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Getting Around by Air
Alitalia (AZ) (website: www.alitalia.com) and other airlines run services to all the major cities. There are over 30 airports. For details, contact the airlines direct or ENIT, the Italian State Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses).
Getting Around by Water
Main ports: Cagliari (website: www.porto.cagliari.it), Civitavecchia (website: www.port-of-rome.org), Genoa (website: www.porto.genova.it), Livorno (website: www.portauthority.li.it) and Naples (website: www.porto.napoli.it).
Ferries: A number of car and passenger ferries operate throughout the year linking Italian ports. Regular boat and hydrofoil services run to the islands of Capri, Sardinia, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. There are also some links along the coast. Operators include Tirrenia (te: (081) 017 1998; website: www.tirrenia.it), and SNAV (tel: (081) 428 5555 - Naples call centre; website: www.snav.it). Ferries also operate on the main lakes of Garda, Maggiore, Como and Iseo.
Ferries: A number of car and passenger ferries operate throughout the year linking Italian ports. Regular boat and hydrofoil services run to the islands of Capri, Sardinia, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. There are also some links along the coast. Operators include Tirrenia (te: (081) 017 1998; website: www.tirrenia.it), and SNAV (tel: (081) 428 5555 - Naples call centre; website: www.snav.it). Ferries also operate on the main lakes of Garda, Maggiore, Como and Iseo.
Getting Around by Rail
Trenitalia (FS) (tel: 892 021 in Italy; (066) 847 5475 from outside Italy; website: www.trenitalia.com or www.ferroviedellostato.it) runs a nationwide network at very reasonable fares, calculated on the distance travelled, and there are a number of excellent reductions. Main routes include Turin-Milan-Venice; Milan-Bologna-Bari; Rome-Genoa-Turin; and Rome-Naples-Palermo. Visitors from the UK can book tickets with Italia Rail (tel: 0870 084 1414, in the UK; website: www.italiarail.co.uk).
Rail Passes
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Italy. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064 in the UK; website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by Road
There are more than 479,688km (298,064 miles) of roads in Italy, including over 6,000km (3,700 miles) of motorway (autostrada). More motorways are under construction and due for completion by 2012. Tolls are charged at varying distances and scales. Road signs are international. More information on the Italian motorway network is available from Autostrade per l'Italia (tel: (06) 4363 2121; website: www.autostrade.it). Traffic drives on the right.
Coach: Good coach services run between towns and cities and there are also extensive local buses. SITA is a major inter-city operator (tel: (055) 294 955; website: www.sitabus.it).
Car hire: Self-drive hire is available in most cities, airports and resorts. Many international and Italian firms operate this service. Generally, small local firms offer cheaper rates, but cars can only be booked locally.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in urban areas, 90kph (55mph) on ordinary roads, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways and 130kph (80mph) on motorways. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas during the day. All vehicles must carry a red warning triangle. Seat belts are compulsory. Note: Fines for driving offences are on-the-spot and particularly heavy.
Emergency breakdown service: In case of breakdown, dial 803 116. The operator will inform the nearest Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) office (website: www.aci.it).
Documentation: A UK driving licence and EU pink format licences are valid in Italy but old-style green licences (without photos) must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Visitors must carry their log-book, which must be in their name as owner, or have the owner's written permission to drive the vehicle. A driving licence or a motorcycle driving licence is required for motorcycles over 49cc.
Coach: Good coach services run between towns and cities and there are also extensive local buses. SITA is a major inter-city operator (tel: (055) 294 955; website: www.sitabus.it).
Car hire: Self-drive hire is available in most cities, airports and resorts. Many international and Italian firms operate this service. Generally, small local firms offer cheaper rates, but cars can only be booked locally.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in urban areas, 90kph (55mph) on ordinary roads, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways and 130kph (80mph) on motorways. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas during the day. All vehicles must carry a red warning triangle. Seat belts are compulsory. Note: Fines for driving offences are on-the-spot and particularly heavy.
Emergency breakdown service: In case of breakdown, dial 803 116. The operator will inform the nearest Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) office (website: www.aci.it).
Documentation: A UK driving licence and EU pink format licences are valid in Italy but old-style green licences (without photos) must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Visitors must carry their log-book, which must be in their name as owner, or have the owner's written permission to drive the vehicle. A driving licence or a motorcycle driving licence is required for motorcycles over 49cc.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Travellers should be aware that tickets for public transport need to be endorsed in a ticket machine before the journey. Machines are located in entrances to platforms in railway and metro stations and on-board buses and trams. Failure to do so could lead to an on-the-spot fine of up to €60.
All the big towns and cities (Genoa, Milan, Naples, Rome, Turin and Venice) have good public transport networks. The Rome system is run by the City Transport Authority (ATAC) and MetRo. The Milanese system is run by the Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM).
Underground: In Rome there are two underground lines - Metropolitana A from Battistini via Termini station to Via Anagnina and also connecting with the Ottaviano-San Pietro link; and Metropolitana B, which runs between from Laurentina, via Termini Station, and onwards to Rebibbia. Both day and monthly passes are available. Milan also has a three-line underground system, with tickets useable on both underground and bus.
Bus: Services operate in all main cities and towns. In Rome, the network is extensive and complements the underground and tram systems. In larger cities, fares are generally pre-purchased from machines or tobacconists (tabacchi). Bus tickets can be bought in packets of five and are fed into a stamping machine on boarding.
Tram: There is an extensive network consisting of eight routes in Rome; Milan, Messina and Turin also have tram services.
Taxi: Available in all towns and cities. Government-regulated taxis are either white or yellow. Visitors should avoid un-metered taxis. They are generally expensive, with extra charges for night service, luggage and taxis called by telephone. Water taxis in Venice are extremely expensive; a much cheaper public ferry service is available. Taxis can only be hailed at official ranks or booked by telephone.
All the big towns and cities (Genoa, Milan, Naples, Rome, Turin and Venice) have good public transport networks. The Rome system is run by the City Transport Authority (ATAC) and MetRo. The Milanese system is run by the Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM).
Underground: In Rome there are two underground lines - Metropolitana A from Battistini via Termini station to Via Anagnina and also connecting with the Ottaviano-San Pietro link; and Metropolitana B, which runs between from Laurentina, via Termini Station, and onwards to Rebibbia. Both day and monthly passes are available. Milan also has a three-line underground system, with tickets useable on both underground and bus.
Bus: Services operate in all main cities and towns. In Rome, the network is extensive and complements the underground and tram systems. In larger cities, fares are generally pre-purchased from machines or tobacconists (tabacchi). Bus tickets can be bought in packets of five and are fed into a stamping machine on boarding.
Tram: There is an extensive network consisting of eight routes in Rome; Milan, Messina and Turin also have tram services.
Taxi: Available in all towns and cities. Government-regulated taxis are either white or yellow. Visitors should avoid un-metered taxis. They are generally expensive, with extra charges for night service, luggage and taxis called by telephone. Water taxis in Venice are extremely expensive; a much cheaper public ferry service is available. Taxis can only be hailed at official ranks or booked by telephone.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Rome to other major cities/towns in Italy.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Florence | 1.00 | 2.55 | 2.30 |
| Milan | 1.10 | 5.30 | 4.05 |
| Naples | 0.55 | 2.15 | 1.27 |
| Cagliari | 0.55 | - | - |
| Turin | 1.15 | 6.35 | 6.35 |