Getting to Italy: The Complete Transport Guide for UK, US & International Travellers

Italy is one of the most accessible countries in Europe. Major airlines fly there from virtually everywhere, a world-class rail network connects its cities, and the motorway system — while occasionally dramatic — is efficient and well-maintained. Getting to Italy is rarely the hard part.

The challenge comes after you land. Your final destination is often not the airport city itself but a hillside villa in Tuscany, a clifftop hotel on the Amalfi Coast, a lakeside town on Como, or a converted masseria deep in the Puglian countryside. That last stretch — the transfer from airport or station to the place you're actually staying — is where most travellers need guidance, and where a little planning makes an outsized difference.

This guide covers every major route into Italy, every airport worth knowing about, and the regional transfer options that connect them to the destinations people actually visit. Whether you're flying from Heathrow or JFK, arriving by train from Paris, or driving down from the Alps, the information here will help you plan the journey with confidence.

---

Italy's Major International Airports

Italy has more international airports than most European countries, which is both a blessing and a logistical puzzle. Choosing the right one depends entirely on where you're headed. Flying into Rome when your final destination is Lake Como adds four hours of overland travel you could have avoided. Here's what each airport offers and which regions it serves best.

Rome Fiumicino (FCO)

Italy's largest and busiest airport, and the country's primary long-haul hub. Fiumicino handles direct flights from virtually every major international city — across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and beyond. If you're coming from the US, there's a strong chance this is where you'll land.

The Leonardo Express train connects the airport to Roma Termini, Rome's central station, in 32 minutes for around €14. It runs every 15 minutes and is by far the best way into the city — faster and more predictable than a taxi, which can take anywhere from 40 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic. From Termini, you're connected to Italy's entire high-speed rail network.

Fiumicino is an excellent gateway for central and southern Italy. Expect roughly 1 hour to reach venues within Rome and the surrounding Lazio countryside, 2–2.5 hours to Tuscany (by high-speed train to Florence, then onward transfer), and 3 hours to the Amalfi Coast by private transfer or train-and-car combination.

Milan Malpensa (MXP)

Northern Italy's main international airport, with strong connections across Europe and direct flights from several US cities. Malpensa is the natural gateway for Lake Como, the Piedmont wine country, and the Italian Lakes region more broadly.

The Malpensa Express train runs to Milano Centrale in about 50 minutes (€13), which then connects you to the rest of Italy via high-speed rail. For Lake Como specifically, a private transfer from Malpensa takes roughly 1 hour to the southern lake towns and 1.5 hours to Bellagio or Varenna — often faster than going via Milan.

Malpensa also works for northern Tuscany if the flight options suit you. Milan to Florence by Frecciarossa takes just 1 hour 40 minutes, making it a viable alternative to the smaller Tuscan airports, especially for transatlantic travellers who need a major hub.

Naples (NAP)

Naples Capodichino is the gateway to southern Italy — the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento, Capri, and the route south toward Puglia. It's a smaller airport but handles direct flights from most major European hubs, and in recent years has gained a handful of direct US routes (notably from New York).

From Naples airport, the Amalfi Coast is 1.5–2 hours by private transfer, depending on the specific town and traffic. Puglia is 3–4 hours by car or train, making Naples a workable alternative to flying into Bari if the flight options are better. Salerno, the southern gateway to the Amalfi Coast, is reachable by train from Napoli Centrale in just 35 minutes.

Florence (FLR)

Officially Amerigo Vespucci, Florence's airport is small, efficient, and perfectly positioned for Tuscany weddings. The runway is short, which limits it to European routes — you won't find direct flights from the US here — but there are good connections from London, Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and other major European cities.

A tram connects the airport to Florence's Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes, and a taxi to the city centre takes roughly the same. For Tuscan countryside venues — in Chianti, Val d'Orcia, or around Siena — you're looking at 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by car, depending on exactly where the venue is. See our Tuscany guest travel guide for specific routing advice.

Pisa (PSA)

Galileo Galilei airport in Pisa punches above its weight, particularly for budget carriers. Ryanair and easyJet both operate heavily here, making it one of the cheapest ways into central Italy from the UK and northern Europe. It's also the better choice for western Tuscany — the Maremma coast, Volterra, and San Gimignano are all closer to Pisa than Florence.

