I am an unabashed fan of Italian train travel. I will almost always opt for the train between two places, all things being relatively equal, but in some cases the bus is really the better choice. This is especially true if you’re staying in one region, and buses often provide a cheaper alternative if you’re on a really tight budget. There are some challenges with taking the bus to get around Italy, however, so don’t assume you’ll be taking all buses (or all trains, for that matter) until you do a little bit of research.
Which starts right here.
Generally speaking, if your Italy itinerary consists mainly of big cities, or is limited to the northern half of the country, chances are good you’ll be taking trains most of the time. There are plenty of towns in the countryside between the big metropolitan centers, though, that either don’t have train service at all or are simply better served by buses. The main thing to understand when you’re learning about getting around Italy by bus is that there’s no national bus network. Trenitalia operates on the same network no matter what region it’s in, but the vast majority of Italian buses are only regional. This is fine if you’re limiting your trip to one region, but can make things extraordinarily complicated if you’re crossing regional borders.
This? This is the sweet spot when it comes to bus travel in Italy. This is when buses come into their own, getting you outside the main tourist centers and into smaller towns where the trains don’t go. (Yes, cars will do this, too, but if you don’t want to drive in Italy then at least the bus driver will handle that part for you.) There are sometimes multiple companies serving one region, and bus terminals are often near the train station in major cities, but sometimes they’re harder to find. Ask around to find the local bus station, and then you can find out your bus options from that city to the one you want to visit.
I would tell you to do some of this research online before you go, but many of the Italian bus companies don’t even have websites (or they’re rarely updated, or they’re only in Italian). This site (only in Italian) is dreadfully designed, but it does seem to have some good information on bus schedules for every region in Italy (click on “Orari Autobus” to get a list of regions), plus bus schedules for the buses that only go back and forth between cities and their airports. The Bus Station site (English) covers way more than just Italy, but it’s got a pretty extensive list of bus and coach services in cities and regions throughout the country.
On the whole, if you’re planning to take buses whenever possible, I would recommend making time to find the bus station and do your route research well before you’re actually planning to get on the next bus. This gives you time to figure out your options and plan your next move without the stress of doing it all in five minutes while the bus idles outside the station.
As mentioned, there’s no over-arching bus network that connects all twenty regions of Italy, where you can book travel through one system. There are some methods of travel-hacking you can employ if you’ve got the time and the adventurous inclination, where you’ll cobble together a cross-country route – it involves figuring out where you’ll do a DIY transfer at each regional border – but on the whole, traveling from one region to another in Italy is still more easily accomplished by train.
Having said that, there are some bus companies in Italy that serve more than one region, and a few that have a very limited number of what could even be called national routes:
You’ve probably heard of Eurail passes, right? Those train ticket substitutes that backpack-wielding teenagers and twenty-somethings have been toting around Europe for decades? Well, there are bus companies that act sort of like European trains in that regard, ferrying backpackers around the continent in an oversized hop-on/hop-off tour. Companies like Eurolines and Busabout offer organized tours or simply long-haul coach (bus) transit from one major European city to another. These options may include multiple stops in Italy, so if you’re on a trip through several countries in Europe this is one option that could get you from one Italian region to another by bus. It isn’t, however, an Italian bus network.
Many Italian cities have city buses that are excellent options for getting around. Some of the city bus networks are listed on the Bus Station website (discussed earlier), but you may also need to stop in at the tourist information office when you arrive to find out the best way to get around. Tickets for city buses are often sold at tabacco shops (they’re indicated by a big T hanging outside the door) and newsstands, but not usually on the buses themselves. And don’t forget to validate your ticket when you first get on the bus – in some places, not doing so can result in hefty fines.
Hi — great info on your site. I’m in an out of the way place, and am going to try to pick up a bus on a road (not close to any station). Can you buy a ticket on the bus? And, it looks like from the Italian bus website that you have to pay 7 Euros each time you transfer…in your experience, is that correct?
Hi, Rick: Yes, you can usually buy a ticket on the bus. It’s best if you have small bills so you can make exact change in that case. And I haven’t heard of paying for a transfer – what you might be paying for is a new ticket with a different company, since they wouldn’t have the same tickets or share revenue.
