There’s never been a better time to travel in Europe by train. But while everyone is talking about it, one iconic country has quietly been having a full-blown rail revolution, making it the absolute easiest—and smartest—way to explore this fall.
That country is Italy.
Forget the stress of renting a car or dealing with budget airline baggage fees. A massive investment in high-speed rail and fierce competition between operators has made traveling through Italy by train faster, cheaper, and way more fun than ever before.
Here at Travel Off Path, we’re all about finding the smartest way to travel. Based on the latest developments, here are 5 reasons why you should be exploring Italy by rail this fall.
1. Fierce Competition Means Insanely Cheap Fares
This is the number one reason to get excited. Italy’s state-owned railway, Trenitalia, now has a major private competitor, Italo, and they are in a full-on price war for passengers. The winner? You!
This rivalry has pushed high-speed ticket prices on the most popular routes to incredible lows. We’re seeing one-way fares on the flagship Rome to Florence route for as low as $25 when booked in advance for this fall. That’s less than the price of a taxi to the airport. This fierce competition makes hopping between Italy’s iconic cities more affordable than ever.
2. It’s Officially Faster Than Flying ️
Yes, you read that right. When you factor in getting to the airport, going through security, and then traveling from your destination airport back into the city, the train is the undisputed speed king in Italy.
Take the country’s busiest route: Milan to Rome. A flight is technically about an hour, but the entire door-to-door journey can easily take 4-5 hours. The high-speed Frecciarossa train connects the city centers in just 2 hours and 59 minutes. You can leave your hotel in Milan after breakfast and be at the Colosseum in time for lunch. No stress, no security lines, just pure speed and convenience.
{ const mainContainer = document.getElementById(‘top-italy-race-v1’); if (!mainContainer) return; let state = { view: ‘start’ // ‘start’, ‘racing’, ‘result’ }; let hasInteracted = false; const buildElement = (tag, options = {}) => { const el = document.createElement(tag); Object.assign(el, options); if (options.classes) el.classList.add(…options.classes); return el; }; const scrollOnInteraction = () => { if (!hasInteracted) { hasInteracted = true; setTimeout(() => { mainContainer.scrollIntoView({ behavior: ‘smooth’, block: ‘start’ }); }, 50); } }; const render = () => { mainContainer.innerHTML = ”; const card = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-card’] }); const view = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-view’] }); if (state.view === ‘start’) { const title = buildElement(‘h2’, { textContent: “The Great Italian Getaway” }); const description = buildElement(‘p’, { classes: [‘ir-description’], textContent: “Which is really faster from Milan to Rome? The train or the plane? Click the button to find out!” }); const startButton = buildElement(‘button’, { classes: [‘ir-primary-btn’], textContent: “Start The Race!” }); startButton.onclick = () => { scrollOnInteraction(); state.view = ‘racing’; render(); }; view.appendChild(title); view.appendChild(description); view.appendChild(startButton); } else if (state.view === ‘racing’) { const title = buildElement(‘h2’, { textContent: “Milan to Rome Race” }); const raceArea = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-race-area’] }); // Train const trainLabel = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-competitor-label’] }); trainLabel.innerHTML = `🚆The Train Journey`; const trainBg = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-progress-bar-bg’] }); const trainFill = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-progress-bar-fill’, ‘train’] }); trainBg.appendChild(trainFill); // Plane const planeLabel = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-competitor-label’] }); planeLabel.innerHTML = `✈️The Plane Journey`; const planeBg = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-progress-bar-bg’] }); const planeFill = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-progress-bar-fill’, ‘plane’] }); planeBg.appendChild(planeFill); raceArea.appendChild(trainLabel); raceArea.appendChild(trainBg); raceArea.appendChild(planeLabel); raceArea.appendChild(planeBg); view.appendChild(title); view.appendChild(raceArea); setTimeout(() => { state.view = ‘result’; const resultBox = buildElement(‘div’, { classes: [‘ir-result-box’] }); const resultTitle = buildElement(‘h3’); resultTitle.innerHTML = `🏆The Train Wins!`; const resultDesc = buildElement(‘p’, { classes: [‘ir-description’], textContent: “Arrive in the city center in under 3 hours, beating the plane door-to-door every time.” }); const restartButton = buildElement(‘button’, { classes: [‘ir-primary-btn’], textContent: “Race Again” }); restartButton.onclick = () => { state.view = ‘start’; render(); }; resultBox.appendChild(resultTitle); resultBox.appendChild(resultDesc); resultBox.appendChild(restartButton); view.appendChild(resultBox); }, 4600); } card.appendChild(view); mainContainer.appendChild(card); }; render(); }); ]]>
3. New Routes To Underrated Fall Destinations
The best part of Italy’s rail boom is that it’s not just about the big cities. The high-speed network has recently expanded, opening up incredible, less-visited regions that are perfect for a fall trip.
The new high-speed line now pushes all the way down to the “toe” of Italy’s boot, making the stunning and authentic region of Calabria easier to reach than ever. Imagine zipping down to coastal towns to enjoy the last of the warm Mediterranean sun without the summer crowds. It’s a true “off the beaten path” adventure made possible by modern rail.
4. The Ultimate Front-Row Seat to Fall Scenery
Traveling by train in Italy this fall is like watching a live-action painting from your window. Instead of staring at clouds from 30,000 feet, you’ll be gliding through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world as they are draped in autumn colors.
Picture this: the rolling hills of Tuscany turning golden-brown, the vineyards of Piedmont alive with the energy of the fall grape harvest, and the dramatic, misty approaches to the Alps in the north. It’s a scenic experience that a plane simply cannot offer.
5. More Comfort, More Luggage, Zero Stress
Let’s be honest, flying on a European budget airline can be a miserable experience. You’re crammed into a tiny seat and charged a fortune for every bag.
On Italian high-speed trains, the experience is the complete opposite. The seats are spacious, you have plenty of legroom, and there are no restrictive luggage fees. You can bring your suitcases onboard without worrying about a surprise charge at the gate. It’s a comfortable, civilized, and stress-free way to travel that lets you actually enjoy the journey.
Before you book your amazing Italian rail adventure, be sure to run our essential 1 Minute Trip Check to get the latest entry requirements and travel advisories for your trip.
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