Italy By Bus And Metro

Don’T Trash It! Hold on to your (validated!) bus, metro, and train tickets throughout your entire journey. Controllori will spontaneously board at any given time to check for freeloaders and dole out hefty fines.

Though notoriously unreliable and uncomfortable, buses (autobus) are often cheaper than trains. Two bus systems exist within Italy: pullman or intercity, which run between towns and regions, and intra-city, which provide local transportation. Tickets can generally be purchased at private bus company offices near the bus station or departure point, or onboard. In many rural areas, where stops are unmarked, it is crucial to find out exactly where to stand to flag down the bus. On rare occasions, the tickets are actually sold by the side of the road out of a salesperson’s car near where the bus will stop. Intra-city bus tickets are usually sold at tabaccherie, and must be validated using the orange machines immediately upon entering the bus. Failure to do so will result in fines around €30, but occasionally as high as €500 upon inspection. The websites www.bus.it and www.italybus.it are both helpful resources for finding bus companies in specific regions and routes to small towns.

Most large cities, including Rome, Naples, and Milan, have fast and cheap metro systems that connect major tourist destinations. Along with buses, the metro is the best form of local transport. The metro usually operates from 6am until midnight, and tickets usually cost approximately €1. Cabins and stations get packed during rush hour, so guard personal belongings carefully, as theft is rampant. Tickets are sold in stations at counters or from automated machines. Remember to validate them, or risk a heavy fine.

Fermata Frenzy. Taking the bus in Italy is easy, affordable, and a great way to get around, but most bus stops that aren’t in major piazze are only “fermata prenotata” stops, meaning the bus driver won’t stop there unless he/she sees somebody waiting or someone onboard requests a stop. Drivers often miss travelers waiting quietly on the side of the road, so make your presence known. Wave your hands, step out on the curb, and make eye contact; you might feel silly but you’ll feel worse if the bus drives right by.