Getting to Italy is a breeze. As Europe's third most popular travel destination, Italy offers numerous ways to arrive. Here you'll find essential information about how to get to Italy by plane, train and car.
- For detailed travel information, explore our city-specific travel guides.
- For car travel basics, check out our article "Everything You Need to Know About Car Travel in Italy".
- For inspiration and detailed itineraries, browse our recommended road trips under "Road Trips."
Arrival by Plane
Italy is served by 36 airports, providing a wide range of international and domestic flight connections.
The most important are:
in Northern Italy
- Milan (Milan-Malpensa MXP and Milan-Linate LIN)
- Bergamo (BGY, also called Milan Orio)
- Venice (Marco Polo VCE)
- Bologna (BLQ)
- Rimini (Rimini-Miramare “Federico Fellini” RMI) - also serves San Marino
in Central Italy
- Rome (Rome-Fiumicino FCO (Italy's largest airport) and Rome-Ciampino CIA)
- Pisa (Galileo Galilei PSA)
- Florence (FLR)
in Southern Italy
- Naples (NAP)
- Bari (Bari-Palese “Karol Wojtyla BRI) in Apulia
- Brindisi (Aeroporto di Brindisi-Casale BDS)
- Lamezia Terme (SUF) in Calabria
on the Islands
In Sicily
- Catania (Catania-Fontanarossa CTA)
- Palermo (Palermo-Punta Raisi “Falcone e Borsellino” PMO)
In Sardinia
- Cagliari (CAG)
- Olbia (OLB)
- Alghero (AHO)
Arrival by Train
Traveling to Italy by train from southern Germany and Austria is both convenient and easy, especially with the popularity of night trains. In Italy, you’ll find excellent high-speed trains on the main routes, making journeys to cities like Rome quick and efficient. The two main providers are Trenitalia and Italo.
Major Railway Lines in Italy
Planning a round trip in Italy without a car is easy with the high-speed trains from Trenitalia and Italo. The fastest option is the Frecciarossa, which travels at 350 km/h and offers over 72 daily connections. This train links Turin, Milan, Bologna, Rome, Naples, and Salerno.
- Milan to Rome: With a travel time of about 3 hours, this route is one of the most popular.
- Florence to Rome: This picturesque journey takes about 1.5 hours and provides a fast and convenient way to visit two of Italy’s top cities.
- Milan to Naples: Around 4.5-5 hours.
- Rome to Bari: In about 4 hours, you can reach the beautiful region of Apulia in southern Italy.
From Austria to Italy
ÖBB offers many direct train connections. With the Railjet and the Eurocity, travelers can reach cities like Venice, Verona, and Milan from Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck. The ÖBB Nightjet also offers night connections from Vienna and Salzburg to Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan, with a night ride from Vienna to Rome taking about 14 hours.
Find more connections at ÖBB.
From Germany to Italy
Deutsche Bahn (DB) offers numerous connections from German cities to Italy. Direct trains like the Eurocity (EC) and the Nightjet provide comfortable travel to popular destinations such as Verona, Venice, and Milan. For example, there are several daily connections with the Eurocity from Munich via Innsbruck to these cities.
Booking and Saver Offers
Tickets can be booked up to six months in advance. Saver offers such as DB’s Super Sparpreis Europa and ÖBB’s Sparschiene make traveling affordable. DB also offers special discounts for families: children up to 5 years old travel free, and children between 6 and 14 years old travel free or at reduced prices when accompanied by an adult.
Comfort Classes
Both DB and ÖBB offer various comfort classes, from standard seating to couchette and sleeping car compartments. Couchette cars have compartments for four or six people, while sleeping car compartments offer more comfort with a private shower and toilet.
Arrival by Car
Traveling by car is an excellent option for vacationers, especially from neighbouring countries. It offers great flexibility and the chance to fully enjoy the scenic landscape. Here are the main routes to Italy:
From Austria
- Take the A13 at Innsbruck, crossing the border at Brenner.
- Take the A2 at Villach, crossing the border at Tarvis.
- Travel via Graz through Slovakia (A1/E57) and Ljubljana to Trieste.
