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It's been about two years since we had a dedicated episode on trains in Italy, and given the fact that there have been some minor changes this year (including the fact that Trenitalia will be rolling out their Rome-Munich line next year!) plus some changes the to types of tickets and rolling stock themselves, we thought this week we should give it some attention!
We're talking about how and when to book tickets and standard discounts to look out for. "Is it better to book online ahead of time or should I get my ticket at the station? Are trains in Italy usually on-time? What does 'Trenitalia' or 'Italo' even mean?" We'll answer these questions and more in this episode.
For those of you who would like to peruse some articles, you can check out our posts on:
The difference between Trenitalia and Italo
The difference between Trenitalia and ItaliaRail
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
We're continuing our discussion on traveling in the autumn shoulder season. We're talking about what to expect in terms of weather from October beach days to cozy dreary days in the North. We'll also talk about what makes fall in Italy special ,aside from the cooler temperature and perhaps smaller crowds. It's the food and the festivals. This is harvest time, from grapes and olives to chestnuts and truffles. That means it's a time to celebrate and eat!
In this episode we talk about doing a search for upcoming festivals wherever and whenever you plan to travel. You may get more results by doing the search in Italian. Below are phrases that you can copy and paste to help with that search. You can use the words "festa" and "sagra" almost interchangeably, both can mean festival.
feste e sagre in italia a (month you're visiting)
example: sagre in italia a novembre
"festivals and feasts in Italy in November"
feste e sagre a (place you're visiting) a (month)
example: feste e sagre a venezia a novembre
"festivals and feasts in Venice in November"
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
This week we're talking about traveling in the shoulder season, specifically in the fall and a bit of winter. In this episode, we're talking about the major differences between "on-season" and "off-season" and the pros and cons of traveling during this period in Italy. We'll answer questions like "Are there fewer tourists and lower prices in the shoulder season?" and "Do things close in the off-season?"
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
Once again, headlines! And once again, it's been a light month (thankfully). We're talking about the new Uffizi restoration project which should make your next trip a lot more comfortable, the effects of the recent heatwaves and droughts, and lastly, a new law aimed at pedestrians that penalizes crossing the street while being on your phone.
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
This week we're talking about headlines! And while it's been a pretty quiet month—most people have fled to the beaches or mountains so there's very little that's happened—there have been some small changes and updates to Rome's ATAC (or urban transportation) tickets, increases in Autolinee Toscana's tickets, and, of course, upcoming strikes.
Trains guaranteed in a strike:
https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/treni-garantiti-incasodisciopero.html
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
In the middle of the town of Capri sits the quiet and oftentimes empty Certosa di San Giacomo. Out of the sun, an uninterrupted view of the Faraglioni, and astonishingly empty.
In this episode, we talk about a place that should be on the beaten path but has somehow evaded major waves of tourism. Plus, they often hold events or art shows here, so even if you don't really want to walk around another church or chapel, there's still plenty to see!
Tickets for the Certosa of San Giacomo:
https://museicapri.cultura.gov.it/en/certosa-di-san-giacomo-en/
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
Capri can feel like it has very little "off the beaten path" as it has pretty much defined the path. That said, it's really like anywhere else in Italy; one step off the main road and suddenly you're alone. Or, almost alone.
To be fair, the Gardens of Augustus aren't really off the beaten path, but at the same time, we wanted to offer our thoughts on how populated it is, if it's worth the trip, and how long it takes to walk through it. Plus, given the current heatwave, there's clearly a demand for places in the shade, of which it's a classic option.
There's also Via Krupp, the winding footpath carved into the side of Capri's stone mountains leading down to the Marina Piccola. It's not always open, but when it is, it's well-worth the walk!
Tickets to Gardens of Augustus:
https://culturaeturismo.comune.capri.na.it/biglietteria/
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
Picking up where we left off, this episodes delves a little more into the particulars: how much can you drink before you're over the legal limit, do you even have to pay a fine (speeding, driving, etc.) if you're never coming back to Italy, if you can rent an automatic, the relative sizes of vehicles, and damages.
Basically, it's a kitchen sink of need-to-know.
Italian road signs: https://italyexplained.com/driving-road-signs-italy/
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
If you're thinking about renting a car and tooling around Italy without a care in the world, you should do so! And better than that, this episode will help you to do so! In it, we talk about what documents you'll need, the speed limits (which aren't often posted), the infamous ZTL, and how it is to drive in some cities.
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
Picking up where we left off on Wednesday, Darcy explains the allure of the Dominican Friar's pharmacy near Santa Maria Novella—including perfumes made from ancient recipes that can still be purchased—as Nathaniel offers two museums that might not have made it to the top of your "must see" list: the zoological "La Specola" and the suspended-in-time Palazzo Davanzati.
Keep an eye on the weather and stay cool this week!
Below are links to the places we talk about in this episode:
Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy: called the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella is the oldest continuous pharmacy in Italy - free to visit
La Specola: Science Museum of taxidermy animals, wax figures, and skeletons €10 per person*
Palazzo Davanzati: Restored 14th century home stuck in time €8-€12 per person*
*Prices as of August 2026
If you have any questions about your trip or if you have tips for fellow listeners, you can join our chat on Patreon for free or contact us on onlyabag.com.
Want to support the podcast? You can join our Patreon! Check out all of our tiers—free and paid—here: patreon.com/cw/theitalytravelpodcast
For articles written by us about Italy, check out our website onlyabag.com
If you'd like to support us by using affiliate links, but don't have the time to hunt them down, we have put them all in one place! Head over to www.onlyabag.com/affiliate-links and you can see all of the companies we have partnerships with and you can use them to support Only A Bag (which we deeply appreciate).
Thanks for listening!
xDarcy and Nathaniel
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