Italy by Train: Learn More About Italy’s Magical Train Adventures

Italy rewards travellers who move at ground level. Fast high-speed lines link major cities, while scenic mountain and coastal routes add drama between stops. If you want a seamless trip from the UK, Italy train travel packages simplify planning and keep connections tight. This guide shows what routes, services, and add-ons deliver value for UK travellers.

Getting from the UK to Italy by rail

Start with Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris in as little as 2 hours 16 minutes, then connect onward toward Milan, Turin, or Venice. The direct Frecciarossa service between Paris and Milan, first launched in 2021 and restarted in April 2025 after a landslide closure, offers a comfortable cross-border link in roughly 6 hours 50 minutes. Booking hubs like Rail Europe aggregate Trenitalia and Italo inventory for a single checkout, which is useful if you’re mixing operators. If you prefer flexible days, the Interrail Italy One Country Pass covers multiple travel days within a month.

Scenic and luxury experiences worth the detour

For alpine theatre, the Bernina Express runs between Tirano in Italy and St. Moritz over UNESCO-listed track, with panoramic coaches and regular season updates; it is easy as a day trip from Milan via Tirano. Along the Ligurian coast, the Cinque Terre Train Card gives unlimited hops between the five villages, with off-season pricing published by the park and local portal. Travellers who want premium onboard service can choose Italo’s Club Executive or Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa Business and Executive cabins; Frecciarossa sets run up to 300 km/h and connect key city-centre stations. These options pair well with Scenic train tours Italy built around slow mornings and late-afternoon arrivals.

Building your route inside Italy

Think in legs. Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and Naples form an easy north-south backbone on high-speed lines. Add side trips such as Lake Como via Varenna-Esino, Verona for Roman history, or Bologna and Parma for food. Coastal and mountain segments reward time: the Tyrrhenian line south of Rome is slower but scenic, and the Valtellina corridor to Tirano sets up the Bernina day. Use this framework to plan the Best train routes in Italy for your interests, then slot in a night or two near hubs to keep transfers simple.

How to book smart from the UK

Decide early if you want fixed tickets or flexibility. High-speed services require seat reservations and reward early booking with lower fares; regional trains are usually reservation-free and good for spontaneous hops. If you’re stacking multiple city moves plus a marquee day trip, Italy rail vacation deals and Italy by rail tour packages can bundle hotels, seat reservations, and transfers into one payment. For independent travellers, mix-and-match platforms let you compare Trenitalia and Italo in one place, or you can buy direct from each operator. The Interrail Italy Pass remains a solid option if you plan three to eight long travel days in a month.

When luxury is the brief

If the journey is the point, upgrade selectively. Italo’s Club Executive offers the quietest space with at-seat service, while Trenitalia’s Executive on Frecciarossa provides wider seats and lounge access on some routes. Combine these with curated hotel stays and private transfers to create Luxury Italy train journeys that still use fast, frequent services between major cities. For a full-service approach, UK-facing retailers package Europe train holidays Italy with set itineraries, so you only choose dates and cabin class.

Putting it all together

Map your week around 2–3 anchor cities, then add a scenic day by rail. For example: London–Paris–Milan, Bernina Express via Tirano, then Florence and Rome. Or focus on the coast: Genoa into Cinque Terre with a Train Card, then onward to Naples and Pompeii by regional services. If you want someone else to stitch the pieces, look for Italy train travel guide inclusions inside package descriptions, and prioritise operators that publish clear timings and seat classes.