ÖAMTC Membership
When traveling in Italy, an ÖAMTC membership can be a real lifesaver, offering peace of mind. One of the key benefits is 24/7 roadside assistance. If your vehicle breaks down, the "Yellow Angels" will attempt to fix the issue on the spot. If repairs can't be made right there, they'll transport your car to a workshop at no cost to you.
Additionally, ÖAMTC offers legal advice should you face legal troubles and supports you in cases of unjustified police checks or penalties.
From Switzerland
The most common route from Switzerland to Italy goes through the 17 km long Gotthard Tunnel and Ticino into Lombardy. Drive along the A2 past Lucerne, through the tunnel to the Chiasso/Como border crossing. From there, you can reach:
- the A9 to Milan,
- local and express roads to Lake Maggiore and Lake Como,
- the A4 towards Venice and Lake Garda.
For trips from Stuttgart or Munich, take the E43 or the San Bernardino Tunnel.
In Switzerland, you’ll need an annual motorway vignette costing about 41 euros, which includes passage through the Gotthard Tunnel.
From Germany
A popular route from Munich goes via the A8 to the Inntal Triangle, then through Kufstein, the Brenner Pass, and into Italy. This well-developed route can get busy, especially on weekends and during holidays, so plan for possible traffic jams.
The toll fees in Austria can be purchased in advance from ADAC or at motorway service stations before the border. The 10-day vignette (9 nights) costs about 9.90 euros. The toll fee for the Brenner motorway is an additional 11 euros, payable at the Schönberg toll station. To avoid this fee, take the Brennerstraße to South Tyrol.
ADAC Membership
The ADAC Plus membership offers great benefits for travelers to Italy and other European countries:
- 24/7 Breakdown and Accident Assistance: Enjoy around-the-clock help throughout Europe, including towing and recovery services.
- Medical Repatriation: In case of a medical emergency, ADAC organizes and covers your repatriation to Germany if it is medically necessary and feasible.
- Travel Protection: Benefit from immediate accident coverage, international travel liability insurance, and legal protection for travel contracts.
- Europe-wide Vehicle Repatriation: If your car cannot be repaired on-site after a breakdown or accident in Europe, ADAC will arrange for it to be transported back home.
Should you face unjustified police checks or penalties in Italy, ADAC legal advice is available to assist you.
International Insurance Card (Green Card)
While your license plate is generally sufficient proof of liability insurance in Italy, it's still wise to carry a Green Card. Italian police frequently ask for it, and although you might not face fines without it, having the Green Card can make communication and handling accidents with the police much easier, saving you both time and stress. Your car liability insurer provides the Green Card free of charge.
Visa Requirements for Italy
Planning a trip to Italy and not an EU citizen? Here’s what you need to know about visa requirements.
Visa-Free Travel
Citizens of many countries, including EU member states, Switzerland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, can enjoy visa-free travel for short stays in Italy, up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This rule also applies to citizens of several other countries who can enter the Schengen Area without a visa.
Countries with a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen Area (such as the USA) also allow their citizens to visit Italy for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a visa.
Who Needs a Schengen Visa?
If you're from a country without a visa-free agreement with the EU, you'll need to apply for a Schengen visa. This also applies if you’ve been denied entry in the past.
A Schengen visa permits stays up to 90 days in a 180-day period, covering purposes like tourism, business, family visits, and medical reasons. You’ll need to apply through the Italian consulate or embassy in your home country. For more details, visit Schengenvisainfo.
Specific Requirements
- Passport Validity: Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay and should have been issued within the last ten years.
- Declaration of Presence: Non-EU citizens must submit a "Dichiarazione di Presenza" (Declaration of Presence) to the local police within eight days of arriving in Italy, unless already stamped upon entry into another Schengen country.
For further information and specific visa application instructions, check the official websites of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or specialized visa sites. More details are available at Schengenvisainfo and for USA.
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)
Starting in 2025, travelers from visa-free countries will need to register with the ETIAS system before visiting Italy. This online registration requires providing personal details and answering security questions. ETIAS authorization aims to enhance border control within the Schengen Area. For more information, visit the ETIAS Website.