Italy travel
Discover Italy by Train

All articles — guides, tips and hidden places

Destination guides, planning advice, train tips and hidden places for independent travellers exploring Italy without a hire car.

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Lake Como by Train from Milan: Day Trip Guide and How to Get There Day Trips
24 Apr 2026 11 min read

Lake Como by Train from Milan: Day Trip Guide and How to Get There

Lake Como is less than an hour from Milan by train — beautiful in any weather, and one of the easiest escapes from the city. This guide covers the circular Varenna–Bellagio–Como route, the villas worth seeing from the water, and whether a day trip is enough.

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The Bernina Express from Milan: Switzerland by Train in a Day Day Trips
18 Apr 2026 12 min read

The Bernina Express from Milan: Switzerland by Train in a Day

Less than two hours from Milan, the Bernina railway crosses into Switzerland and climbs to 2,253 metres through glaciers, frozen lakes and the high Alps. A UNESCO World Heritage line, and one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world.

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Oltrepò Pavese by Train from Milan: A Wine Region Nobody Told You About Day Trips
17 Apr 2026 9 min read

Oltrepò Pavese by Train from Milan: A Wine Region Nobody Told You About

Just outside Milan by train, Oltrepò Pavese is Italy's largest wine-producing area in Lombardy — and one of its least visited. Rolling hills, medieval castles, native grape varieties you won't find anywhere else, and wines at a fraction of Tuscany's prices.

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Bergamo from Milan by Train: Day Trip or Airport Stopover Day Trips
15 Apr 2026 12 min read

Bergamo from Milan by Train: Day Trip or Airport Stopover

Less than an hour from Milan by train — or 15 minutes from Orio al Serio airport by bus — Bergamo's medieval Città Alta is one of the most rewarding day trips in northern Italy. Cobbled lanes, Venetian walls, extraordinary food, and views to the Alps.

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Pavia Day Trip from Milan by Train (What to See + Is It Worth It?) Day Trips
10 Apr 2026 13 min read

Pavia Day Trip from Milan by Train (What to See + Is It Worth It?)

Just 25 minutes from Milano Centrale, Pavia is one of northern Italy's most rewarding train trips — medieval towers, a covered bridge over the Ticino, a university older than the Renaissance, and one of the finest monasteries in the country.

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What to Do in Florence: Beyond the Uffizi and the Duomo Florence
06 Apr 2026 8 min read

What to Do in Florence: Beyond the Uffizi and the Duomo

Beyond Florence’s headline sights lies a quieter, more intriguing city, where a short detour reveals hidden corners, overlooked masterpieces, and a far richer sense of place.

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Orvieto by Train from Rome — Day Trip Guide with Funicular, Tickets and What to See Day Trips
05 Apr 2026 7 min read

Orvieto by Train from Rome — Day Trip Guide with Funicular, Tickets and What to See

An hour from Rome by train, Orvieto rises from the Umbrian plain on a plug of volcanic rock. Here's how to get there, how the funicular works, what to see — and whether the Carta Unica is actually worth buying.

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How Italy's train network works Planning
03 Apr 2026 7 min read

How Italy's train network works

Two operators, five train types, city transport in every major city, and ferries to the islands — the complete reference guide to Italy's train network.

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12 Days in Italy by Train — Using Rome and Florence as bases Planning
30 Mar 2026 10 min read

12 Days in Italy by Train — Using Rome and Florence as bases

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Cinque Terre Train Tickets Guide: Single tickets and the Cinque Terre Card Cinque Terre
29 Mar 2026 7 min read

Cinque Terre Train Tickets Guide: Single tickets and the Cinque Terre Card

The Cinque Terre Express runs every 20 minutes between La Spezia and Levanto, connecting all five villages in minutes. Single tickets cost €5–€10 depending on season — here's how the train works, what the Cinque Terre Card covers and whether it's worth buying.

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Cinque Terre by Train: No Car, No Stress, Five Stunning Villages Cinque Terre
28 Mar 2026 13 min read

Cinque Terre by Train: No Car, No Stress, Five Stunning Villages

La Spezia is the gateway to Cinque Terre — and it's closer than most people realise. From Florence, Pisa, or Genoa, all five villages are reachable by train without a hire car, a cliff road or a change of hotel.

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Best Day Trips from Florence by Train: Siena, Lucca, Arezzo and Beyond Day Trips
27 Mar 2026 9 min read

Best Day Trips from Florence by Train: Siena, Lucca, Arezzo and Beyond

The best day trips from Florence by train include Siena, Lucca, Arezzo, San Miniato, Pisa, Bologna and even Rome — all reachable without changing hotels, repacking your suitcase or hiring a car.

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