Question 1

How far in advance should I book my train tickets?

Accepted Answer

Trenitalia's train schedules and fares are typically only released between 90-120 days in advance*, so it's not a good idea to solidify travel plans before that point—the timetable can change seasonally.You can buy your train tickets roughly 2 months ahead of when you'll need them, and can even book them the day before your train trip. Once you're in Italy, you can buy tickets just before you get on a train.Buying tickets soon after they're released gives you a better chance of securing seats during busy travel days, and may give you access to sales or ticket discounts that are only available for advance purchases.* The 90-120 day figure refers to high-speed trains. Regional train tickets are usually only available about 60 days in advance.

Question 2

What should I know about traveling in Italy by train with kids?

Accepted Answer

Bringing the kids along on a trip through Italy is both an exciting and rewarding adventure and, at times, challenging. We have covered some of the things that help make traveling with children by train in Europe easier in another article. Here, we want to make sure you know all about the various train ticket and rail pass options for your kids when you take the train around Italy. Train Tickets for Children in ItalyChildren under age four travel for free on Trenitalia trains in Italy. They do not get their own seat, however, when traveling for free. This can be a problem if it's a train that requires reservations and all the other seats are taken, leaving you with a child in your lap for the whole trip. Children ages 4-11 travel at a sometimes-discounted child fare on most trains in Italy (including Thello). Check the adult fare for the trip, as they are occasionally less expensive than the dedicated child fare. On high-speed Frecce, InterCity, and ICN trains, children ages 4-14 are eligible for the sometimes-discounted child fare. On Italo trains, children under age two travel for free, and children ages 2-16 are eligible for a child rate. Seat, couchette, and other reservations must be made even for a child traveling for free, and these still require reservation fees. Rail Passes for Children in ItalyThere are rail passes for children ages 4-11, which are free of charge with the purchase of an adult rail pass. Each adult pass can have up to two children added for free, though each child must have his or her own pass. Children under age four do not need a rail pass, but if you want to be sure of a seat you'll need to reserve one for the child as well as yourself.

Question 3

What do I need to know about luggage on Italian trains?

Accepted Answer

Traveling by train in Italy means always traveling with carry-on luggage - you'll carry on board everything you have with you. It's your responsibility to bring your bags on board and stow them properly, which is a great incentive to pack light.There's no fee to bring luggage on the train, nor do you need a special ticket to carry luggage on board. The limit on bags each passenger may carry on board is technically three pieces of luggage - but the limit is rarely if ever enforced. Still, it's a good idea to keep bags at a minimum to ease the loading and unloading process.The on-board luggage storage options differ depending on the type of train. On the newer high-speed trains there are storage areas at one end of each train car, often across from the toilet, which are available for anyone in that car to use for their larger bags. On the older trains, the only real storage areas are overhead shelves above the seats. Sometimes there is room to stow medium or small bags in the space created when two seats are situated back-to-back. Smaller bags—backpacks, purses, briefcases—can be slid underneath your seat. Trenitalia isn't responsible for lost bags, so it's your responsibility to keep an eye on luggage even if it's stowed at the end of the train car. There is, however, insurance against bag theft that applies to most Trenitalia passengers. If a bag is taken from the storage compartment at the end of the car of a Frecce or InterCity train, the insurance maximum is €300 for a single bag and €600 per customer. The maximums for other trains are lower, and the rules for filing an insurance claim are strict. There is a door-to-door option for sending your bags from point to point rather than carrying it with you. It's called Bagaglio Facile, and the costs start at €20 for the first bag and €15 for the second. It's available to all travelers on Frecce trains, or anyone who has a CartaFreccia card. Bagaglio Facile is only available Monday-Friday (it only operates on weekends in the cities of Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice, Turin, Bologna, Naples, Salerno, and Bari). Arrangements for Bagaglio Facile must be made by phone at least 24 hours in advance of your departure time. If you're stopping midway on your journey and want to do some sightseeing before your next train departs, many stations offer some kind of luggage storage service. Luggage lockers are no longer the norm for security reasons, but there are often offices with staff where you can leave your bags for a period of time for a fee.

Travel distance	80 miles
Fastest time	58m
Daily trains	25
Ticket from	13

Milan Turin

Train from Milan to Turin

Taking the train from Milan to Turin

Train from Milan to Turin

Amenities on the trains between Milan and Turin

Milan Milan to TurinTrain from Milan to Turin Turin

Train from Milan to Turin

Taking the train from Milan to Turin

Train from Milan to Turin

Amenities on the trains between Milan and Turin

Milan Turin