I’m travelling to Rome for the first time in September by myself and am nervous about the public transport system. How easy is it to navigate the trains between each city? Are there any apps you recommend or should I buy tickets at the station each time?
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Hey! So I travelled North to South in Italy all via train! It was relatively easy to look up train schedules- there are a few different apps you can use to both track schedules, and buy tickets- like “Trenit!”. We normally waited until we got to the station to buy them, unless we knew we would be travelling during a time when we thought the ticket offices might be closed.
Be warned- sometimes the trains are late, or rescheduled, or cancelled altogether! Sometimes a 4-hour travel day turned into a 12-hour travel day!
Book ahead when you can, keep a flexible schedule if possible and enjoy the scenery! I felt like I got to see a lot of beautiful countryside by taking the train.
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Agreed @WhisperingPines 
While the trains are comfortable and convenient, they can be unreliable. If you’re catching the train to the airport, I’d definitely recommend allowing a little extra time just in case. Booking in advance is always a good idea, too, especially if you’re travelling with other people and want to ensure you’re sitting together.
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I have only taken the train in Northern Italy between Venice and Milan. Everything went smoothly, the train left on time and I got my ticket online through the Trenitalia website the day before. I still think that if you book well in advance you are less likely to be in a situation where the train is completely full and there are no tickets. Especially in high tourist season.
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Hi! This is exciting! A few extra tips from me:
- Rome can be overwhelming at first - make sure you have an e-sim to be able to translate signs or even communicate with people.
- Trains from the airport to the city are confusing - ask the person at the ticket office to sell you a direct one! It is a bit more expensive, but definitely worth the time saving!
- Book your vatican visit in advance! It is worth visiting, but can sell out quite quickly.
- If you are a foodie, look for restaurants in advance and make a reservation. Specially in Trastevere, you could be walking for quite sometime until you find a table.
Good luck!
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Rome is a great city, but I didn’t particularly love the public transit lol. There is a lot of talk about how public transit in Rome can be filled with pickpockets, but I didn’t experience that when I was there. With that said, if you are going to be going on public transport, it’s best to be really aware of your surroundings.
The train from the Airport to the city is pretty easy to navigate, and I just bought tickets at the airport. Also all the trains in between cities are pretty easy to navigate as well and take you to major train stations. I would buy some of those tickets in advance though!
The good news is that Rome is a very walkable city, and in my opinion, walking is the best way to experience the city. I would suggest walking everywhere and just getting lost in the city!
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I took the most packed bus when in Rome to get to the Vatican, I agree with @BrokeSinceBangkok I didn’t love it but it worked. Regardless, we saved money as opposed to taking a taxi
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