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Comments (15)
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Save/SharePublic transportation in Italy (and in Europe as a whole) may be this summer's most affordable method of sightseeing. Buses and trams (funiculars) often follow routes that will drop you off directly at the best monuments and most scenic viewpoints—for a much lower cost than hired cars and double-decker red buses.
Be aware: Italian subways (metros) do not navigate the city as efficiently as their Paris, London, or New York cousins—nor are they remotely as attractive. So, follow this rule of thumb: skip the subways and stay above ground.
One exception to the above guideline: If you're visiting Naples, you should know that some artists are enhancing their station stops with temporary exhibitions and installations. Napoli's stations, for example, are curated and designed by Italian contemporary artists.
Other warning: Buses, subways, and trams are seldom air-conditioned. They're also subject to mysterious delays and spontaneous labor strikes. But all of that is part of the charm of vacationing in Italy. Stop control-freaking your way through life and relax.
Here are some examples of useful bus lines and trams (funiculars) in major cities.
In Rome, mini-buses zig zag across through the historic center. A savvy traveler hops on the 116 for a relaxing tour from Trastevere, around Campo de' Fiori, behind the Pantheon, through the Piazza di Pietra to Villa Borghese, and back in 70 minutes. (Rome transport info: www.atac.roma.it)
In Venice, why sink a few hundred euro into an over-priced gondola ride on the Grand Canal, when you could instead catch the same views for €6.50, with a single fare vaporetto ticket (line 1) which can last 60 minutes. If you want something closer to a gondola-like experience, hop on one of the city's seven traghetti, short-distance gondola transport where up to 10 passengers ride standing up, for 50 eurocents. (Venice transport info: www.actv.it)
From Napoli to Amalfi, go sea gazing on the coastline Sitabus, which will take you stopping at Sorrento and Positano for a nail-biting five euros of unlimited rides in a 24-hour period. (Timetables, in Italian www.sitabus.it
By far the most interesting options in ground transportation are the funicolari —trams or cable cars that transport passengers up and down Italian hills and mountains, adding a distinguished flair to the menu of many transport systems. Several, like those in Genova, Napoli, and Bergamo, are integrated into each city's public transport system, with tickets costing the same as single fares on standard buses. These funicular are nearly Disney-fied in their futurist looks. In some of smaller hill towns where the transport menu is sparse, an old-fashioned funicolare often appears as the only means to getting up the hills—like the turn-of-the century fire-engine red cable car in Montecatini or almost medieval metal cage at Gubbio.
Additional Public Transport Resources
Florence www.ataf.net
Milan www.atm-mi.it
CORRECTION: 2:49p.m. The spelling for the word funicular has now been corrected.
—Erica Firpo, blogging from Rome for our Affordable Europe series.
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Last winter we visited Rome. With only one day to explore the city, we used the subway. Using a city map obtained from our hotel, we located the subway stops and found that most of the ancient and historical sites were only a few blocks from a metro stop. In this instance, the subway proved to be a fast and efficient way to see several of the best tourist sites in one day.
Posted By Ed Klebacha on June 5, 2008, 2:57 PM
I'm not a fan of subways myself and would always prefer to walk, especially in summer when subways can be suffocating, and the first time visiting a city when they can be disorienting. But both Milan and Rome's subways are excellent - trains are frequent and station's handily located - and at 1 euro a ticket or 3 euros for a day, you can't complain. Ferries are lovely, whether it's hopping through the Aeolian Islands or simply from Sorrento to Capri, but nothing beats a hire car for travelling around the country, especially in summer when the trains are jam-packed. And cars are cheap to rent too - we always shop around but keep finding ourselves returning to holidayautos.com or europcar who tend to offer the best rates.
Posted By lara dunston on June 6, 2008, 3:09 AM
what is best way to get from venice to florence and then from perigia to naples
Posted By glenda on June 8, 2008, 6:32 PM
Note: If you stop in Napoli to catch a train to Pompei. be sure to ask the information desk not the side conductors. IF YOU GET ON WRONG TRAIN..U COULD BE ARRESTED IF YOU DONT PAY THE FINE IN EUROS ON DEMAND. MY 2 girlfriends and i experienced this ourselves this past March. Our fine was 68 euros. and the conductor threatened us with police and taking our passports if we didnt cough up the money.
