You wonder if Italy is best traveled by car or by train? I help you understand when to travel by car or by train in Italy.
Each has its merit, and this guide will break it down and clarify all your options in detail. I have also integrated some useful tips and recommendations to help you plan with ease.
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Why travel Italy by Car
Italian roads are top-notch, but they can be a challenge, and you will have to be very attentive because the roads are narrow, parking is tight and scarce, and Italian drivers are reckless.
I wrote a guide about the dos and don'ts of driving in Italy as a Tourist that will help you assess what to expect on Italian roads.
But driving around Italy can also be very rewarding, and it's one of our favorite travel activities in Europe because you get to see places you wouldn't otherwise.
Consider renting a car if you want to see more remote countryside places. The car can take you to hilltop villages in Tuscany and South Tyrol.
Train connections are not that great in rural areas in Italy, and a car will give you the freedom to explore.
A car is more convenient, and you don't have to carry your baggage around. In fact, you can stop on the roadside to buy Italian walnuts to snack on during your road trip.
I think a car trip is great for all those who have been to Italy in the past and who are seeking authentic Italian experiences and spots for a change from the overcrowded tourist hotspots.
Why Travel Italy by Train
The Italian railway network is undoubtedly one of the best in Europe, and you can move quickly between major cities such as Rome, Florence, Milan, and Venice.
If you are new to Italy or if you want to see all the major cities and landmarks in ease, then pick train travel.
I do not recommend driving in all major Italian cities due to ZTL laws (special no-car zones) and because Italian drivers are mad.
The train experience is rather smooth in Italy, and it won't overwhelm you. Train tickets can be purchased in advance online from Italiarail.com or at the platform station, and you can reserve your seat as well (which I recommend).
You and your better half or family can relax and enjoy the train ride together, and you are not confined to a small space.
I think train tickets are also affordable in Italy, compared to other countries in Western Europe, which is another plus point.
Several routes are also faster and better served by railroads, even between larger cities. For example, Rome to Florence is just about 1:45 h by train vs. 3 hours by car.
Comparing Travel Distance & Cost: Car VS Train
The best way to estimate costs is to compare travel for car and train travel between popular routes.
I have added city-to-city routes as well as other routes to rural and semi-rural areas.
Quick disclosure, we haven't traveled to the south, including Sicily and Sardinia, so I can't comment on that yet.
The car cost is the approximate total that you pay for a given route for gas and tolls. Toll rates are calculated on a route basis.
The below cost calculation doesn't include daily car rental prices, car insurance, and parking charges. For example, parking in Venice is about $25-45 per day.
The train cost is the cheapest ticket you can get on that given one-way route per adult. It doesn't include reservations and RailAid (trip protection), which are booked separately.
Railroad ticket costs increase if you book first class or during a busy time of the day.
The cheapest tickets are non-refundable and set to a specific time and train, and you may have to change trains to get from A to B, depending on the route.
| By Car (cost includes gas and toll roads) | By Train (ticket cost per Adult one way without reserved seat or Railaid) | |
| Rome to Florence | Time: 3 hours Cost: $38 ($18 Fuel & $20 Toll) | Time: 1:45 hours Cost: $14 per adult |
| Milan to Lake Como (Como city) | Time: 1 hour Cost: $10 ($5 Fuel & $5 Toll) | Time: 1 hour Cost: $11 per adult and you have to switch trains. |
| Milan to Venice | Time: 3 hours Cost: $52 ($17 Fuel & $35 Toll) | Time: 2:30 hours Cost: $26 per adult |
| Verona to Bolzano | Time: 1:30 hour Cost: $20 ($10 Fuel & $10 Toll) | Time: 1:30 hour Cost: $16 per adult |
| Florence to Venice | Time: 3:30 hours Cost: $38 ($16 Fuel & $22 Toll) | Time: 2:40 hours Cost: $21 per adult |
Best Travel Route Vehicle Choices
Pick the train if you are traveling solo or with your friends between cities, including Rome, Florence, Bologna, Verona, Milan, Venice, and Naples. A rail journey is the best option for first-time Italy and Europe travelers.
Travel by car if you are with your partner or family, and you'd like to road trip rural areas such as Tuscany, the Dolomites, Lake Como, Lake Garda the Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre, Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, Liguria, and Puglia.
We have done each several times and would agree with the author’s conclustion. Travel by train if you are staying within cities. Travel by car if you are traveling outside the cities, but getting out of the city in a rental car is not necessarily easy.
I can only agree, getting out of the cities with a rental is challenging. Fortunately, most airports are outside a city, and rentals can be picked up there.