Italy by bus

Traveling by bus in Italy is definitely one of the safest and cheapest ways of traveling while ensuring at the same time that you don't miss out on the beautiful natural landscapes around the country. Thanks to the well connected bus network between Italian cities it is easy to reach the majority of the most popular destinations within the country in a day.

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Table Of Contents

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Intercity buses in Italy

In Italy intercity buses are available on more than 556 travel combinations, while traveling with an average speed of 72 km/h. Of course, intercity bus routes via highway have a higher average speed. The majority of the Italian intercity buses are comfortable long distance coaches, but older vehicles might be used on busier travel days.

The timetable for popular intercity bus routes like Taormina - Castelmola or Castelmola - Taormina can be found online, but for some shorter intercity bus routes you might have to go to the bus station. Tickets are sold both online and on the spot, but after the COVID-19 pandemic an increasing number of travellers prefer buying their tickets online.

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Domestic routes

As mentioned above there are more than 556 domestic intercity bus travel combinations in Italy. Below you will find some of the most popular Italian travel routes with minimal or no stops along the way:

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International routes

From Italy there are international bus routes to neighboring countries such as Croatia, Switzerland and Slovenia, as well as to other countries such as Serbia, Vatican City and Poland.

The majority of these international bus lines are daily departures, that are operated by various Italian bus companies.

Most of the International bus departures drive from Trieste, Trieste (Airport) and Padua. Of course, there are also some international bus departures from other cities throughout the country.

Below we have listed the most popular international bus routes:

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Airport buses in Italy

If you are flying to Italy you will land in one of 32 airports located throughout the country. From the majority of Italian airports you have a bus shuttle to the nearest largest city and in some cases even intercity buses to other cities in the region. Click on the airport name below and read more about getting to and from the airport.

International airports:

Domestic airports:

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Bus companies in Italy

There are over 121 bus companies operating in Italy. 61 companies offer intercity bus lines, 23 companies drive airport shuttles, 30 companies operate regional and local lines, 54 bus companies offer bus rental and 20 companies offer bus tours. The bus companies are located in 68 cities throughout the country. The majority of companies can be found in Rome and Naples.

61 intercity bus companies operating in Italy are very different in size. The largest Italian company Barzi Service connects more than 3 cities, whereas the smallest intercity bus company Florentia Bus only has service to 11 cities.

Below we have listed some of the most popular bus companies in Italy. Full list of bus companies in Italy can be found here.

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Bus stations in Italy

In most cities there is a dedicated bus station, in smaller cities the bus station might be a parking lot with a shelter or a section on the road marked for multiple buses. In some cities buses also stop at public road bus stops or at gas stations and hotel parking lots. In larger cities you will find bus stations with amenities like toilets, luggage storage, kiosks, fast food restaurants and other useful services for travellers. In Italy there is a total of 227 bus stations, below we have listed 15 of the most popular bus stations, for a full list of bus stations in Italy click here.

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Hire a coach in Italy

Italian bus rental companies offer coaches for any kind of group trip, whether it’s a transfer from the airport to your hotel, or single and multi day excursions to the many sights in Italy. Rest assured you will be able to find a suitable partner. If you are travelling during the high season, it is advisable to book your bus in advance to secure one of the best vehicles for your group.
Here you can see a list of some companies offering bus rental in Italy:

Brusutti
Florentia Bus
Calanda Viaggi Reisen
Viaggi l'Aurora
SitBus

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Public transportation in Italy

In the majority of larger Italian cities, public transportation is available, in the cities like Naples or Milan you have an extensive network of buses connecting all suburbs to the centre of the town.

Buying tickets for public transportation varies from city to city, sometimes they are bought at dedicated sales points and other times they are bought on the bus for example, so be sure to check which options are available for the city you are travelling in.

Here is a list of some Italian companies operating both local and suburban bus lines.

Brusutti
Prestia e Comandè
Lamezia
Sais Autolinee
Sita Sud
Gruppo Torinese Trasporti
Azienda Trasporti Automobilistici Pubblici
Arriva Italia
Busitalia Nord
DolomitiBus

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Public transportation in Italy

As a visitor of Italy, you have lots of great Italian sights to visit. Some of the most popular sights are Rialto Bridge (Venice), Ponte Rosso (Trieste) and Doge's Palace (Venice). That said, there are a lot of other sights in Italy worth visiting! Some of the sights do not have an entrance fee, whilst others charge for entrance. Below you will find a list of the most popular sights in Italy:

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FAQ about buses in Italy