Hi!! So glad that I came across your site! Have been researching about the Italy Pass but there isn’t much info about their routes and how it works etc etc.. So if you’d be so kind to help me solve my problems here:
1) How does the Italy Pass work? Can I use it on any SENA/Baltour bus, anytime without limit?
2) Does the pass allow me to go from regions to regions any easier, by any chance?
3) would you recommend buying the Italy Pass, Interrail Pass or simply reserving tickets from point to point? FYI, we’ll be travelling to Italy this summer for about 2 weeks, and we’re hoping to cover every corner of Italy, at least most of it.. 😀
Do you know, I’d never even heard of a pass for bus travel in Italy! Most bus tickets are inexpensive enough, it didn’t even seem like something to look up. I see one that covers a number of bus lines within Italy, including SENA and Baltour, which it sounds like is the one you were looking at. As with a rail pass, however, I’d suggest looking up actual bus ticket prices on the routes you’d be traveling, add them up, & compare that to the price of the bus pass. It may offer some savings, but it may not – sometimes buying individual train tickets is much cheaper than a rail pass.
As for the ease of movement from region to region, I wouldn’t think so – it’s the same bus network you’d be using, just with a pass instead of tickets. The pass doesn’t change inter-regional bus travel.
Now, when you ask about buying this bus pas or an Interrail Pass, I’m confused – Interrail is train travel. If you’re asking whether you should travel by train or bus, my suggestion is train nearly all of the time. Some trips are easier/better with a bus, but most of the time the train wins in my book (no pun intended, although I did literally write a book on Italian train travel).
I hope that helps!
Thank for the information on your site,wish I had found it earlier,However you might be able to help with one question.We have found the bus service we want(autolinee marino)with a return trip from Naples to Matera.We have emailed the service with a couple of questions and have had a response but we cannot seem to get a response to this one.Do they have toilets on the coach or stop at a predesignated place for the toilet.The journey we want to book is about 4.5 hours so you can see the reason for the question,I am sure we are not the only ones asking.Thanks.
Thanks for the note, Mick! The Marino website has a page about their bus fleet, which lists all of the amenities on board – including toilets. 🙂
Thanks Jessica,That was quick.It`s knowing where to look for the information you need,That`s the problem.Anyway thanks again,there will be no damaged bladders on our trip!!
Haha! Sometimes it takes a little creative searching… Finding not where you might put information, but where someone else might store it. I’m glad I could help!
Hi I am just wondering the best way to get to Pescheria Del Garda from Bergamo Airport.
As I will not be driving can anybody advise please.
Thanks Aine
It looks like there’s a bus from the Bergamo Airport (BGY) to Peschiera del Garda, but you should probably also check how long it would take to get a bus from the airport into the city of Bergamo and then, from there, the train to Peschiera del Garda.
Love your site, as this is my first time going to Italy.
Is there a kind of bus and train card that is valid for 6 days?(Im staying there for 1 week) I need a card that works on both busses and trains.
Where do I buy that and how much does it cost me?
Thanks for the question, Adam. As far as I know, there’s no combination card for trains and buses. You can get a rail pass for however many train trips you’ll be taking, and I think there are similar passes for some of the international coach touring companies, but I don’t think there’s something that covers both. This article might help you decide whether it’s better to buy a rail pass or point-to-point tickets.
hi. i want to book bus in italy (online). suddenly, i found buscentre.it website. when i try to book online, webssite jump to onbus.it website. this is scammer or trusted? because ticket price very cheap. if trusted, this is agent or bus company?
Thanks for the question, Zack. I’m not familiar with either of those sites, but they look similar. I don’t know where you were trying to book, but it’s possible that you were transferred to another site because the latter is the official ticket site for that particular city or region.
Sena is the worst bus company you can take, overpriced tickets, lack of support, credit cards or any payment online often having issues on their website, delays delays delays, unapologetic staff, though it’s the only one that serves some routes which otherwise would take 2-3 times the time by train, guess why it’s only them? Yes you can say it’s fishy.