A direct train connects Pisa airport to Florence in about an hour (€10), so even if your final destination is eastern Tuscany, Pisa remains practical. Rental car desks are well-stocked, and the motorway connections are straightforward.

Venice Marco Polo (VCE)

The gateway to Venice and the northeast. Marco Polo sits on the mainland, and reaching Venice itself requires a water taxi (dramatic and expensive, around €120), a water bus (Alilaguna, €15, 90 minutes to St Mark's Square), or a bus to Piazzale Roma followed by a vaporetto. The logistics are part of Venice's charm — and its occasional frustration.

For destinations beyond Venice — Verona, the Dolomites, or the Prosecco hills — the airport connects via bus or taxi to Venezia Mestre station, which sits on the main rail line.

Regional Airports: Catania, Palermo, Bari, Brindisi

For Sicily, fly to Catania (east coast — Taormina, Mount Etna, Syracuse) or Palermo (west coast — Palermo itself, Trapani, Cefalù). Both handle direct European flights, with Catania being the busier of the two. A car is essential for most Sicilian destinations.

For Puglia, Bari and Brindisi are the two options. Bari is the larger airport with more routes, and sits closer to the Itria Valley trulli towns (Alberobello, Ostuni, Martina Franca). Brindisi is smaller but slightly closer to the Salento coast. Either works — choose whichever has the better flight.

---

Flights from the UK

The UK has some of the best air connections to Italy in the world, thanks to a combination of flag carriers, budget airlines, and sheer demand. Direct flights operate from London to virtually every Italian airport of note, and several regional UK airports offer direct routes too.

From London, you have extraordinary choice. Heathrow and Gatwick between them offer direct services to Rome, Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Catania, Palermo, Bari, and Brindisi. British Airways and ITA Airways (the successor to Alitalia) handle the premium end, while Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air cover the budget routes — often at remarkably low prices if booked early.

Flight times from London range from 2 hours (to Milan or Pisa) to 3 hours (to southern Sicily or Puglia). Budget carriers from Stansted and Luton can be astonishingly cheap — under £30 one way to Pisa or Naples is not unusual if you book 3–6 months ahead and travel with hand luggage only.

From Manchester, direct flights serve Rome, Milan, Naples, Venice, and Pisa, with Ryanair, easyJet, and Jet2 covering most routes. Edinburgh has direct services to Rome and Milan, with seasonal routes to other cities. Birmingham connects directly to Rome, Milan, Naples, and Venice.

A practical note: for Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, the budget flights into Pisa and Naples respectively are often better value and more convenient than premium flights into Rome, even accounting for the slightly longer transfer. Don't default to Rome just because it's the most famous airport.

---

Flights from the US & Canada

Transatlantic routes to Italy have expanded significantly in recent years. Rome Fiumicino is the primary gateway, with direct flights from JFK, Newark, LAX, Chicago O'Hare, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington Dulles. Delta, United, American, and ITA Airways all operate these routes, and flight times range from 8 to 10.5 hours depending on the origin.

Milan Malpensa is the second major transatlantic hub, with directs from New York (JFK and Newark), and seasonal service from a handful of other cities. If you're heading to northern Italy — Lake Como, Piedmont, the Dolomites — Milan is clearly the better arrival point.

Naples has recently gained some direct US routes, notably from New York on seasonal service, but these are limited. For the Amalfi Coast, most US travellers will connect through Rome (a quick domestic hop or a 1-hour high-speed train from Fiumicino to Napoli Centrale via Roma Termini). There are no direct flights from the US to Florence, Pisa, Venice, Bari, or Catania — for these you'll connect through Rome, Milan, or a European hub such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam.

The "open jaw" strategy is worth knowing about: book your outbound flight into one Italian city and your return from another. Fly into Rome, travel overland to Tuscany for the wedding, continue north to Florence or Venice, and fly home from there. Most airlines and booking engines support this, and it lets you see more of the country without backtracking. It often costs the same as a return to a single city.

From Canada, direct flights to Rome operate from Toronto (Air Canada, ITA Airways) and Montreal (Air Canada, seasonally). For other Canadian cities, connecting through Toronto, a US hub, or a European gateway is the standard routing.