Posted By charlotte on June 9, 2008, 12:50 PM
A gondola ride in Venice does not cost a "few hundred euro." If you paid that much, you were not very well informed before negotiating for a ride. Although, as the author stated, the vaporetto is a better (and less expensive) way to see the Grand Canal. If you can afford it, a gondola is a great way to see less visited smaller canals--whether it is overpriced or not depends on your point of view.
Posted By bill on June 10, 2008, 6:35 AM
When in Rome---do as the Romans do! Hop a tram, ride the subway or the hop-on-Hop off Tourist Mobile and stretch our nearly valueless American dollars. Book your hotel whenever possible in the city center and you will no doubt find a subway stop and many bus lines located very near by. Fares are cheaper (much) than the American counterparts and you will have money left over to buy adelicious gelato! Ciao
Posted By Phyllis Waring on June 10, 2008, 9:47 AM
Travel between Venice and Florence is done best by train. The trains are efficient, usually on time, fairly inexpensive, and will bring you to a convenient location for exploring either city. The scenery between the two cities is also engaging so you have something of interest for the few hours (don't remember exactly how long) that the trip will take.
Posted By Marilyn Long on June 10, 2008, 4:38 PM
Question: Can you purchase bus TOURS of historic Rome at the Termini RR station? If not, where else in Rome? Thanks.
Posted By Morgan Seelye on July 21, 2008, 2:21 PM
Hi, Morgan,
Yes, when you walk out of the station, there is a parking lot with several tour buses, and there are kiosks where you can purchase tickets.
You may save by purchasing online. Websites such as Viator.com and Expedia.com offer tour tickets. Options include Christian-history, ancient Roman history, and other themes.
Enjoy your trip!
--Sean
Posted By Blog Editor on July 21, 2008, 2:26 PM
Can somebody tell me how i can complain about a bus inspector's behaviour toward my family and me? Recently, we travelled to Rome.We were on a bus when an inspector asked for our tickets - he told us our tickets had to be stamped and we must pay a fine of 100E each. He asked us to get off the bus with him.I explained that we were tourists and had just boarded the bus. He took our passports and threatened to keep them unless we paid 400E cash. I told him I didnt have that much cash on me. By this time his colleague arrived they spoke to each other in Italian and the inspector then told he would do me a favour and let me off if i paid him 50E cash. I just handed over the money - just happy to get our passports back - he did give me a receipt but I feel that I would like to complain about the manner in which he behaved - if there is a set fine then it should be the same - not 400E then 50E - our passports should not have been taken - we all felt confused and vulnerable especially when they told us that we had to walk to termini to buy new tickets - we had no idea which way to go - please let me know if there is someone I can contact.
Posted By Vanita on August 24, 2008, 4:59 PM
My wife and I visited Sicily recently and took the bus from Catania to Palermo, and trains from Palermo to Segesta, and Palermo to the airport. Buses typically leave on time and arrive within a reasonable time of their scheduled arrivals, barring traffic problems. Trains from the main cities, however, may leave on time, but there is no way of knowing whether you will arrive at your destination near the time scheduled or not. Sometimes, return trains never show up or are delayed for hours!
Don't count on getting back at a reasonable time or hour once you journey into the countryside! You never know when or if you will get back by train.
Posted By D. Lusty on October 20, 2008, 3:59 PM
If you are traveling by train and plan to change to the Circumvesuviana train at Pompeii, please be aware that the two train stations are several kilometers apart. We discovered that by accident on a rainy day in March, luggage in tow, and since it was off season no cabs in site. Not a high point of the trip...
Posted By Aileen on October 20, 2008, 5:35 PM
are there buses going to pisa from siena and to florence from pisa? My itinerary is Rome > Siena > Pisa > Florence > Venice > Milan. What's the best way to move along this path? Thanks a lot
Posted By Jay on February 3, 2009, 10:46 PM
hi my brother and i are going to italy in september october 2009 we are landing in milano but we need to go to konstanz in germany what is the best way to get there and back to milano with out having to spend alot.
Posted By enza on May 2, 2009, 8:45 AM
My wife and I are leaving for Spain and Italy in a week. We would like to take a private gondola ride away from the Grand Canal. The ones that I have found are very expensive. Any suggestions other than vapretto? Is it less expensive and more negotiable to just show up and negotiate?
Posted By Andrew on August 25, 2010, 9:02 AM