General

Holidays by Destination Europe Italy General Getting Around 

Government keeps rail costs low, albeit with supplements for faster services. Timetables are generally reliable and the routes are useful for main cities and coastal areas such as the Italian Riviera south for example. However, they are of very limited use if you want real rural destinations. These are served by buses but on timetables to serve the local population and particularly if self-catering a car is almost vital.

Driving a car of your own has the advantage of a foreign number plate, which triggers some understanding of hesitation and other deviations from local style. However it is more likely to suffer petty theft so paying for supervised parking is often wise. While a righthand drive car is unlikely to be stolen, this is not true of local hire cars and the problem is so acute that hire rates are usually notably higher than average.

Whatever you drive, by law a child of up to 9 months or 9 kg must occupy an infant seat. Over 9 months but under 4 years a child seat in the back is required. These cost around £25, payable locally, or you can take your own. Under 12s must sit in the back wearing a seat belt.