy stations like Orvieto en route as opposed to the non-stop high-speed ES and AVE trains that take an all-new high-speed rail road avoiding most cities.

You can get costs in euros at trenitalia.com but not after early December as future from then trains are not loaded. But prices will not vary greatly probably between now and next October so just load a date for a few days from now and that will be a good estimate of the fares - in euros at least. and even in Italy at stations i guess you can at times request and get the AMICA or family fares of about 20% discount on IC trains - not sure about ES or AVE discounts at the station.

Kybourbon has proved to be a repository of knowing just about everything about Trenitalia fares and trains IME so keep topping or search for that name here.

If you are doing more than two legs of train travel, it might be worth your while to buy an Italian train pass. Check www.raileurope.com to get an idea of the prices, and length of pass to suit your needs. You can also do a point to point pricing by putting in your dates within 60 days of today to get an estimate.

In 2007, (for 2)
Florence-Rome, Eurostar 1st class 94 Euros
Venice-Florence, Eurostar 2nd class 60 Euros

IMHO, don't bother with 1st class; it isn't worth the additional cost. In any case, you aren't looking at high finance

HTH
K

I doubt anyone can tell you how much (if at all) train fares will change between now and next October, but I wouldn't think the fares next year will be much different than they are now, as shown on the trenitalia site. That is:

Naples to Rome: 19.50 to 39.90 euros for second class, 25.50 to 51.30 for first class (depending on type of train)

Rome to Florence: 16.10-39.90 second class, 35.00-56.10 first class

Florence to Milan: 26.00-44.70 second class, 36.00-63.70 first class

Milan to Venice: 14.50-27.60 second class, 21.85-38.50 first class

>>Scotia on Nov 2, 09 at 3:38pm
If you are doing more than two legs of train travel, it might be worth your while to buy an Italian train pass.<<<

A rail pass for Italy is rarely cost effective and certainly not for these four trips. Rail passes do not include the mandatory seat reservations for the faster trains (AV, ES, ICPlus, IC) which cost from 20€ for AV (per seat, per train), 15€ for ES. I'm not sure of the current fees for IC trains.

Train prices/schedules usually don't change much when the new schedules are released. The various discount offers seem to change every year.

For all prices/trains to show on Trenitalia, you must enter a date within the next 7 days.

Have to agree with kybourbon, if you are travelling in Italy a pass might not be the cost effective way to go. Have to remember that with the pass you still have to buy the reservations. For example on the raileurope site

Train 586 10:24AM
Napoli Centrale,
Italy
3 Dec 12:23PM
Roma Termini,
Italy
3 Dec 1hr 59min 0 N/A $34.00 N/A $45.00

These are the prices in Canadian funds that include reservation and can be bought prior to leave. I not sure were you live, but I plan to buy my tickets prior to leaving Canada.

>>>Train 586 10:24AM
Napoli Centrale,
Italy
3 Dec 12:23PM
Roma Termini,
Italy
3 Dec 1hr 59min 0 N/A $34.00 N/A $45.00<<<

Another example of why not to use Raileurope for tickets. This is an IC train, not an AV or ES and travel time will be a bit longer. From Trenitalia's website, the real prices:

10:24
NA C.LE 12:23
ROMA TE 01:59 586 PARTENOPE Intercity 25,50 €(1st cl)-19,50 € (2nd cl)

This means Raileurope is tacking on a $4 fee on the 2nd cl ticket and $5 on the 1st cl ticket. Additionally, they will also add a mailing fee of $18 (US - I don't know if it's more or less CAD). You will be paying at least $22 over the real ticket price if you just walked up and purchased at the train station in Italy.

Hi 111,

The website you want is www.trenitalia.com.

Next years schedules will be almost exactly the same as this years. The prices will be about the same, in Euro.

((I))

Actually it is odd that RailEurope, the Evil Empire is selling railpass reservations at prices cheaper than you'd pay in Italy last time i checked. That said for the Italian Railpass consideration you do have to factor in reservation fees here or there - only R or Regional trains do not require reservations now - you cannot even make them on those slow trains that stop at every little station.

Thank you everybody for your help and suggestions. I've read on other posts that by waiting to purchase your tickets until you arrive in Italy, you really don't have to worry about their not being seats available...do you agree with this?

Yes, I agree. Unless you'll be traveling on a national holiday, you'll have no trouble getting tickets on any train you wish in October. It's a good idea, however, to buy your tickets a day or two in advance.

Naples to Rome: 19.50 to 39.90 euros for second class, 25.50 to 51.30 for first class (depending on type of train)
Rome to Florence: 16.10-39.90 second class, 35.00-56.10 first class
Florence to Milan: 26.00-44.70 second class, 36.00-63.70 first class
Milan to Venice: 14.50-27.60 second class, 21.85-38.50 first class

Or you can take the locals, IC or R trains. Yes, they do take longer anywhere from 15 min to ½ hour but check the savings out.
The Naples to Rome train takes appx 2 hours savings 19.50e vrs up to 51.50e
Rome to Florence same story again appx 2 ½ hours savings 16.10 vrs 56.10e
To Florence be sure you check the stations most trains are now going into Rifi station where you then hop on quick link (5min) to SMN the main station. If you want direct to main station then you will have to take One of the more expensive trains there are only a couple of locals that are direct. The only one I see on site is the 9:05a out of Rome Termini that goes to SMN which is main station.

It the same with Milan to Venice. Again check the stations a lot of trains stop at Mestre then you hop a quick local to SL which is the main Venice Station. Some trains do go all the way to SL. Without your having to change as Mestre.

It all boils down to time vrs money vrs how you want to travel. The IC and R trains are not quite as sharp but do get you there without fuss, they just don’t have the bells and whistles service, seats etc.