Italy Public Transport: Tips for New Residents

If you relocated to Italy and you want to feel like a local and experience the Italian way of life, you may want to use public transportation! We all know that having a car is more convenient, but sometimes buying a car can be tricky – especially in Italy!

Remember! If you want to purchase a car you must have an Italian ID!

Public transportation can be a valid and greener option…here are some things you may want to bear in mind.

Of course, the subway is the fastest way to move through the city. However, only few cities have an extended subway network. With 5 subway lines, Milan is the city with the largest number of subway lines, while Rome has 4 subway lines, with a fifth one expected in the upcoming years. Naples has 2 subway lines – although few, almost all the stops are decorated with artistic installations. Other cities like Torino, Genoa and Catania have only 1 subway line.

As for surface transportation, you can surely find a bus service with several routes, in some cases trams, and taxis. But the most efficient public transportation on surface is the train. The Italian train network connects all the Country from North to South, and trains represent in some cases the fastest way to reach major cities if you live within the province.

Please remember, always validate your ticket! Nowadays, you can simply tap your card and pay for your ticket on subways and buses, and the ticket will be immediately valid. If you want, you can also buy a ticket at the tabaccheria and validate it when entering the subway or getting on the bus. As for trains you must either buy it online – in this case the ticket will be validated automatically – or go to the train station or tabaccheria to buy a ticket to be validated at the ticket machine. If you become a public transportation fan, you can also get a monthly or yearly public transportation pass that comprehends all types of public transportation within the city.