Getting Around Italy: Trains, Buses and Directions

Public transport in Italy is affordable and widely used. A few key words will save you from mistakes, including one that can lead to a fine.

Transport vocabulary

English	Italian
train	il treno
bus	l'autobus
tram	il tram
metro	la metropolitana
taxi	il taxi
station	la stazione
platform	il binario
ticket	il biglietto
timetable	l'orario
delay	il ritardo
strike	lo sciopero

Buying and using tickets

• Un biglietto per Firenze, per favore. — A ticket to Florence, please.
• Andata e ritorno — return
• Solo andata — one way
• Prima classe / seconda classe — first / second class

On regional trains and buses, paper tickets must often be convalidato (validated) in a small machine before boarding. Travelling with an unvalidated ticket can result in a fine, so look for the machines on the platform or bus.

Announcements and signs

• Partenze — departures
• Arrivi — arrivals
• In ritardo — delayed
• Cancellato — cancelled
• Uscita — exit
• Binario 5 — platform 5

Asking questions

• A che ora parte il treno? — What time does the train leave?
• Da quale binario parte? — Which platform does it leave from?
• Questo treno va a Roma? — Does this train go to Rome?
• Dov'è la fermata dell'autobus? — Where is the bus stop?

Directions

English	Italian
left	a sinistra
right	a destra
straight on	dritto
near	vicino
far	lontano
at the corner	all'angolo
crossroads	l'incrocio
traffic light	il semaforo

• Vada dritto. — Go straight on. (formal)
• Giri a destra. — Turn right. (formal)
• È lontano? — Is it far?
• È a dieci minuti a piedi. — It's ten minutes' walk.

Tips

1. Validate your ticket when required.
2. Check for strikes: sciopero.
3. Use the dictionary to decode signs.

Look up any word with English Italian Dictionary →