Getting Around Italy: Trains Vs. Taxi Cabs

Italy is a spectacular country filled with photographic opportunities at every turn. While many experts believe that focusing on a single city's treasures is the ideal way to see Italy, a cross-country excursion can also prove to be a memorable and equally inspiring vacation. You can experience the massive spectacle of Rome, the sublime Renaissance art of Florence as well as the famous architecture of Pisa, simply by planning ahead and making the most of your time in Italy. As far as getting around Italy, trains vs. taxi cabs are probably the most important decision you will have to make. Here's some information regarding each travel method to help you reach your goal of seeing the best of what Italy has to offer.

Getting Around Italy by Taxi Cab

Taxi cabs in Italy are a convenient means of travel that have the capabilities to take you to the lesser traveled regions of the city or country. Most taxi cabs are government-regulated and you can recognize them by their white or yellow color. Visitors should avoid any taxi cabs which do not have a meter installed. These are non-regulated taxis, which will charge additional for everything from luggage to night service. It's usually best to hail a taxi from an official rank or depot rather than phoning the service, as some taxis will begin charging you from the time of your call. Taxi cabs can be expensive throughout Italy, but if you have the money to spend, they certainly are a quicker means to handle Italy travel.

Getting Around Italy by Train

Trains are a popular and busy form of Italian transportation. There are also a number of different types of train companies in Italy. These include EurostarItalia, TBiz, IntercityPlus and others. Prices are determined by your destination and sometimes, as with Trenitalia, main routes run from Rome, Italy to Genoa to Turin as well as other combinations to help make your travels easier to plan. While the train system in Italy is pretty good, if you're using the rails to take you to the airport to catch a flight or another time-sensitive affair, then you may want to stick with one of the more reliable services like EurostarItalia. Although Italy's trains can be equally expensive, there are ways to help reduce the costs of travel. InterRail offers a "One Country Pass" deal where visitors can travel up to eight days in a month, which also includes price reductions for travelers under 26 years of age. Trenitalia has a similar offer with their "Trenitalia Pass." This deal allows for up to 10 days of travel, on any train system, within a two-month period. The Pass can also provide the holder with additional discounts on ferry rides and hotel accommodations throughout Italy.

Italy's Trains vs. Taxi Cabs -- Who Wins?

While both means of travel can sometimes be expensive, the odds are that you are going to have to decide which one will best suit your needs eventually. Each method offers its own benefits, like the incredible countryside views from a train ride across Italy and the efficient speed of the inter-city taxi taking you from your hotel in Italy to your next attraction. In most cases and for cost reasons, taxi cabs are probably best used for inter-city travel while trains are better served to handle your city-to-city travel requirements.