There's no national bus company, so each part of the country is served by one or several independent bus carriers. For instance, a popular choice for visitors to central Italy is the Lazzi Bus Service. As in most European countries, buses are generally recommended for local and short-distance trips. International connections are operated by a number of companies, the most prominent being the all-European carrier Eurolines.

Italy boasts a well-developed system of modern motorways in the northern part of the country. In the south, the situation is visibly worse, both for the quality and efficiency of the network. Most of the motorways in the country are toll roads. Pre-paid toll cards are available and generally prove very useful except for routes A18 and A20, where they're not accepted. Speeding is a common problem, against which a number of automatic monitoring devices have been introduced. Therefore, it's advisable that you keep a reasonable speed on the roads, as tickets in Italy are exceptionally expensive. Road tolls depend on the type of vehicle and the distance covered.

The Italian railway features 16,000 kilometres of tracks serviced by national operator Trenitalia. Many train categories are available, including local, interregional, express, InterCity and the exclusive EurostarItalia and Tbiz trains. For the last two, it's recommended to purchase tickets in advance. A wide range of discounts and passes are available. International trains run to Spain, France, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

Italy is the base of Alitalia, the flagship carrier, as well as a number of smaller airlines such as Meridiana, Air Dolomiti, Air One, Alpi Eagles, Clubair, Eurofly and many others. Along with a great number of other regular and low-cost carriers, they create a dense network of affordable connections enabling travellers to reach Italy from virtually any corner of the world. The largest airports are located in Milan (Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo), Rome (Fiumicino and Ciampino), Bologna, Turin, Naples, Pisa, Venice and Palermo. Domestic flights constitute a very popular way of travelling around the country.

It's said that it's best to approach Italy from the sea, as this way of travelling provides a truly breathtaking perspective on the unique beauty of the country. There are many private companies operating ferry and hydrofoil services between the Italian mainland and the islands. The most popular routes are those connecting Italy with the luxurious yacht harbours of the French Cote d'Azur, the picturesque resorts of Croatia and the Greek islands.

The transportation systems in Italian cities are very well-developed, although in rush hours, their capacity seems insufficient anyway. Milan and Rome feature metro networks, and the former boasts one of the largest tram systems in Europe. Tickets are generally good for all kinds of transport that the city offers. There’s a multitude of combined transport and tourist passes, and a range of discounts to suit everyone.