---

Getting Around Italy by Train

Italy's high-speed rail network is one of the best reasons to visit the country. Two operators — Trenitalia (state-owned) and Italo (private) — run competing services on the main north-south corridor, which means frequent departures, competitive prices, and genuinely excellent trains.

Key journey times on high-speed services:

• Rome to Florence: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Rome to Naples: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Milan to Florence: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Milan to Rome: 2 hours 55 minutes
• Naples to Salerno: 35 minutes
• Florence to Bologna: 35 minutes
• Florence to Venice: 2 hours

Tickets are available through trenitalia.com and italotreno.it (both have English-language versions and mobile apps). The golden rule: book in advance. Both operators use dynamic pricing, and the cheapest fares — Trenitalia's Super Economy and Italo's Low Cost — start from as little as €19.90 for routes that would cost €50–80 at the walk-up price. These go on sale 4 months before departure and the best prices disappear fast.

First class (called Prima on Italo, Business on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa) is worth considering for longer journeys. The seats are wider, there's more legroom, the carriage is quieter, and complimentary drinks and snacks are often included. The price difference can be surprisingly small if you book early — sometimes only €10–15 more than standard class.

Regional trains (Regionale and Regionale Veloce) are slower, cheaper, and cover the routes that high-speed trains don't — branch lines to smaller towns, coastal routes, and local connections. They don't require advance booking; you buy a ticket and hop on. Just remember to validate your paper ticket at the small green machines on the platform before boarding. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine, even if you have a valid ticket.

---

Reaching Key Destinations

This is where the general overview ends and the region-specific detail begins. Italy's most popular destinations for weddings and events each have their own transport logic — the airport that works best, the transfer options available, and the ground-level reality of getting from the nearest station or airport to your actual accommodation.

Tuscany

Fly into Florence (FLR) or Pisa (PSA), or take the high-speed train from Rome to Florence. Most Tuscany wedding venues are in the countryside between Florence and Siena — a beautiful but spread-out area where public transport is limited and a car or pre-arranged transfer is effectively essential.

If you're comfortable driving in Italy, a rental car gives you the most flexibility. The roads through Chianti and Val d'Orcia are among the most scenic in Europe, and having your own vehicle means you can explore freely. If you'd rather not drive, arrange a private transfer from your arrival airport or station directly to your accommodation — your venue or hotel can usually recommend a trusted local driver.

For the full picture — where to stay, what to wear, how to extend your trip — see our complete Tuscany guest travel guide.

Amalfi Coast

Fly into Naples (NAP). There is no train station on the Amalfi Coast itself — the coast is served by a single, winding road carved into the cliffs, and reaching it always involves a transfer from either Naples or Salerno.

The most comfortable option is a private transfer from Naples airport directly to your hotel, which costs €120–180 depending on the specific town (Positano and Ravello are furthest and most expensive). Allow 1.5–2 hours depending on traffic, which can be heavy in summer.

A more affordable alternative: take the train from Napoli Centrale to Salerno (35 minutes on a high-speed service), then catch a ferry to Amalfi or Positano (Travelmar and NLG operate seasonal services, €8–12 one way). The ferry is scenic, avoids the coast road traffic entirely, and runs from roughly April through October. From Salerno's train station to the ferry terminal is a 10-minute walk.

For everything else — accommodation, what to pack, getting around the coast once you're there — our Amalfi Coast guest travel guide has you covered.

Lake Como

Fly into Milan Malpensa (MXP). From the airport, the most direct route to Lake Como is a private transfer to your specific lakeside town — roughly 1 hour to Como or Cernobbio on the southern shore, 1.5 hours to Bellagio, Tremezzo, or Varenna further up the lake.

Alternatively, take the Malpensa Express to Milano Centrale, then a regional train to Como San Giovanni (1 hour) or Varenna-Esino on the eastern shore (also about 1 hour). From lakeside stations, ferries operated by Navigazione Laghi connect all the major towns — they're reliable, affordable, and an experience in themselves. The ferry from Como to Bellagio takes about 2 hours; the fast hydrofoil does it in under an hour.

Cars are less useful on Lake Como than you might expect. The lakeside roads are narrow, parking is scarce and expensive, and many of the best Lake Como venues are more easily reached by boat than by road. Unless you're also planning to explore the wider region, the ferry-and-taxi combination is usually more practical.

