Do you need a rail pass to see Italy? You might have sought out the discount pass in the '70s. After that, rail passes became complicated. Then the pandemic hit, and covid seems to have been the excuse to rid ourselves of them.
Today I buy my regional train tickets at the train station, either at the ticket window or at the machines that accept cash. It's easy to buy your outgoing train tickets when you arrive in a city station, then you'll have them before you leave, just in case something goes wrong or you've read the schedules wrong.
But wait, if you're nostalgic, you can still buy a rail pass for Italy! Yes, our friends at Trenitalia will still sell you one. They call it the Trenitalia Pass, and it's still complicated:
The Pass must be activated within 11 months from the date of purchase and is available in 4 different options: 3 or 4 journeys within 7 consecutive days; 7 journeys within 15 consecutive days; 10 journeys within 30 consecutive days. -- Trenitalia
See if one of the many options fits you. You might save some bucks.
To see one of northern Italy's main lines and a compelling one for tourists, see our Torino to Trieste Rail Map.
Italy also has some private tourist railroads, some that operate with steam engines. See Touristic Trains in Italy.
If you're going to the islands, you might need these:
Sardinia Rail Map Sicily Map Showing Train Lines
How to Read the Departure Board Italy Train Map How to Ride the Rails in Italy (Video)
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