[ How to get around ] [ How to get there ] [ Travel Warnings ]
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| Getting Around By Air |
| Alitalia (AZ) (website: www.alitalia.com) and other airlines run services to all the major cities. There are over 30 airports. For details, contact the airlines direct or ENIT, the Italian State Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses). |
| Getting Around by Water |
Main ports: Cagliari (website: www.porto.cagliari.it), Civitavecchia (website: www.port-of-rome.org), Genoa (website: www.porto.genova.it), Livorno (website: www.portauthority.li.it) and Naples (website: www.porto.napoli.it).
Ferries: A number of car and passenger ferries operate throughout the year linking Italian ports. Regular boat and hydrofoil services run to the islands of Capri, Sardinia, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. There are also some links along the coast. Operators include Tirrenia (te: (081) 017 1998; website: www.tirrenia.it), and SNAV (tel: (081) 428 5555 - Naples call centre; website: www.snav.it). Ferries also operate on the main lakes of Garda, Maggiore, Como and Iseo. |
| Getting Around by Rail |
| Trenitalia (FS) (tel: 892 021 in Italy; (066) 847 5475 from outside Italy; website: www.trenitalia.com or www.ferroviedellostato.it) runs a nationwide network at very reasonable fares, calculated on the distance travelled, and there are a number of excellent reductions. Main routes include Turin-Milan-Venice; Milan-Bologna-Bari; Rome-Genoa-Turin; and Rome-Naples-Palermo. Visitors from the UK can book tickets with Italia Rail (tel: 0870 084 1414, in the UK; website: www.italiarail.co.uk). |
| Rail Passes |
| InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Italy. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064 in the UK; website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail). |
| Getting Around by Road |
There are more than 479,688km (298,064 miles) of roads in Italy, including over 6,000km (3,700 miles) of motorway (autostrada). More motorways are under construction and due for completion by 2012. Tolls are charged at varying distances and scales. Road signs are international. More information on the Italian motorway network is available from Autostrade per l’Italia (tel: (06) 4363 2121; website: www.autostrade.it). Traffic drives on the right.
Coach: Good coach services run between towns and cities and there are also extensive local buses. SITA is a major inter-city operator (tel: (055) 294 955; website: www.sitabus.it).
Car hire: Self-drive hire is available in most cities, airports and resorts. Many international and Italian firms operate this service. Generally, small local firms offer cheaper rates, but cars can only be booked locally.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in urban areas, 90kph (55mph) on ordinary roads, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways and 130kph (80mph) on motorways. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas during the day. All vehicles must carry a red warning triangle. Seat belts are compulsory. Note: Fines for driving offences are on-the-spot and particularly heavy.
Emergency breakdown service: In case of breakdown, dial 803 116. The operator will inform the nearest Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) office (website: www.aci.it).
Documentation: A UK driving licence and EU pink format licences are valid in Italy but old-style green licences (without photos) must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Visitors must carry their log-book, which must be in their name as owner, or have the owner’s written permission to drive the vehicle. A driving licence or a motorcycle driving licence is required for motorcycles over 49cc. |
| Getting Around Towns and Cities |
Travellers should be aware that tickets for public transport need to be endorsed in a ticket machine before the journey. Machines are located in entrances to platforms in railway and metro stations and on-board buses and trams. Failure to do so could lead to an on-the-spot fine of up to €60.
All the big towns and cities (Genoa, Milan, Naples, Rome, Turin and Venice) have good public transport networks. The Rome system is run by the City Transport Authority (ATAC) and MetRo. The Milanese system is run by the Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM).
Underground: In Rome there are two underground lines - Metropolitana A from Battistini via Termini station to Via Anagnina and also connecting with the Ottaviano-San Pietro link; and Metropolitana B, which runs between from Laurentina, via Termini Station, and onwards to Rebibbia. Both day and monthly passes are available. Milan also has a three-line underground system, with tickets useable on both underground and bus.
Bus: Services operate in all main cities and towns. In Rome, the network is extensive and complements the underground and tram systems. In larger cities, fares are generally pre-purchased from machines or tobacconists (tabacchi). Bus tickets can be bought in packets of five and are fed into a stamping machine on boarding.
Tram: There is an extensive network consisting of eight routes in Rome; Milan, Messina and Turin also have tram services.