My experience with Sena is limited, but it wasn’t bad… Lucky for me, perhaps?
Does anyone know if the Eurail goes to Cinque Terre? we couldn’t find it on their routing but I know you can get there by train?? Or Lake Garda? We tried looking at the bus pass but it also does not post the routes.
Thanks for the note, Leeane! There are a few things to unpack in your question… “Eurail” is a special ticket some foreign travelers can buy to travel in Europe (not just Italy), so what you really need to know is whether Italian trains serve the Cinque Terre (learn more about Eurail passes). The second thing is that “Cinque Terre” is the name of a collection of towns, so when you’re looking on a route map you won’t see “Cinque Terre” as a destination – you need to look up specific towns to find out whether buses or trains go there. You can read more in my Cinque Terre guide, and learn more about each of the five towns in the Cinque Terre.
You’ll need to do the same regarding traveling to Lake Garda – find out the names of towns you might use as your destination, and check routes for those specific towns.
Finally, I find getting around by train much easier than by bus in Italy, for many of the reasons outlined in the article above. Bus travel can be useful within one region, but harder to manage to get around the whole country.
I hope that helps!
Hi how to run bus ticket center in italy? is that possible to open bus ticket center in any bus station like milan,rome etc
I’m not sure I understand your question, Haider. Are you asking about where to buy a bus ticket, or about starting a business that sells bus tickets?
I’m taking a train from milan to colico in como area .. i need to take a bus the c10 i believe to gravedone ..where can i purchase the bus ticket? is there a site online where i can purchase my bus ticket or do i have to find a store that sells them ?
This page has a link to the timetable for the bus you’re talking about, and this page shows you where in Colico you’d need to buy a ticket. There’s also a ferry that takes less than 15 minutes to get across the lake (it leaves Colico twice a day).
Hi!
Thanks for the information on your site. I have a question, though. I’m planning a trip from Milan to Rome by bus. Found some cheap options like buscenter.it and baltour, since i’m on a tight budget. Buying online however requires either a paypal account or a credit card, both of which I don’t possess. I’d like to know if it is recommendable to buy tickets directly from the bus station or anything like that compared to buying online. If so, is it easy to find counters selling the bus tickets?
The only way I’ve ever purchased bus tickets is at the stations in Italy or from ticket sellers that are right there (news agents, cafes near a bus stop, etc.), so if you’re asking whether it’s safe to do so, I’d say yes. 🙂 The bus station hubs almost always have a ticket window (it’s just like buying train tickets), and for some buses you can buy tickets from newsstands and cafes like I mentioned above.
Thanks! Really appreciate the help 😀
Hi, do you have any idea how to travel from the city Bassano del Grappa to Asiago? (both in the Veneto, Vicenza region, approx.40km away from each other)I think I´ve had searched the whole internet already;) but have not found anything…(I actually need to get from Venezia Santa Lucia to Asiago -the closest I can get by train is Bassano but then…is taxi in Italy expensive;)?) Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
It looks like there’s a bus that will get you the last leg of the trip, from Bassano del Grappa to Asiago. On this site, click on “EXTRAURBANO” under “ricerca orari” in the middle. A new window pops up. Choose Bassano del Grappa in the “Partenza” box and Asiago in the “Arrivo” box. When you click OK, you’ll get some more things to enter – date and window of time. You can choose “corse di andata” if you’re only going one way, or “corse di ritorno” if you’re needing a round-trip ticket. I hope that helps!
Hello Jessica,
My husband and I are going to Italy in September and we plan to take the Marino bus from Naples to Gallipoli. We are both over 60 and our daughter says it would better advised to take the train. The problem is that there are no direct trains and we would have to change several times which is a bit of a worry as we do not speak Italian and only I can speak English ( our native language is French) and we come from a small island where trains do not exist so we have no experience in the matter. It is a five hour bus ride and I wonder if it won’t be too long. What is your experience of such a long ride? Thank you for your site and your help. Best regards. Angas
Thanks for the question, Angas. It looks like the train trip would require 2 changes – one relatively soon after leaving Naples (in Caserta) and one near Gallipoli (in Lecce), but it also looks like the train trip would take longer than the bus trip! According to the Rome2Rio site, the train trip is nearly 8 hours while the bus trip is about 6.5. So the bus might really be the better option all the way around. I haven’t taken a bus trip that long in Italy, but I suspect for that kind of long-distance bus trip it’s a coach-style bus – so something more comfortable, where you put your luggage in the hold below and there’s a toilet on board, etc. You may be able to tell whether it would be that type of bus by looking at the website of the bus company that serves the route. I hope that helps!
