What are trains in Italy like?

Italy has a modern network of high-speed trains running to all major cities, as well as slow-speed regional trains. This makes the Italian rail network the most time efficient and comfortable way to travel around the country, taking you comfortable between city centres without the need for checking in at the airport ot finding a parking space for your car.

On this page you can find out about all train categories and what they are like.

Frecciarossa & Frecciargento high-speed trains

Frecciarossa (and Frecciargento) are Italy's main high-speed trains, travelling at 300km/h between all major cities and some smaller cities, and operated by national railway carrier Trenitalia. International connections also run to Lyon and Paris in France and Ljubljana in Slovenia.

Free wifi, power sockets, café car, and luggage racks are available in all classes. A reservation is compulsary, and is included as standard with all tickets bought via Happyrail. Eurail passes are valid, but a €10-€15 additional reservation is required. This can be booked via the Happyrail reservation service. For a one-click Italian city trip package holiday with all necessary tickets and reservations make sure to check our our Rome, Florence & Cinque Terre Rail Tour.

Standard and premium class have 2+2 seating, premium offers a free welcome drink & snack.
Business class has wider seats in a 2+1 configuration with more legroom, with a free welcome drink and welcome snacks.
Some routes also offer Executive class, a small section of extremely comfortable seats with a full meal service.

Italo high speed trains

Italo is the privately-operated competitor to Frecciarossa, operating comfortable high-speed trains up to 300 km/h between all major cities. Free wifi & power sockets available in all classes. A reservation is compulsary, included in all tickets bought via Happyrail. Eurail passes are not valid. Drinks and vending machines are available in Smart class, at-seat service for drinks & snacks is offered in Prima & Club classes.

Smart class, the lowest fare, has comfortable seats in a 2+2 configuration. More comfortable seats than on Frecciarossa but with slightly less legroom. Only small pieces of lugagge (max. 75x50x30 cm) are allowed. Vending machines available in every other coach.
Prima class has wider seats in a 2+1 configuration. Much more legroom and seat pitch than in Smart class. A trolley service for at-seat drinks and snacks is available.
Club class has comfortable, fully adjustable leather seats in both a 2+1 configuration and in private 4-person cabins. Complimentary drinks and snacks served at your seat.

Intercity & Frecciabianca long-distance trains

Intercity and Frecciabianca trains are ordinary-speed (maximum 200 km/h) long-distance services that connect larger cities with scenic regions of the country where no high-speed trains run, like the Cinque Terre coast and Sicily. No dining car is available, but there are vending machines for drinks and snacks.

Only some trains have a first-class car. Reservations are mandatory and can be booked via the Happyrail rail planner service. Eurail passes are valid, the additional mandatory seat reservation can be booked via the Happyrail reservation service. For a one-click holiday to Sicily by rail using Intercity trains, check out our Sicily Rail Tour.

International Eurocity trains to Switzerland

High-speed Eurocity trains run from Italy to various destinations Switzerland. The comfortable and modern Swiss trains have a dining car, free wifi, plug sockets and a large amount of luggage space in both classes. Reservations are mandatory and can be booked alongside tickets via the Happyrail rail planner service. Eurail passes are valid, the additional mandatory seat reservation can be booked via the Happyrail reservation service.

The main route is via Lugano and the Gotthard Base Tunnel, connecting Milan, Venice, Bologna and Genoa to either Basel or Zürich. The second route connects Milan to Geneva and Basel via the Simplon Tunnel, the route of the famous Orient Express.

Second class:
First class:

Railjet trains to Austria & Germany

Supremely comfortable Austrian Railjet trains connect Italy with Austria & Germany on two routes:

1) Bologna/Venice/Verona to Innsbruck and Munich
2) Venice to Vienna via the famous Semmering Railway

The trains feature level boarding, free wifi, plug sockets, and NFC-secured luggage storage. A dining car is available for tasty Austrian drinks, snacks, meals and desserts. First and Business Class passengers can have meals delivered to their seats. For more information on Austrian Railjet trains, see this page.

Reservations are mandatory and can be booked alongside tickets via the Happyrail rail planner service. Eurail passes are valid, the additional mandatory seat reservation can be booked via our reservation service.

Economy class features comfortable seats in both open-plan 2+2 configuration and in 6-person compartments cars.

First class offers seats in a 2+1 configuaration, tastefully decorated with wood and leather. At your seat service for drinks, snacks and hot meals.
Business class features fully adjustable leather chairs with fold-up tables in private 4-person compartments. Complimentary welcome drinks are included. At your seat service from the dining car is available.

Regionale (R) & Regionale Veloce (RV)

Regionale Veloce (RV) are regional trains that skip smaller stops, unlike R trains that stop at all stations. Amenities differ per train, usually first and second class are available. Older trains are gradually being replaced with modern trains with wifi and plug sockets. No reservations possible/required.

Regionale (R) are trains stopping at all stations. Used to get to local destinations like Cinque Terre coast. Amenities differ per train, usually only second class is available. Like with RV trains, older trains are gradually being replaced with modern trains with wifi and plug sockets. No reservations possible/required.

National Intercity Notte sleeper trains

Intercity Notte are the sleeper trains within Italy, connecting the north of the country with the south, including Sicily. To get to Sicily the trains are driven onto a ferry.

The trains are comparable to standard European sleeper trains have feature second class seating, hard sleeper (couchette), private soft sleeper & private soft sleeper deluxe classes. All tickets including (bed) reservations can be booked via Happyrail. For trips to Siciliy also see our Sicilian Rail Tour.

Second-class seating, named 'Basic', is identical to daytime Intercity trains, comfortable seats in a 2+2 open-plan car
Hard sleeper couchette cabins, named 'Comfort', are arranged in shared 4-person booths. Bedding and a small breakfast are included. A women-only cabin is also available.
Soft sleeper 'Relax' private cabins can be booked for 1 to 3 persons and have bedding, breakfast and a toiletries kit included.
Soft sleeper 'Superior' private cabins are the same as Relax, while also featuring an ensuite private bathroom.

International Nightjet sleeper trains

Austrian 'Nightjet' sleeper trains run on the routes Rome-Munich/Vienna, Venice - Munich/Vienna and La Spezia/Milan - Munich/Vienna. All tickets for Nightjet, as well as Eurail seat/sleeping cabin reservations can be booked via the Happyrail Planner.

These trains are the same as other Austrian Nightjet trains and feature second-class seating, couchette and sleeping cabins. For more detailed information please see What are Nightjet Trains like?