How to buy Italian train tickets online

(1) Go to the official national Italian railway website, at this address you will find the page in English:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD 

(2) Fill out in the search engine to the left: City of departure ("from...") and naturally City of arrival ("to..."). Fill out your date: for ex. 24 . 6.  2011.

(3) In the search engine, select also the *time* (hour, in the system) you would like to depart, and naturally *allow leeway time* for you to reach the train station from your accommodation or from where you will find yourself (for ex. from the airport to the train station).

(4) Of all possible trains, we suggest that you select the FRECCIAROSSA ("RedArrow" in Italian), and Eurostar (acronym ES). They are very fast trains. All others (Intercity or IC, InterRegionale or IR etc.) are rather slow. The FrecciaRossa (RedArrow) is a superfast train, competing time-wise with air flights: it brings you for ex. from Milan to Rome (600 Km.) in approximately 3 hours. It costs less than airplane tickets, and it brings you right in city centers. Also the Eurostar is very fast, and has reasonable prices. It should be your choice for mid-range distances, for example from Florence or from Venice to Rome. The other trains are very inexpensive compared to other European countries, but they are slow. Consider them only for short distances (for ex. daily excursions out of town, or to reach small towns from big towns etc.).

(4) Once you have filled out the onlne form, In the following window, select "number of tickets" - of course depending on the number of persons in your party - and regarding the fare select "BASE", as it is the best applied. We suggest that you buy 2nd class tickets, as it is comfortable and will bring you nevertheless to your destination. First class tickets are expensive, probably the only advantage is that the carriages are the nearest ones you find when you reach the train track at the train station, so you will have to walk less to reach them - however frequently also second class carriages are near.

(5) After the system will re-calculate the fare depending on the number of persons, *fill out your name* (it is the one which will be stamped in your tickets). Afterwards to proceed the system will ask you a UserID and password: you will obtain them by *registering in their website* (follow the little link you will find in the website to do it, it is easy).  Once you fill out all the fields, the system should bring you to the next step.

(6) Pay with your credit card, and follow the final instructions the system will give you.
The system will give you a voucher, which you should print. When in Italy, you should then go to any Italian train station window / counter with the voucher, and they will give you the real hardcopy ticket.

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