Thank you very much Jessica. I checked, it is indeed a coach with toilet etc. on board.
I hope everything will be fine. Best regards,
Angas
Hey friends.. im planning to come down to Italy in May. Few of the Places which we would be visiting is Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome , and Salerno.
However i am bit confused between Salerno and Bari. What would be better option. We are 3 couples with 2 Kids.
And also is it safe and fine to travel in buses between this location or should prefer Train. Could any one guide me with this.
All of the cities you mention – whether you visit Salerno or Bari – is served by high-speed trains, so I’d suggest that’s the better option for getting around. As for which is “the better option” between Bari or Salerno, it really depends on what you want to see/do in each one, and how long you’re willing to travel to get there (Bari is significantly further away than Salerno).
Hi,
So glad to have found this site. we have a month to spare and are planning to visit: Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice then cross boarder to Slovenia, Austria and Hungary. Would you recommend Eurail Global Pass? Could we hop-on hop-off on trains with this pass in Italy and other central European countries? Thank you.
Yes, Anita, to answer your last question, a Eurail Global Pass gives you unlimited train trips in the 28 countries covered by Eurail – including all the countries you’ve listed – for as many days/months as the pass you buy is valid for. Whether that’s the best option for you is something you’ll need to figure out based on comparing the cost of the pass against an estimate of what train tickets would cost. Here are my tips for deciding whether to buy a rail pass or point-to-point tickets in Italy, which may help you choose. I hope that helps, and I’m glad you’re enjoying the site so far!
Hi Jessica,
I was wondering if the bus timetables you linked is the same throughout the summer? Also, is there a way to prepay for bus tickets? Finally, is there an option to purchase tickets in english while in Italy?
Most of the time, bus schedules will differ by day of the week (fewer buses on Sundays) and holidays rather than summer/winter. If there are summer-specific schedules, you’ll probably the word “estate,” which means “summer” in Italian. I’m not sure what you mean by “prepay for bus tickets” – like a Metro card? That’s available for public transit in some cities, but not for longer-distance bus trips as far as I know. As for purchasing in English, that depends on how fluent the person at the ticket counter is! It’s always a good idea to learn a few Italian words for a transaction like that, especially if you’ll be using them repeatedly.
Hi Jessica
Is it better to take a bus from Genoa to Florence? looks like it takes almost the same time by train, given that a change is required in Pisa. What do you think? is there a reliable website that I can buy bus tickets from?
I would generally say the train is the best option for cross-regional travel in Italy (there’s no national bus network), but I looked at the Rome2Rio options for Genoa-Florence and the bus and train routes are pretty comparable. I found a new-to-me bus service (it appears to be German) that serves several Italian cities, including Genoa and Florence. Change the language and currency and you can buy tickets on that site. (I’ve never used it, so I can’t vouch for it personally.)
Thanks Jessica, I checked Flixbus before I emailed you, however they have pretty bad reviews. I would prefer to take the train, however I noticed that the schedule for Sunday, Sept 10th is not showing the nonstop train that leaves early morning. Is it too early to book for September? If so, when is it a good time to book for Sept 10th? We have to check in at the B&B in Florence before 1:00 pm as they close the reception after that. Since we also have luggage, it will be quite impossible for us to change trains at Pisa given that the switch-over time is around 8 minutes! What do you recommend we do?
