If you’re looking to travel around Italy with Trenitalia but you're not sure which ticket to pick, you’re in luck! Our rundown of Trenitalia Second Class and First Class will help you to decide which ticket to buy when you explore Italy by train.
To simplify the different classes Trenitalia offers, we’ve broken down the amenities that each one provides.
You’ll see a number of different options when you search for Frecciarossa train tickets. Generally, Standard and Premium Class are Frecciarossa’s version of Second Class, whilst Business and Executive Class are the First Class options.
Frecciargento trains have two travel classes: First Class and Second Class. Both classes include free WiFi, plug sockets, toilets, access to the FRECCE entertainment portal, air conditioning and reserved wheelchair spaces. We’ve summarized the differences below:
Find out more about Frecciargento trains on our dedicated Frecciargento page.
Frecciabianca trains have two travel classes: First Class and Second Class. Both classes include air conditioning, plug sockets, toilets, and reserved wheelchair spaces. We’ve summarized the differences below:
Find out more about Frecciabianca trains on our dedicated Frecciabianca page.
In First Class (Business or Executive tickets) you’ll be welcomed with complimentary snacks and drinks, which will be brought directly to your seat shortly after departure. You can choose between different types of snacks – sweet, savoury or gluten-free.
If you're traveling with children, they'll get the Snack Bimbi, which includes a savoury or sweet snack and a colouring book. As for drinks, you can choose from a range of hot and cold drinks, including water, coffee, hot and cold tea and juice.
On top of this, you'll be able to choose between 3 different menu options, consisting of a main course, a snack, a dessert and a bottle of water. Make sure to try out the Carlo Cracco menu, as it was created by renowned TV chef Carlo Cracco.
In Second Class (Standard and Premium tickets), you’ll be able to buy food and drink on board from the onboard bar car, FrecciaBistrò. Coffee, tea, croissants, sandwiches, salads, fruit salads, desserts and other snacks are available. You can also order a selection of meals to your seat.
You won’t receive a welcome drink or any welcome service while travelling in Standard Class, though this is available to Premium Class ticket holders.
On Frecciabianca and Frecciargento trains, First Class ticket holders will receive a welcome service which includes a welcome drink. It’s also possible for all ticket holders to buy snacks and drinks from the onboard dining car.
On Frecciarossa trains, the seats are more spaced out in First Class (Business and Executive) than in Second Class (Standard and Premium), although they follow the same arrangement: either sitting at a table of four or two seats next to each other.
The extra options in Business Class are to sit at a single seat with its own table, perfect for solo travellers who want their own space, or to sit at single seats facing each other, great for two people travelling together.
In Executive Class, there are only two seats per row (separated far apart) with reclining backrests and adjustable footrests, so you'll feel like you're travelling in your own little world of comfort!
If you wish to work undisturbed while you travel, why not pick the quiet car (Area del Silenzio) in Frecciarossa Business Class – you'll get to enjoy complimentary earphones, a double welcome drink service, an onboard library and a sleeping mask.
Both Standard Class and Premium Class have the same seating layout (2x2), plus wide reclining armchairs, folding tables and plug sockets. In Premium Class, you’ll enjoy super comfy leather seats, while in Standard Class, the seats will be upholstered in cloth rather than leather.
On Frecciargento and Frecciabianca trains, Second Class ticket holders can enjoy large faux leather armchairs arranged in rows of four.
First Class ticket holders will benefit from larger leather armchairs and more legroom than in Second Class.
If you’re planning to explore Italy by train but you’re not sure where to start, don’t panic! Here are some of the most popular Italian train routes.
To buy a Frecciarossa First Class ticket on our website, choose your departure station, arrival station and travel date in our Journey Planner above. Then, follow the steps below.
To buy a Business Class ticket:
To buy an Executive Class ticket:
To buy a Frecciargento or Frecciabianca First Class ticket with Trainline, choose your departure station, arrival station and travel date in our Journey Planner above.
Select the train you wish to travel on, then pick the ‘1st Class’ column next to the train logos. You’ll be able to see the conditions of the ticket and the comfort options. When you’ve found the right ticket for you, click ‘Continue’ to move forward in the booking flow.
There are different ways you can get Trenitalia First Class tickets without having to pay over the odds. Our top tips for saving money on First Class train tickets are:
Trenitalia tickets (and train tickets in Europe in general) are usually at their cheapest price when they first go on sale, normally around three to six months before the date of travel.
Train tickets tend to be more expensive during rush hour (mornings and early evenings Monday to Friday). If you can, be sure to look for tickets outside these times to see if you can snap up a lower price.
There’s a wide range of train deals and discounts in Europe that can help you save money on your journey. Deals can vary based on the country and train company, but if you’re travelling with children, in a group, or fall into a certain age category, you can benefit from discounted ticket prices.
Still have questions? We've got the answers!