Italy by train and ferry

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 6 min read

Italy is made for slow travel by train and ferry. The rail network reaches from the Alpine border with Austria and Switzerland all the way to Reggio Calabria in the toe of the boot, with high-speed services between the major cities and a dense web of regional trains covering the coast, the lakes and the countryside in between. Add the island ferries to Sicily, Sardinia and the Aeolian Islands, and you have an overland journey that can fill a month without ever feeling rushed.

Arriving in Italy by rail

From the north, Italy is reached by train through four main corridors. The most travelled is from France via the Mont-Blanc tunnel: Paris to Turin is about 5h30 by TGV (via Lyon and Modane), continuing to Milan. From Switzerland, direct trains enter via the Gotthard Base Tunnel or the Lötschberg route, reaching Milan from Zurich in about 3h20. From Austria, the ÖBB Nightjet runs overnight from Munich, Vienna and other cities to Venice, Rome and Milan — one of the most useful night trains in Europe for entering Italy without losing a day. From the east, trains from Ljubljana reach Trieste and Venice.

See night trains in Europe for a full breakdown of overnight services into Italy.

The high-speed spine: Milan to Naples

Italy's high-speed network (Frecciarossa and Frecciargento, operated by Trenitalia, plus Italo on the same routes) runs north–south through the country's main cities. Key journey times:

• Milan to Florence: about 1h40.
• Milan to Rome: about 3h.
• Florence to Rome: under 1h30.
• Rome to Naples: about 1h10.

Reservations are compulsory on all Frecciarossa and Frecciargento services. Italo (a private competitor) covers the same routes with its own pricing — compare both when booking. Advance fares on both operators are considerably cheaper than walk-up prices, so early booking pays off.

Northern Italy: the lakes, the Alps and the coast

Milan is the northern hub, but many travellers arrive and immediately head for the lakes. Como is 40 minutes by regional train from Milan Centrale; Maggiore is reached via Stresa (about an hour); Garda is less well served by rail (Desenzano del Garda is the closest station, then a bus or ferry). The lake regions reward at least two or three nights each for those who want to hike, swim or simply sit on a terrace above the water.

Turin, Milan's quieter neighbour, is one of Italy's most underrated cities: elegant, café-rich, with a superb Egyptian museum and a very good food scene. The train from Turin to Genoa runs along the Ligurian Apennines and takes about 1h45; Genoa puts you within striking distance of the Cinque Terre.

The Cinque Terre and Liguria

The five cliff villages of the Cinque Terre — Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso — are connected by regional trains running through short tunnels every 20–30 minutes. The train is how you get between villages when the cliff path is closed (which is often, especially after rain). La Spezia to the south is the main base: accommodation is cheaper and less frantic, and you can reach any of the villages in under 20 minutes.

The Cinque Terre is genuinely beautiful and genuinely crowded in July and August. An early start before the tour groups arrive, or staying for a night in Vernazza or Monterosso, transforms the experience.

Central Italy: Tuscany, Umbria and Rome

Florence is the natural centre of Tuscany by rail, but the region rewards slower exploration. Regional trains from Florence reach Siena (about 1h30), Arezzo (1h), Pisa (1h15) and Lucca (1h30). Siena has no high-speed connection — only the slower local train — which keeps it calmer than Florence despite its fame.

Umbria, east of Tuscany, is reached by the Ferrovia Centrale Umbra regional line through Perugia and Assisi. Orvieto is on the main Rome–Florence high-speed line and makes an excellent stop between the two cities. Rome itself fills several days easily — build in at least three nights for the Vatican, the Forum, Trastevere and the general pleasure of walking the city at a slow pace.

Southern Italy and the Mezzogiorno

South of Naples, the rail network slows down but becomes more interesting. The Circumvesuviana regional line circles Vesuvius and reaches Pompeii in about 40 minutes and Sorrento in just over an hour — a classic day out from Naples. The Amalfi Coast has no train (the road is served by buses and boats from Salerno and Sorrento), but the coastal ferries between Salerno, Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento are the highlight of the area.

From Naples, the main line continues south to Salerno, then east and south through Basilicata to Taranto and on to Lecce in Puglia — the heel of the boot. This stretch takes several hours and the trains are slower, but the landscape is extraordinary: Matera (reachable from Bari or Taranto) is one of the most striking places in Europe.

Bari is the ferry gateway to Greece and Croatia. Overnight ferries to Patras (Greece) and Split (Croatia) run regularly, connecting Italy to the wider Adriatic and beyond. For the full options, see Italy to Greece by ferry.

Crossing to Sicily by train and ferry

Sicily is reached by rail in a uniquely Italian way: the train from the mainland is driven, carriage by carriage, onto a ferry at Villa San Giovanni (near Reggio Calabria), crosses the Strait of Messina in about 20–30 minutes, and then continues from Messina to Palermo or Catania. It is slow — the full journey from Naples to Palermo by rail and ferry takes around 9–10 hours — but the spectacle of a train boarding a ship is something you do not forget. Overnight sleeper trains from Rome also cross to Sicily this way.

Within Sicily, Palermo and Catania are connected by train (about 2h30–3h). Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, Taormina, the Aeolian Islands (by ferry from Milazzo) and the salt pans near Trapani are all reachable by rail and local boat.

Sardinia

Sardinia is a ferry crossing from the mainland — Genoa, Civitavecchia (near Rome), Livorno and Naples all have services to Cagliari, Olbia and Porto Torres, operated by Tirrenia, GNV and Grimaldi Lines among others. The crossings range from around 7–12 hours depending on route, with overnight options widely available.

Sardinia's rail network is limited but includes the narrow-gauge Trenino Verde (Green Train), which runs slow tourist routes through the interior — a genuine slow-travel experience rather than a transport solution.

Suggested itinerary highlights

A three-week Italy by train and ferry trip might follow: Milan → Lake Como (2 nights) → Cinque Terre (2 nights) → Florence (3 nights) → Rome (3 nights) → Naples (2 nights) → Bari (1 night, ferry to Greece or Croatia) or Reggio Calabria (train to Sicily). Return via overnight ferry from Palermo to Genoa or Naples.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need reservations on Italian trains?

On Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Italo high-speed trains, reservations are compulsory and must be bought in addition to any rail pass. On Intercity and regional trains, reservations are generally not required and you can simply board.

Can I take my Interrail pass on Italian ferries?

Some Interrail and Eurail passes include discounts on selected ferry routes (such as Grimaldi Lines and Tirrenia), but coverage varies — check your pass details before booking. The pass does not fully replace a ferry ticket.

How do you get from Italy to Sicily by train?

Trains from the mainland travel to Villa San Giovanni, are then loaded onto a ferry across the Strait of Messina, and continue from Messina into Sicily. No separate ferry ticket is needed — it is included in the train journey. Overnight sleepers from Rome make this a convenient option.

What is the best time of year to travel Italy by train?

Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September–October) are ideal: warm, not unbearably hot, and without the high-summer crowds that descend on Florence, Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast in July and August. Southern Italy and Sicily are more pleasant into October and November than the north.