Eight minutes isn’t long, but it’s actually possible to make the switch – provided your incoming train is on time. You only need to get on the right train – in any car – before it leaves the station, since you can walk through the whole train to find your seat later. Pisa’s station only has 16 platforms, and if you’re anticipating arriving in Pisa (i.e. you’ve already retrieved your bags and are standing in the vestibule by the doors) you can hop right off when the train stops. That gives you a minute or two to find the track number for your Florence-bound train and then another few minutes to walk to the right platform. Of course, if that timeframe makes you uneasy, then you don’t want to do that! I like it when travel pushes my boundaries, but I’d rather not have it stress me out. 😉
As I outline in my article about using the Trenitalia website, the official train schedule seems most reliable for a few months in advance, which may be why you’re not seeing a direct Genova-Firenze train on the 10th of September. Having said that, I tried a couple other dates (including weekdays) and I didn’t see a direct train at all. You might try using the ItaliaRail site, which has a partnership with Trenitalia but is an American company with an infinitely more navigable site. (Italy Explained is an affiliate partner of ItaliaRail.) They’re showing earlier trains leaving Genoa, if you want to hedge your bets. You could leave at 5:15am, and if you miss the 8-minute connection time you know there’s a later train from Pisa that will get you to Florence in time. There’s also a 5:44am train that goes through Milan, though the ticket is more expensive and the trip is longer. Have you asked the B&B if there’s another way to check in if you miss your train and arrive after 1pm?
Hi Jessica
Thanks very much for the information!
Cheers!
Anjali
You’re welcome, have a great trip!
Hello! I would be trying to get to Amalfi from Castrovillari in mid August. I’d prefer a train but don’t think there’s one that connects the two. Is bus a better option and how do I plan this in advance? Or can I purchase tickets day of travel? Which bus station is near Castrovillari?
Thanks!
There’s no train service on the Amalfi Coast at all, and I just looked up Castrovillari to find that its train station closed in the late 1970s. So you’re going to need to drive or take a bus, yes. I like the Rome2Rio site for checking out transportation options (here’s the Castrovillari-Amalfi result), but I’ve never bought anything through the site so I can’t vouch for their ticket sales. You might need to do more investigation when you’re in Castrovillari, to find out the best route (or what’s available when you want to travel).
What is the best way (fastest, but comfortable) to get from Amantea to Montedoro on a Saturday I checked Rail Europe online but had no luck. I also checked Oraribus online and again, no luck and it was only in Italian!
It looks like the fastest way would be to drive – even a bus will only get you as far as a town called Canicatti, from which point you’d have to have a car anyway. It appears Montedoro doesn’t have a train station or bus service. A train/bus/car combo would take 9+ hours (train to Catania, bus to Canicatti, drive from there).
Thanks, Jessica. I looked into train with raileurope.com and the girl told me there would be 5 connections to go from Amantea to Serradifalco. That’s a lot when you are dragging luggage along.
Yeah, train travel in the south – and especially to the islands – is much more challenging than in the north. And buses don’t always cross regional lines. If you’re willing to drive, that would be the fastest way to get there.
How is the driving there? Is that route from amantea to Montedoro/ Serradifalco dangerous? along the coast?
I don’t know that route, but here’s some general information about driving in Italy.
Thanks for that enlightening article !
Hey Jessica!
I just found out your blog and LOVED it 🙂 Thanks a lot for the super useful tips.
So I’ll be traveling in northern Italy for quite sometime, and one of the place I’d love to visit is Cinque Terre, via a few days of stay in La Spezia. I’ll be traveling there from Florence and there is no direct train, I’ll need to use the regional train plus fast train. Did not hear the best things about the regional trains but what was your experience? I’ll be traveling with a small cabin luggage as well, and the comments I heard were mostly around not leaving the luggage at the common area – yet I guess that’s unavoidable.
Thanks for the kind words about the site! I’ve never had any problems with my luggage on Italian trains, but in some cases the regional trains are un-crowded enough that you can stow your bag by your seat without being in anyone’s way. There are also sometimes overhead racks for storing smaller bags.
Hi, I plan to travel by bus from Albinia Stazione FS to Terme di Saturnia. According to google maps public transport directions i’ll have to change buses in Manciano. Are the bus timetables in this area reliable? Also, is the 41p bus different from the 41/p bus? Any tips you have for catching the bus in Italy would be much appreciated
I can’t say whether the timetables in that area are reliable, as I’ve not traveled by bus there myself. My guess is the 41P is the same as the 41/P, though. I like the Rome2Rio site for trip details on buses especially – this page has your journey, and if you click on “Bus” and then on each of the two bus trips next to the ticket prices you’ll get more detailed schedule options and more information.
hi jessica
me and my husband planning for italy in december last week..
could you please suggest me what places we should visit in this season..
