Planning, why?
Of course I did plan my trip to Italy. And it went from buying the same kind of Monark step in bicycle I have at home in Malmö, but with elecric assistance. This way I could choose weather I’d like to take the train or the bike on the shorter stretches. Fortunately the bicycle was delayed, and I got my downpayment in return.
Fortunately… cause it would have made my interrailing with the bicycle much more inconvenient. Not only is that bicycle larger, it’s also heavier. So gettin on and off would have amounted to a lot more bruices. As well as fewer trains to choose from since I would have to buy separete tickets for my bicycle, and those separate tickets being few. Add the risk of theft being much more of a damage due to the price of an e-bike.
So I ended up using my older foldable one from Decathlon (newer version). A bicycle that I wasn’t really attatched to prior to this interrailing trip. One of the best decicions I’ve ever made!! We had an amazing journey together. And now we’re best buds.
Make travelling easy with a bicycle as your companion
The reason this is one of my best decisions ever is that you pretty much travel hassle free apart from lugging it, and a few bruices, cause a bicycle in a bag is accepted by most train companies as a regular luggage. Of course you have to fit it somewhere, but I alwasy managed with some good mood and sooperative flexibility. I could have trained a bit on receiving help instead of this… darn independence gene. Lets blame <3 Asrid Lindgren for writing the story about Pippi Longstocking. She’s most Swedish girls role model. If she can carry a horse, I for sure can carry a bicycle.
Flat tires?
I should have had a few from riding in Italy. But gee, this loyal bicycle, nowdays named Sally, was such a loyal trooper. We rolled over millions of pieces of glass.
GPS
Another excellent companion. If your network works that is… After bicycling in Milano I realised I needed some kind of device for my cellphone/GPS. Bought one that was… resonable. But far better than none at all. In Milano you really need to keep your eyes on the roads since thre’re full of fairly dangerous potholes, as well as frequent rails on many of the streets.
Useful links for Bicycle & Train Travelling in Italy at the bottom.
Covid…
In italy you had to wear masks on the trains even though we were over the main part of the pandemic. And people used them in ways Anders Tegnell would have fainted if he had seen it. Outside of public transport people had them on their arms. Meaning taking off and on, touching it and… then touching everywhere. On the trains though, they covered the mouth.
Stations
From the most majestic one in Milano that looked like a national museum of art, to the smalles one thrown out in an olive grove. Loved all of them regardless of size.
Do the trains in Italy run on time?
During my three weeks in Italy, only one of them was delayed by merely 20 minutes. I was so very impressed.
Waiting on line in Italy
Firts thing, do NOT be in a hurry if you’re going to make/by seat reservations at the stations in Italy. Cause it does take… time. Once it’s your turn the next challenge is the language if at a smaller station. Weather the cashier speaks english or not… is unclear. Don’t loose your patience if they will not, or can not speak english. And show this with an… attitude.
I know, modern people make, and buy their seat reservations online. Unfortunately I’m not modern.
Italian Conversations & Blondes
I’ve been in Italy twice prior to this, at 19 and 32. My mum had warned me about how unbearable it was with all the attention from when she visited as a 19 year old. I did NOT have that problem at all. They didn’t really seem to notice me. But this time they did. I wouldn’t stretch as far as say many did, but I was equally surprised the two times it happened. Thank you google translate 😂😂😂, it made the loooong train rides so much more fun.
It was at times, hilarious. Both the off translations, but even more the fact that I’m soooo naive 😂. I always said “Thanks, but no thanks”😊. Still, it’s so very impressive that one can have a conversation in your pocket.
Railplanner & Eurrail
Me being the total IT illiterate, I still love the Railplanner app. What an useful tool.
I actually learned how to handle it after I started my Eurrail travelling. And… ONLY by the help of other helpful members of a train travelling sect on Facebook. It’s called Tågsemester, and unfortunately it’s only available in Swedish. However, they often mention the traintravelling blog Seat61. Of course it’s not the same thing as asking a specific question and in five minutes you have four people helping out.
Personally Seat61 isn’t for me. To cluttred, and needs too much of my attention to bother. But still, it seems to be an amazing and helpful train blog to others, and HURRA for that.