Taxi: Available in all towns and cities. Government-regulated taxis are either white or yellow. Visitors should avoid un-metered taxis. They are generally expensive, with extra charges for night service, luggage and taxis called by telephone. Water taxis in Venice are extremely expensive; a much cheaper public ferry service is available. Taxis can only be hailed at official ranks or booked by telephone. |
| Journey Times |
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Rome to other major cities/towns in Italy.
| Air | Road | Rail | | Florence | 1.00 | 2.55 | 2.30 | | Milan | 1.10 | 5.30 | 4.05 | | Naples | 0.55 | 2.15 | 1.27 | | Cagliari | 0.55 | - | - | | Turin | 1.15 | 6.35 | 6.35 |
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| Getting There by Air | | The national airline is Alitalia (AZ) (website: www.alitalia.com). |
| Departure Tax | | None. |
| Main Airports | Rome (FCO) (Fiumicino) (website: www.adr.it) is 32km (20 miles) southwest of the city (journey time - 30 to 55 minutes). To/from the airport: There is a direct rail link to Termini Station in central Rome and a bus service to the city centre and to Ciampino airport. Taxis are also available to the city. Facilities: Outgoing duty-free shop, car hire, ATMs, bank and bureau de change and bar/restaurants.
Rome (CIA) (Ciampino) (website: www.adr.it) is 15km (9 miles) from the city (journey time - 30 to 40 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses are available to the underground station Anagnina and to the city centre. Taxis are also available. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, duty-free and souvenir shop and cafe.
Pisa (PSA) (Galileo Galilei) (website: www.pisa-airport.com) is 1.6km (1 mile) north of Pisa (journey time - 10 minutes). To/from the airport: Trains and buses run from Pisa airport to the centre of Florence (journey time - 1 hour). Rail services connect with arrivals and departures of all international flights and major domestic services. Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, car hire, shops and cafe.
Milan (MXP) (Malpensa) (website: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it) is 45km (29 miles) northwest of the city (journey time - 30 minutes). To/from the airport: The Malapensa Express train connects terminal one with the centre of Milan (journey time - 40 minutes). A free shuttle bus connects the airport terminals. Taxis are available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, banks/bureaux de change, business centre, left luggage. |
| Getting There by Water | Main ports: Ancona (website: www.autoritaportuale.ancona.it), Brindisi (website: www.porto.br.it), Naples (website: www.porto.napoli.it) and Venice (website: www.port.venice.it).
Main ferry operators: Superfast Ferries (website: www.superfast.com), SNAV (website: www.snav.it), Ustica Lines (website: www.usticalines.it) and Navigazione Libera del Golfo (website: www.navlib.it). The main international routes are from Greece and Croatia. There are also links from Tunisia to Sicily. Cruise ships call at ports such as Genoa. |
| Getting There by Rail | | Trenitalia runs regular services covering national and international routes (tel: 892 020 from local land lines or (199) 166 177 from mobiles or land lines; website: www.trenitalia.com). The Artesia Service is the fastest railway link between France and Italy. |
| Rail Passes | InterRail: offers unlimited first- or second-class travel in up to 30 European countries for European residents of over six months with two pass options. The Global Pass allows travel for a 22 day or one month period, or five days in 10 days or 10 days in 22 days across all countries. The One-Country Pass offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month in any of the countries except Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Travel is not allowed in the passenger’s country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children’s tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Eurailpass: offers unlimited first-class train travel in 20 European countries. Tickets are valid for 15 days, 21 days, one month, two months or three months. The Eurailpass Saver ticket offers discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Eurailpass Youth ticket is available to those aged under 26. The Eurail One Country Pass allows travel for one month in one of 17 single countries. The Eurail Selectpass is valid in three, four or five bordering countries and allows five, six, eight or 10 travel days (or 15 for five countries) in a two-month period. The Eurail Regional Pass allows 3 to 10 travel days in a two-month period in one of 25 country combinations. Available from The Eurail Group (website: www.euraildirect.com). |
| Getting There by Road | Routes to Italy run through Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland and most routes use the tunnels under the Alps and Apennines. Trenitalia runs regular daily services called auto al seguito (trains carrying cars), especially during the summer holiday season, covering national and international routes. These services operate from special railway stations and are generally bookable at the departure station. Owners must travel on the same train.
The documents required are the log-book, valid driving licence with Italian translation, passport, Green Card insurance and national identity plate fixed to the rear of the vehicle. For more information on routes, contact the Italian State Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).
Coach: Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219 or 0871 781 881, in the UK; website: www.eurolines.com) runs regular coach services from the UK to Italy. Passes: Travellers can book a 15- or 30-day pass. Available from Eurolines (website: www.eurolines-pass.com). |
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| Warning | Most visits to Italy are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. There continues to be isolated cases of domestic terrorism in Italy by extreme left wing and seccessionist groups which are aimed primarily at official Italian targets.
There is currently a risk of unannounced wildcat strikes by municipal transport workers in cities across Italy. Travellers are advised to check local travel reports for dates of pre-planned strikes.
Visitors should be alert to the dangers of car and street crimes in cities.
There continues to be non-violent volcanic activity on the island of Stromboli. Italy is in an earthquake zone.
Visitors to ski resorts should take advice on weather and avalanche conditions before they travel and should make themselves aware of local skiing laws and regulations throughout their visit (see: www.goski.com/italy.htm and www.avalanches.org).
This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organisations for the latest travel advice.
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk
US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel |
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