In a continent full of gorgeous prepare journeys, Italy has a few of the finest. The nation is consistently showcasing new methods to see Italy’s 20 areas by rail. Take, as an illustration, the enlargement of the FS Treni Turistici Italiani (Italian vacationer trains), which launched three in a single day sleeper routes, and the extremely anticipated debut of the Venice Simplon–Orient–Categorical in spring 2025.
Prepare hopping is among the most fulfilling methods to expertise a sequence of landscapes, permitting you to concentrate on the pure magnificence round you rather than navigation. Whether or not you wish to see Alpine surroundings or the huge openness of Sardinia’s inland, these seven prepare routes provide you with magic, mile after mile.
La Spezia to Levanto
- Distance: 10 miles
- Time: half-hour
- Prepare line(s): Cinque Terre Categorical
- Ebook now: cinqueterre.eu.com
Nonetheless on the identical coast because the Genoa to Ventimiglia route however heading south, the Cinque Terre Categorical takes you thru the dramatic cliffs and famed cities of the UNESCO World Heritage website. Hugging the Ligurian shoreline, this journey connects the 5 picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre, just like the cliffside Vernazza (which has been acknowledged as one in every of Italy’s most stunning villages). The Cinque Terre MS Card permits for prepare journey between them—however for the very best expertise, hop off for a few of the journey and hike the Sentiero Azzurro, which connects Cinque Terre’s 5 small cities.
Genoa to Ventimiglia
- Distance: 78 miles
- Time: 2.75 hours
- Prepare line(s): Regionale and Intercity
- Ebook now: trenitalia.com
The usual regional and intercity trains are no-frills, however generally they’re essentially the most stunning. Genoa to Ventimiglia might be one of many prettiest prepare rides in Italy: For 2 hours, the trail skirts the Italian riviera, stopping at coastal cities like Savona and the pastel-colored Imperia, providing breathtaking views of the Ligurian shoreline punctuated by tunnels. The route concludes at Ventimiglia, the final cease earlier than France.
Domodossola, Italy to Locarno, Switzerland
- Distance: Round 32.5 miles
- Time: 2 hours
- Prepare line(s): Vigezzina–Centovalli Railway
- Ebook now: vigezzinacentovalli.com
Also referred to as the “100 valleys” railway, this route stretches throughout 83 bridges and thru 31 tunnels, from Italy’s Vigezzo Valley to Locarno, Switzerland. All through the trip, vacationers will see forests and hills dipping into the Melezza River, passing by way of small villages that embrace Druogno, Santa Maria Maggiore, and Loco.
Remember to account for any occasions the place crowds could make the journey much less peaceable: Throughout August, the route may be extra crowded because the Locarno Movie Competition makes its annual return.
Venice to Trieste
- Distance: 72 miles
- Time: About 2 hours
- Prepare line(s): Trenitalia Regionale
- Ebook now: trenitalia.com/it
That is a straightforward two hours on a neighborhood regional prepare throughout Italy’s northeast areas Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, and is especially enchanting when there’s a little bit of fog. Veneto’s countryside plains and vineyards circulate into FVG’s looming mountains of the karst plateau area and sweeping vistas of the Adriatic Sea.
Tirano to St. Moritz
The Bernina Categorical takes vacationers on a prepare trip by way of the Alps from Tirano (Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland). The glass automobile prepare is all about displaying off the snow-capped peaks, glaciers, lakes, and viaducts. It’s a visit that’s attractive in each the summer time and the winter, the place the previous reveals sunny inexperienced Swiss meadows whereas the latter places you in a snowy winter wonderland.
Bonus: In the event you journey to Tirano after which on to Milan, the Trenord passes by a few of Lombardia’s best and most stunning lakes.
Domodossola, Italy to Bern, Switzerland
This journey is a gradual, scenic itinerary by way of the Italian Alps to Switzerland on fashionable commuter trains by Swiss railway firm BLS. The voyage winds its means by way of Piemonte’s landscapes and wonderful backdrop of the Alps, passing and stopping in postcard-perfect cities, together with Brig, Kandersteg, Spiez, and Thun. The trip’s ultimate cease is Bern, supplying you with a style of medieval appeal with its historic Zytglogge, a landmark Thirteenth-century tower with a Fifteenth-century astrological clock.
Varied Routes, Sardinia
- Distance: 10–22 miles
- Time: 1 hour–2.5 hours
- Prepare line(s): Trenino Verde
- Ebook now: treninoverde.com
Sardinia is Italy’s second-largest island, with landscapes that embrace the coast, distant forests, villages, and granite mountains. The Trenino Verde has 5 itineraries in 5 areas that showcase Sardinia’s magnificence. Making it much more picturesque are the trains. Designs embrace strictly classic just like the 1931 Reggiane Steam Locomotive, the Fifties Diesel Railcar, and carriages from the 1910s to the ‘30s.
Unsure which journey to decide on? One standout is Palau to Tempio Pausania, which crosses the Gallura within the northern space of the island. A sort of mountain-to-sea journey, the trail additionally provides you a glimpse of the Maddalena archipelago. One other is Mandas to Laconi, which takes you throughout southern Sardinia’s Trexenta area, a hilly hinterland of villages.
