Getting There & Away

For travel between Italy and other parts of Europe, including the UK, buses are the cheapest but most tiring type of transport, although discount rail tickets are competitive and budget flights can be good value. For the rest of the world flying would seem the easiest option although boat passages are available.

Visitors travelling to Italy will find that flights are numerous and fares are competitive. Unless you're pushed for time, train travel is a great way to enter Italy from within Europe. Buses to Italy are numerous but can't really compete with the convenience of the train. Ferries service Sicily from Naples, while Sardinia can be reached from Genoa, Livorno and Naples. Ferries connect the country with Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta, Albania, Croatia and Spain

Given the excellent network of relatively cheap bus and train services in Italy, both are a great, stress-free way of seeing the country - and of being part of the great Italian travelling public. Bus travel is the less expensive of the two, but as there are many different operators it is less straightforward than train travel. Your own wheels give you the most potential freedom and flexibility, although both fuel and autostrada (motorway) tolls are rather expensive.

Domestic air travel can be costly and is probably worth it only if you are really short of time. Buses are fast and reliable, whether they are traversing local routes linking small villages or zooming along autostrade between cities. They come into their own to reach destinations not serviced by the trains. If you want to see more of the Italy, renting a car is a great way of getting off the beaten track. Roads are generally good throughout the country, and there is an excellent network of freeways, although you do have to pay tolls.