Train conductors & Bicycles
Absolutely no one rejected my foldable bicycle in a bag. If I was going to travel a bit further and there was a 1:st class car, I folded it and put it in the bag. It was amazing how many offers to help I got. Of course I can carry the bicycle myself, but it was so heart warming that so many people offered to help. Unexpectedly it started in Malmö. Unexpected cause noone pretty much ever offers to help on their own initiative back home. Of course I said “No thanks”, but still❤️
If there was very few people on the local trains, I just folded the bike without putting it in it’s bag. In general, one should propably if possible avoid storing it in areas that are used for evacuation. In general, be curteous to your fellow travellers for everyones benefit.
Elevators on train platforms
Yes, at some platforms. But far from everywhere. I’m the impatient ADHD kind’a personality and prefer struggeling with both luggage and bicycle at once instead of going twice. I guess it’s from my former proffession as a photographer where I used to carry lots of equipment so regularly.
So, if there’s no elevator I just waited for the platforms to empty and carried the bike with the luggae on it’s back in the stairs. You get used to it.
Freedom on Wheels
That’s what it’s like travelling with a bicycle. Train for distance, and then you quickly roll to your final destination. Or… you get lost😂. I’ll never forget when I got lost and ended up on the highway. DON’t do that!!
It’s not prohibited to bicycle on all highways in Italy. Wierd to a Swede. If it’s illegal, it’ll be a sign at the entrance of the highway that clearly says it’s prohibited and the fine. Regardless of it being allowed or not, again don’t. Cause it’s super NOT comfortable with the speeds. And more shattered glass than you could possibly imagine. In the south of Italy car drivers pretty much use the roadside as a garbage bin, regardless of it being a banana peel (no, I didn’t see any) or an empty beer bottle.
My Sally the bike has an old injury from a trip by car that we made around France 2015, where some teenage boys kiked the gears and stole the original seat when they didn’t get my attention. She has since been repaired, but not to perfection. Her gears will make noise, and not everyone of the speeds works. So, I had to visit the tiny town local (car) mechanic. Thank you translation app❤️.
1:a class Eurrail Pass
I travel by train 97% of the times in my work as a lecturer, as well as commute inbetween my both home towns Malmö and Stockholm in Sweden I’ve realised staying away from (Swedish) families with kids is a necessity if you want to stay sane. It’s not the kids really. More the parents that think the’re in their own livings rooms while irl the’re on a train. With other passengers…
Not all trains have first class cars, and that’s life. Some trains have amazing first class cars, while others… have fairly plain ones. I’d still under all circumstances advice you to go for first class. Unless you’re young and on a really tight budget.
Another advantage with the first class pass is that you also can choose secon class seats if the first class cars are full.
General info about travelling with a Eurrail pass
The difference inbetween 1:st & 2:nd class Eurrail
Packing
Propably needless to be said, but as little as possible. Little IS relative, I know. I have a silly preference of Osprey backpacks, and after bying this 40 litre Fairview, returning it, and then buying it again… I’m pretty happy with it. Of course I’d love to have another 10 litres, but I should propably be super happy about that it hasn’t… 10 more litres🙃.
This one fits pretty well on the back of the bicycle, as well as one van carry it like a suitcase after covering the straps for carrying it on ones back.
My dear friend Malin had donated her used baby stroller bag. I would never have dreamed of how perfect tis one was for hanging on the handle bars instead of always having a small pack on my back. If anything, I recommend you get a version that can be folded into a tiny pocket for when you don’t need it.
Bonus with small luggage, no, or very little shopping = more sustainable. I wasn’t 100% successful with the “no shopping”… I ended up sending TWO packages by the Italian mail. One with the clothes I didn’t use. And one… with some of the unsustainable shopping I… committed. The packages, and getting them to Sweden in itself was a cultural adventure. Took quite an effort, but also kind of fun to interact with the post office staff❤️
Home sweet home
Yes, it’s always the case 🙏
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Guides for travelling by train with a bicycle in Italy
Last, but not least, for you who would like to read more about other peoples experiences of travelling by train with a bicycle 😊
För er som vill läsa lite andras info och erfarenheter av att resa med cykel och tåg i Italien. Från dem till er😊
Rail.cc -Bicycle on train
Trainline -Travelling with Trenitalia ->scroll down for bicycle info
Italiarail -Bicycle on train
Travel with train & Bicycle -video
Italia.it -Bicycle routes in Italy. There are endless routes available
Italia.it -Travelling with a bicycle on trains in Italy
Hellotickets -Organised bicycle tours in Milan
Travel with a bike on train -Ewcyna blog
Give a bike – change a life