Rome

Fly directly into Fiumicino (FCO). For weddings in the city or its immediate surroundings, the Leonardo Express to Termini puts you in the heart of Rome within half an hour, and taxis are plentiful. Roman traffic is not for the faint-hearted, but for venues within the city the infrastructure works in your favour.

For countryside venues in the Lazio region — the Castelli Romani hills, the Sabine hills, or estates along the Appia Antica — you'll need a car or a pre-booked transfer. These areas are typically 30–60 minutes from central Rome but are not well served by public transport.

Puglia

Fly into Bari (BRI) or Brindisi (BDS). Puglia is Italy's deep south-east — a region of whitewashed towns, ancient olive groves, and the distinctive trulli stone houses of the Itria Valley. Most Puglia wedding venues are converted masserie (historic farm estates) scattered across the countryside, and a rental car is essential.

Public transport between Puglia's smaller towns is limited and infrequent. The regional trains run, but they're slow, and the bus network is patchy. If you're attending a wedding at a countryside masseria and want to explore the region — Ostuni, Lecce, Polignano a Mare, the beaches of the Salento — a car is the only practical option.

Umbria

Often called "the green heart of Italy," Umbria sits between Rome and Florence and is reachable from both. Perugia has a small airport (PEG) with limited European routes, but most travellers fly to Rome or Florence and continue by train or car. Trenitalia regional services reach Perugia, Spoleto, Orvieto, and Assisi from both Roma Termini and Firenze Santa Maria Novella, though journey times are longer than on the high-speed line (2–2.5 hours from either city). A car is useful for Umbria's rural areas.

Sicily

Fly to Catania (CTA) for the east coast — Taormina, Syracuse, the Baroque towns of the Val di Noto — or Palermo (PMO) for the west. Both airports handle direct European flights year-round, with increased seasonal capacity in summer. A car is essential for most Sicilian itineraries. The island's motorways (autostrade) are modern and well-maintained, but reaching more remote wedding venues — a hilltop baglio, a coastal villa, or an estate in the interior — requires confident navigation on smaller roads.

---

Car Rental in Italy

Renting a car opens up Italy in a way that trains and transfers cannot. It's the only practical option in Puglia, Sicily, and rural Tuscany, and it gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace. That said, driving in Italy has its quirks, and a little preparation goes a long way.

Book early, and book an automatic if you need one. Manual gearboxes are standard in Italy, and automatic cars are in limited supply — during peak season they can sell out entirely. Major international companies (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt) and the Italian chain Maggiore all operate at the main airports. Book through the company's own website or a reputable aggregator, and read the insurance terms carefully.

ZTL zones are the single biggest trap for visiting drivers. ZTL stands for Zona a Traffico Limitato — restricted traffic zones in the historic centres of almost every Italian city and many smaller towns. They're enforced by cameras, and if you drive into one without authorisation, you'll receive a fine of €80–100 per infraction, often months after your trip. Your rental company will add an admin fee on top. The zones are marked by signs and electronic boards, but they're easy to miss — especially when following GPS navigation that routes you straight through. When in doubt, park outside the ZTL and walk or take a taxi in.

Motorway tolls are paid at exits, by cash or card. Most toll booths accept contactless payment. Costs are reasonable — Rome to Florence is roughly €20, Milan to Florence around €30. Keep the ticket you collect when entering the motorway; you'll need it to pay at the other end.

A few more practical notes: fuel stations in rural areas sometimes close for lunch (roughly 1–2pm) and on Sunday afternoons, though automated pumps that accept cards are increasingly common. Speed cameras are everywhere, particularly on motorways and in towns. Headlights must be on at all times outside built-up areas. And consider your vehicle choice — many countryside venues, particularly in Tuscany and Puglia, have the last stretch on an unpaved strada bianca (white road). A small SUV or crossover handles these comfortably; a low-slung city car may not.

---

Private Transfers

For many travellers — particularly those arriving after a long flight, carrying wedding outfits, or travelling as a group — a pre-booked private transfer is the smartest way to get from the airport to your accommodation. It removes the stress of navigating an unfamiliar country on arrival and guarantees a door-to-door service.