Here’s the series of steps I use to plan any Italy trip, which may help you as well. Here are also my suggestions for a one-week trip in Italy, information about December in Italy, and about Christmas in Italy so you know what to expect during the holiday season.
Hello I’ll go to Italy tezze Sul brenta is 80 km far from Venezia ..I will return Sunday..my ask is the long distance busses work at Sunday?
Yes, buses usually run seven days a week, but the schedule is much less frequent on Sundays and holidays. You can consult the actual schedule when you get to the bus station.
Hello, Ill like to visit Italy in 4 days, any suggestions?
Meaning for 4 days.
I’ve written a bunch of articles that offer suggestions on how to plan an Italy trip. Try my ideas for a one-week Italy itinerary (obviously you’d have to adjust for only a 4-day trip), or my overall guide to planning an Italy trip for any itinerary.
I am a travel advisor. My clients are looking for an upscale sleeper bus that they can hire for 10 people to travel around Italy for 10 days. Can you direct me on who to contact in Italy that might be able to assist me?
Sincere thanks!
Phyl Andersen
I’m afraid I don’t have contacts like that, sorry.
Could you tell me if there are washrooms on buses from Rome to San Giovanni Rotondo, and Rome to Assisi?
I’m not aware of the amenities on those buses specifically, but some buses do have a toilet in the back – which would have a minimal space for washing up. But I emphasize minimal. And that’s most likely on long-haul buses.
What is the best way to travel (train or bus) from florence to Greve in Chianti and Castello di Verrazzano. I want it to be cost effective half day drip starting in the afternoon.Please help
This article may help you a bit – “How to Figure Out of Trains Are Your Best Option for Getting Around in Italy.” You can also look up bus schedules for bus lines in Tuscany, or choose a guided tour where all of the transportation is taken care of. There are some links to tours on my “Day Trips from Florence” page.
thanks so much for all the detail. I am finding it a little harder than I thought to figure out how to travel from La Spezia to Bellagio which is on Lake Como. Google maps is suggesting a train (trenitalia to Milano) another train (Trenord to Lecco) a bus (linee lecco to Bellagio – lungo lago Marcone) and finally another bus (ASF Autolinee within Bellagio).
My two questions are:
Do we need to book tickets for the trains? and
Do the buses take cash or do we need to buy a card or something beforehand?
My articles about Italian trains should help answer many of your questions. As you read above, buses from one region to another – which is the route you’re talking about – are few and far between, so even though it’s a many-stop process I’d still recommend the train. (Or a car, if you want to drive.) Buses don’t typically take cash, so you’d need to buy a ticket beforehand – often at a tobacco shop or newsstand.
Hi Jess , i may go and spend some says in italy , and i wanted to know if the busses are working 24/24 or not ? there are some festivals that i want to go to and i need to move from one city to another , and im afraid that i cant find busses in late hours , can you help me ?
It depends a great deal on where you are, but in my experience the only buses that run late or overnight are within a city like Rome. Some long-haul buses may have overnight routes, but – again – that really varies. Your best bet is to find the bus companies that serve the routes you’re looking at and check their websites (if they exist) or ask at the bus stations.
hi there. thanks for so nice info about italy buses. just a question-what time is it latest bus to Naples airport on sundays?
Here’s the most updated schedule I could find for buses from the main Naples train station to the airport. Looks like the latest one leaves at 23:10.
I see INV and EST on a time table for the LN02 bus time table between Desenzano and Riva del Garda. I understand EST refers to summer. Are you able to tell me when EST commences on time tables in Italy and when it ends?
That’s an interesting question… I don’t know whether they go by the solstice (my guess is no!) or if they’re referring more to high and low seasons. You’re right, though, EST would be short for “estate,” or summer,” and INV would be short for “inverno,” or winter.