10 Great Italian Rail Journeys

Exploring Italy by train is a truly unforgettable experience. The country is crisscrossed by railway lines that connect the historic big cities to the most heavenly of small towns, beach resorts and mountain destinations and dotted with bustling train stations full of busy espresso bars, eateries and all-around travel excitement. 

Whether you're descending from the Alps to a city famous for romance or traversing a coastal railway looking out onto the teal blue water of the Med', traveling Italy by train is destined to leave you breathless. And with the recent announcement of the new Italian rail travel brand dedicated to tourist trains, more and more people are destined to be riding the Italian rails in the coming years. To get you ready, click on the slideshow to get the details on 10 great Italian rail journeys that might just have you searching for a flight and rail pass.

Milan to Venice

After enjoying the urban delights of Milan, make your way to Milano Centrale (one of the most impressive rail stations in all of Europe) for the journey across northern Italy to Venice. The grand finale of this trip is one of the most romantic experiences in all of Italian rail travel: sailing across a lagoon bridge—with water on both sides—to pull into Venice's Santa Lucia Station. Hop off the train, walk out the front door and you'll be staring directly at the Grand Canal. 

Cinque Terre (Photo via Hans Brunk)

Genoa to La Spezia

This journey is short, but oh is it sweet. Starting in coastal Genoa—one of Italy's most underrated big cities—the line hugs the gorgeous Ligurian coast on the way to La Spezia. The star attraction along the way is Cinque Terre, the five fairytale villages that sit clinging to the coastline. Alight there to do some hiking or sunset watching or just admire the view from your seat, either way, you'll remember this journey long after you've left the land of La Dolce Vita.

Turin to Rome

The only Frecciarossa (high-speed train) on the list, this express service zips you from the northwest city of Turin to the capital city of Rome in under five hours, offering up strikingly different slices of Italian culture at either end of the tracks. Along the way, you'll pass through Milan, Bologna and Florence and while the train certainly moves quickly, you'll still be able to savor plenty of scenery out of the windows—blue rivers and Tuscan hill towns like Cortona and Arezzo are particular highlights. 

Catania cruise port with smoking volcano Etna in the background. (photo via NAPA74/iStock/Getty Images Plus) (Photo Credit: NAPA74 / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

The Circumetnea

One of Europe's most unique railway journeys, Sicily's Circumetnea runs between the cities of Catania and Riposto, completely encircling the legendary Mount Etna volcano. The views of Etna and the otherworldly volcanic landscapes that surround it are worth the price of the ticket alone but you'll also pass by a host of Sicilian villages along the way, too. To make things even better, the line features vintage rail cars full of retro character. 

Innsbruck to Verona

This journey starts in Austria, but not long after leaving the alpine town of Innsbruck you'll be high in the mountains and crossing the border into Italy. Admire the scenery outside the train as you make your way through the Brenner Pass and then descend gradually to pretty towns like Bolzano, past hilltop castles and vineyards along the way to Verona, a fantastic city famed for its connection to those star-crossed lovers named Juliet and Romeo.

Varenna Town, Lake Como, Italy. (photo via bat_sd / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Tirano to Milan

Tirano sits just over the border from Switzerland and it serves as the terminus of the world-famous Bernina Express scenic train journey that starts in Switzerland. After you've taken that journey, hop on the local trains down to Milan (you may need to switch once in Colico) as the journey skirts vineyard-covered hills and Lake Como, offering up a delightful exclamation to the Bernina Express.

Cuneo to Ventimiglia

Nicknamed "The Railway of Marvels", this rail line connects Cuneo in northwest Italy with coastal Ventimiglia, which sits on the border with France. Along the way, this remarkable train traverses mountain passes, passes through tunnels and chugs its way across dramatic viaducts. If you so choose, you can easily connect in Ventimiglia to trains to Nice, France and the rest of the Riviera. 

Little roman amphitheatre in Lecce. (photo via Planetix / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Bologna to Lecce

Starting in Bologna—the cool university city that also lays claim to being Italy's gastronomic capital—you'll make your way over to the beach resort town of Rimini to begin a long but lovely journey down the Adriatic coast. Along the way, the train will skirt inland for a bit to enjoy views of the Umbrian and Tuscan hills before pulling into baroque beauty Lecce, arguably the most captivating city in the region of Puglia—a place being discovered by more and more travelers each year. 

The Foliage Train

First things first, The Foliage Train comes with an asterisk, as it only runs for around a month each year—from mid-October to mid-November. But what a spectacular month it is. Connecting Domodossola in the far northern reaches of Italy and Locarno, Switzerland, this train navigates a route full of woods, waterfalls and streams amid a vibrant display of autumn color that have you wondering why you never thought of a leaf-peeping trip to Europe before. 

Colosseum, Rome, Italy (Photo by Lauren Breedlove)

Rome to Catania

After the exhilarating experience that is visiting Rome, hop on a southbound train heading for the glittering Mediterranean and scores of pretty coastal cities. You could hop off and explore a bit if you wanted, with options including the island of Ischia, Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Continuing on, the journey reaches its climax at the Strait of Messina where the train is put on a ferry for the journey to Sicily, a truly unique rail experience. Once there, enjoy one of Italy’s hottest (in more ways than one) destinations as the train passes through trendy Taormina on the way to its finish at Catania.

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