Private transfers make particular sense in three situations: airport to venue (especially when the venue is rural and not easily reached by public transport), wedding day transport (when you need to arrive on time, looking sharp, without parking worries), and groups of four or more (a minivan transfer is often comparable in price to four separate taxi fares or train tickets).

Typical costs for a standard sedan (up to 3 passengers):

• Naples airport to Positano: €130–180
• Naples airport to Ravello: €140–190
• Rome Fiumicino to Tuscany (Chianti/Val d'Orcia): €250–350
• Milan Malpensa to Lake Como (Bellagio): €100–140
• Florence airport to Chianti: €80–120
• Bari airport to Ostuni/Itria Valley: €80–110

Book through your hotel or wedding venue whenever possible — they'll know reputable local drivers and can often arrange better rates than you'd find independently. Alternatively, services such as Welcome Pickups and GetTransfer are reliable booking platforms.

---

Ferries & Boats

Water transport is a practical option in several of Italy's most popular destinations — and in some cases, it's not just an alternative to driving but a significantly better one.

On the Amalfi Coast, ferries operated by Travelmar and NLG run between Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, and other coastal towns from roughly April through October. They're affordable (€8–12 per trip), scenic, and bypass the coast road entirely — which during peak season can be gridlocked. If you're staying in one town and visiting another for a wedding or dinner, the ferry is often the most pleasant way to travel.

On Lake Como, the Navigazione Laghi ferry network is effectively the local public transport system. Regular ferries and faster hydrofoils connect all the major towns — Como, Cernobbio, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Varenna, Menaggio — and the service runs year-round (reduced schedule in winter). A day pass is excellent value and lets you hop between towns at will.

In Venice, water is the only way to move. ACTV operates the vaporetti (water buses) that serve as Venice's public transport. A single ride is €9.50, which is steep, but multi-day passes (24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour) bring the per-trip cost down substantially if you're staying more than a few hours.

For the islands — Capri and Ischia from Naples and Sorrento, the Aeolian Islands from Sicily's north coast, and Sardinia from Civitavecchia or Genoa — ferry services are frequent in season and should be booked in advance during July and August.

---

Practical Tips for Travelling in Italy

A handful of details that will save you time, money, and frustration:

• Train tickets: Always buy your ticket before boarding. Trenitalia and Italo both sell tickets through their apps, websites, and station machines. For regional trains, if you have a paper ticket, validate it at the small green-and-white machines on the platform before boarding. Inspectors issue on-the-spot fines for unvalidated tickets — no exceptions for tourists.
• Apps to download: Trenitalia and Italo for train tickets and live schedules. Google Maps works well for driving navigation. Rome2Rio is useful for comparing multimodal routes.
• Driving basics: Italians drive on the right. Headlights must be on outside urban areas, day and night. Speed cameras are widespread and fines arrive by post, sometimes months later. The standard motorway speed limit is 130 km/h (110 in rain).
• Road signs: Blue signs indicate motorways (autostrade); green signs indicate state and local roads. This is the opposite of many other European countries, which can cause momentary confusion.
• Tolls: Motorway tolls are affordable and paid at exit booths. Rome to Florence costs approximately €20. Most booths accept contactless cards, though it's wise to keep some cash as backup.
• Taxis: Always use official taxis (white, with a meter) or pre-booked services. At major airports and stations, follow the signs to the official taxi rank and ignore anyone who approaches you in the terminal offering a ride. Fixed-fare routes exist from the main airports — ask before you get in.
• Timing: Italy operates at its own rhythm. Stations, petrol pumps, and transfer services are reliable, but allow generous buffers in your schedule, particularly if you're connecting between modes of transport. A missed regional connection can cost you an hour. Build in breathing room.

---

Italy rewards the traveller who plans the last mile as carefully as the first. The flight is the easy part — it's the transfer from the airport to the hilltop, the ferry across the lake, the drive down the white road to the villa gates, that turns a journey into an arrival. Get these details right, and you'll start your trip the way Italy deserves: relaxed, unhurried, and ready for whatever comes next.

For destination-specific guides with detailed advice on accommodation, etiquette, and extending your trip, explore our travel hub or browse our curated collection of Italian wedding venues.