I will be in Venice in early October and would like to take the train to Florence and then after a few days take the train to Rome. I have been to Trenitalia site but find it confusing. Do I need to buy tickets from home beforehand or can I just pick up my tickets in these cities before departure. Which trains would you recommennd and what type of fare? Thanks you for any help.

Hi L,

What is it that you find confusing?

There are lots of trains on these routes and you will be able to buy tickets when you get to Italy.
I'd recommend that you choose a train that leaves at the time that suits you best: only you know whether you want to go in the morning or the afternoon, or whether you might want to stop for lunch in Bologna.

Ira,
Which fare do I get?
Do I need to reserve seats or just buy a ticket.
Any chance that I get to station half hour before and find that there is no room.

Dear lyban, I have just been given some very good advice in my thread (re: Trenitalia problems) and that is just to wait and purchase the tickets when we get to Italy. That is my plan. (I ran into unbelievable problems trying to accomplish this online, and, frankly, it's not worth the frustration!) I was assured it would be simple to do this in person once we get there.

I would not, however, leave the ticket- purchasing go until 1/2 hour before your hoped-for departure. I would do it as soon as you get to Italy.

You asked about which tickets to buy--the only fare, other than the "standard" offered to others, is the "Amica". It is not offered on all trains.

Yes, you will need reserved seats on the "ES" and "AV" trains for sure (can't remember if you do on the "IC" ones too?

It seems to be the general concensus here that 2nd class tickets are just fine for most travel....unless you are going for an "overnight".

Personally, for my first ride/leg, I'm going to try to get to the station with plenty of time to get my bearings, find out where our train and specific train/car will be arriving, etc. Good luck to you whatever you decide.

A couple of years ago I trained around Italy and in one case had a seat reservation (great) and in another I didn't have a seat resevation (bad idea). Without a seat reservation you can probably board the train but you will be really unhappy.

In the "no seat reservation" trip we sat on a jump seat in the aisle (getting up several times to allow people to exit) plus our luggage was in the space between train cars with us hopping up and down to check on them. Definitely not pleasant.

No matter how you decide to get your tickets, make sure you have a seat reservation.

Seat reservations on ES and AV trains (the fastest trains) are mandatory, but will be included with the purchase of your ticket automatically (if purchased online from Trenitaila or in Italy at a travel agent/tabacchi with the Trenitlia logo). Some IC trains don't require reservations so you would have a choice whether to book a seat or not (cost will be about 3E for a seat on these trains). R and D trains do not allow seat reservations.

Thank you all for your answers.
I think this clears it up. I will buy my tickets in Italy. A few days before my departure from Venice to Florence I will buy my tickets.

Then I will buy them in Florence a few days before my departure for Rome.
Thanks.

If you know the exact train you want to get from Florence to Rome, you can buy it when you buy your ticket from Venice to Florence as well. You don't have to do so, but it's an option.

Hi lyb,

You want Amica fares.

All seats on the AV, ES*, and IC+ trains are reserved.

You can purchase seat reservations on IC trains for about 3E.

You can buy all of your tickets at the same time at the train station in Venice or online.

Enjoy your visit.

In Italy you can buy train tickets from a travel agency. Most Italian travel agents speak English. As you walk around Venice, look for an agency with a Trenitalia sign in the window. Then buy all your tickets and any seat reservations you need.