Getting Around Italy

Most Italian towns have a good network of local transport services, which can include buses, metros, trains, trams, funiculars and lifts. Public transport is usually cheap and efficient and is probably the best way to visit Italian cities, since parking, petrol and motorway tolls are quite expensive in Italy.

Transport systems move from town to town, but generally you can buy tickets valid across the whole range of local transport types. Normally you can buy a ticket in advance, at a ticket machine or at local news kiosks and tabacchi, which you validate when you are boarding the vehicle. A single ticket is usually valid for a certain period of time, while day tickets can be good options for tourists. It is usually more expensive to buy a single ticket, so it is worth your while finding out about the cost of weekly or monthly tickets for transport in your town. Be aware that bus tickets are not sold on board and need to be purchased beforehand, usually at tobacconist's and newsstands. All tickets must be stamped before boarding trains and underground trains or on board buses.