Travel By Train Around Italy Using a Rail Pass
One of the best ways to travel around Italy is with a rail pass, giving you unlimited train travel across the country and the ultimate freedom to explore wherever and whenever you like.
The best rail pass for exploring Italy is the Interrail or Eurail One Country Pass. These passes are virtually identical in how they work, offering unlimited train travel across Italy — the key difference lies in who can buy them. Interrail is for residents of Europe, while Eurail is designed for non-European residents. So if you live in Europe, you’ll need an Interrail pass; if you live outside Europe, you’ll need the Eurail version.
ONE country pass italy
As the name suggests, the One Country Pass Italy covers unlimited train travel within Italy only. If your trip involves extensive train travel across multiple European countries, you’ll likely be better off with a Global Interrail or Eurail Pass instead. For more details about these passes, check our main Interrail page or the Eurail page.
Note that the One Country Pass Italy cannot be used by residents of Italy, as it is intended exclusively for foreign tourists.
Below you can find the most popular rail passes for Italy. Discounted passes are available for seniors (60+) and youths (12-27), while children (4-11) can travel for free when accompanied by an adult pass holder. Click on ‘buy pass’ to purchase the Eurail/Interrail One Country Pass Italy of your choice! In the window that appears, you can then choose your preferred pass (second or first class), apply possible discounts for seniors or youths, and finalise your booking.
Interrail one country pass Italy:
eurail one country pass Italy:
HOW DOES THE ONE COUNTRY PASS ITALY WORK?
The One Country Pass Italy grants unlimited travel during its validity on the trains of national rail operator Trenitalia and certain regional railway companies such as Trenord. However, it does not cover trains operated by the private company Italo. The rail pass can be used on high-speed trains, long-distance InterCity services, sleeper trains, as well as regional and commuter trains.
There are different passes available, which vary in the number of travel days you get within a set period. For example, the “4 days in a month” pass allows unlimited train travel in Italy on four separate days within one month. The month doesn’t have to be a calendar month — it starts from the day you first activate the pass, usually on your first day of train travel.
The greatest advantage of an Interrail or Eurail Pass is the flexibility it offers, allowing travellers to board most trains without needing to buy separate tickets for each journey. Instead of booking individual tickets, pass holders can simply hop on trains covered by the pass, making spontaneous travel much easier. While some high-speed or overnight trains may require a seat reservation or an additional supplement, many regional and local trains can be used freely with the pass. This makes it a convenient and cost-effective way to explore Italy, especially for those trying to fit a lot into a short amount of time.
Another advantage of using a Eurail or Interrail Pass is its flexibility in case of sudden cancellations, strikes, or other unforeseen disruptions. With a rail pass, you can easily adjust your route and take an alternative train — whereas with regular tickets, you might be left stranded or face additional costs.
reservations
When using the One Country Pass Italy, you may need to make an additional seat reservation for certain trains. While many regional and local services — such as a regional express train between Florence and Pisa — do not require reservations, others do. For example, high-speed trains between Florence and Rome or night trains between Milan and Sicily require a special Eurail/Interrail passholder reservation in addition to your pass.
Making seat reservations or purchasing special passholder tickets for high-speed and night trains in Italy can be tricky, as these cannot be booked online through the website of national rail operator Trenitalia. Of course, you can purchase these reservations at the station in Italy, but if you’re travelling during peak season or national holidays, trains may be fully booked days or even weeks in advance, so this isn’t always a reliable option.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to book all your train reservations for Italy online when using a rail pass. Read our article on Interrail and Eurail reservations to learn more about this topic!
Enjoy the great sights of Italy by train
Whether you’re visiting Italy’s greatest cities such as Venice, Milan, Turin, and Rome, exploring beautiful Puglia or Sicily, heading into the stunning Alps and Great Lakes, or discovering sights like the Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast, a rail pass can be the most convenient way to travel!