whitehall

Last fall, we took a number of regional trains and wanted the flexibility to change itineraries depending on such things as the weather. We opted to book our trips online the night before (when we had wifi in our lodging place). This allowed us not to worry about the possibility of ticket lines (and there were some) and to arrive at the station at the last minute. And, one bonus with a paperless ticket is that we did not have to deal with the minor (but essential) hassle of validating our ticket.

musicdiver

Thanks for all the perspectives on train options! Good to know what to generally expect from the Italian system.
With my accommodations all mostly booked, I'll probably pre-purchase the faster options between my main destinations. Sounds like it'll be local trains for day trips.

Jennifer_Travels

I'm in the midst of planning a similar trip to northern Italy next year. It's a repeat visit to Bologna (absolutely loved the town) plus most of the locations you've mentioned minus Florence. I'm hoping you do a trip report when you're back. Have a fantastic trip!

PalenQ

Italian stations have ticketing machines that are easy to use so no need to wait in lines at ticket windows. But yeah book ahead but if doing day trip read hours tickets are valid for - ones issued online apparently experts say have different validity periods than ones bought on day of travel - talking about regional trains.

annhig

Italian stations have ticketing machines that are easy to use so no need to wait in lines at ticket windows>>

so easy, Pal, that I somehow managed to buy tickets from Bologna to Venice for myself and a non-existent child by pressing the wrong special offer button. Still it didn't cost any extra and it gave the ticket inspector a laugh.

PalenQ

machines should be easy to use...for folks of a certain...?

TDudette

As others have written, there are many spots that are easy train trips. Here's my TR. Go to August 20 to see the day trips we took from Bologna:

Trip Report Turin, Spoleto, Bologna and Bellagio TR - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Have a super time and please report back.

PalenQ

And again Regional train tickets must be self-cancelled yourself before boarding the train - stick them in some date-stamping machine so they, since they are valid on any regional train for the validity time frame, cannot be used again as conductors may not always come thru.

MaryAlex

Would you say this is the case when travelling in September? Is Florence to Pisa direct train stop and not necessary to pre-book tickets?

Also what website do I buy the train tickets to go from Venice to Florence and Florence to Sorrento?