Trains and Buses
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November 9, 2026
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Phrases and vocabulary for getting around Italy by regional train and city bus, using polite Lei forms with staff and strangers.
- Buying one-way and return tickets at the counter, a machine, or a tabaccheria
- Finding your platform, validating paper tickets, and dealing with delays, connections, or a strike
- Asking if a bus goes where you need, getting on and off, and handling a missed stop
Voca cards
1.
la stazione
station
Scusi, dov'è la stazione dei treni?
Excuse me, where is the train station?
2.
la biglietteria
ticket counter, ticket office
C'è troppa fila in biglietteria, andiamo alla macchinetta.
The line at the ticket counter is too long, let's go to the machine.
3.
la macchinetta
ticket machine, vending machine
Posso fare il biglietto alla macchinetta con la carta?
Can I buy a ticket at the machine with a card?
In Italian, buying a ticket is often called 'fare il biglietto' (literally 'to make the ticket').
4.
il biglietto
ticket
Buongiorno, vorrei due biglietti per Firenze, per favore.
Good morning, I'd like two tickets to Florence, please.
5.
solo andata
one-way
Preferisce un biglietto di solo andata o andata e ritorno?
Would you prefer a one-way or a round-trip ticket?
6.
andata e ritorno
round-trip
Un biglietto di andata e ritorno per Lucca, grazie.
A round-trip ticket to Lucca, thank you.
7.
il treno regionale
regional train
Sul treno regionale non c'è la prenotazione del posto.
There are no seat reservations on the regional train.
Often shortened to 'il regionale'. Unlike high-speed trains, regional trains have no assigned seats and the price stays the same if you buy last minute.
8.
convalidare
to validate
Deve convalidare il biglietto di carta prima di prendere il treno.
You have to validate your paper ticket before getting on the train.
Paper tickets for regional trains must be stamped in the machine at the station before boarding, and paper bus tickets inside the bus. In everyday speech you will also hear 'timbrare il biglietto'.
9.
il binario
track, platform
Scusi, da che binario parte il treno per Siena?
Excuse me, what track does the train to Siena leave from?
10.
in orario
on time
Il nostro treno parte alle dieci ed è in orario.
Our train leaves at ten and it's on time.
11.
in ritardo
late, delayed
Il treno per Bologna è in ritardo di venti minuti.
The train to Bologna is twenty minutes late.
Use 'di' before the amount of time: 'in ritardo di venti minuti' (twenty minutes late).
12.
lo sciopero
strike
Venerdì c'è uno sciopero dei treni e degli autobus.
On Friday there's a train and bus strike.
13.
cambiare
to change, to transfer
Questo treno non è diretto, deve cambiare a Empoli.
This train isn't direct, you have to change in Empoli.
14.
la coincidenza
connection
Abbiamo solo dieci minuti per prendere la coincidenza.
We only have ten minutes to catch our connection.
15.
il posto
seat
Scusi, è libero questo posto vicino al finestrino?
Excuse me, is this seat by the window free?
16.
il controllore
conductor, ticket inspector
Buongiorno, sono il controllore: mi fa vedere il biglietto?
Good morning, I'm the conductor. Can I see your ticket?
17.
la fermata
stop, bus stop
Scusi, dov'è la fermata dell'autobus per il centro?
Excuse me, where is the bus stop for downtown?
Used for a bus, tram or metro stop. A train station is 'la stazione'.
18.
la tabaccheria
tobacco shop, tobacconist's
I biglietti dell'autobus si comprano in tabaccheria o all'edicola.
You can buy bus tickets at a tobacco shop or a newsstand.
Look for a shop with a big 'T' sign outside. Often you cannot buy a ticket from the bus driver.
19.
l'autobus
bus
Scusi, questo autobus va in piazza del Duomo?
Excuse me, does this bus go to Piazza del Duomo?
Does not change in the plural: 'un autobus', 'due autobus'.
20.
salire
to get on, to board
Quando sale sull'autobus, può pagare anche con la carta.
When you get on the bus, you can also pay with a card.
Literally 'to go up', used with 'su' for getting on a bus, train or tram ('salire sull'autobus', 'salire sul treno').
21.
scendere
to get off
Scusi, devo scendere alla prossima fermata.
Excuse me, I need to get off at the next stop.
On a crowded bus, people ask 'Scusi, scende?' ('Excuse me, are you getting off?') when they need to get past you to the door.
22.
perdere
to miss
Scusi, ho perso la mia fermata: dove posso scendere?
Excuse me, I missed my stop. Where can I get off?
Literally 'to lose', also used for missing a stop ('perdere la fermata') or missing a train or bus ('perdere il treno', 'perdere l'autobus').