The experts at Italy 4 Real spend many months learning the ways to get around Italy and we have come up with some great information on Italy busses, Italy taxis and Italy rental cars.


Public Buses
Depending on where you will be traveling it may make sense to use the public bus system in Italy. The system is not as modern or refillable as in North America but I can be quite helpful when going to remote areas and small towns. The Italian bus system is run by a government agency called SITA. 39 055 47821 or www.sita-on-line.it

When using the public bus system, make sure you validate your tickets on the bus. You will see orange boxes on each bus which will stamp your ticket. Failure to validate your ticket can result in a fine.

Taxi
Taxi’s are available in almost every city of Italy. There are official and non-official taxies, we recommend only using official taxies. You can tell the difference because official taxies will have the same logos, writing and symbols on the outside of the car as well as meters inside. Always check the listed fairs for standard routes such as to/from the airport. Unlike in the USA you can’t wave down a taxi in the street but must go to a taxi stand and get the first taxi in line, otherwise you can go into any hotel and they will call you a taxi.

Car
The experts at Italy 4 Real always recommend renting a car to see the best sights areas like Tuscany and Umbria have to offer. If you are sure of your driving skills you will have an enjoyable time exploring by car. Many of the castles, wineries and hidden gems are only reachable by car. We recommend renting your car ahead of time because many local rental agencies do not include unlimited mileage with the rental. When you rent your car with Italy 4 Real it will include mileage and basic insurance. The majority of rental cars are manual transmission but there are several models that are automatic as well. You will need to get an IDP or International Driving Permit which can be purchased for under $20 at AAA (American Automobile Association) www.aaa.com. You do not need to have the IDP for renting a car but you may need it during a traffic stop. You will need to have and show your valid drivers license when picking up your rental in Italy.

When driving in Italy, you will more than likely travel on one of the major highways called autostrada’s. Autostrada’s are very well maintained toll roads which connect major areas and cites of Italy. They feature fantastic food and rest stops called Autogrills which will offer anything from music/movies, clothes to gourmet food and fine selections of meats, cheeses and wines. www.autostrade.it