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Travel answers · Italy · Getting around

Buses in Italy: FlixBus, Itabus, MarinoBus and the regional buses trains don’t reach

Cheap long-distance coaches, and the local buses you need for the Amalfi Coast, Sardinia, Sicily and the Dolomites.

PROTOTYPE · SEO/GEO article v1 · facts from the EmweGo guides (checked 2026-09-23) · question source: Transport deep research T01–T10 (23 Sep 2026) (T04)
Short answer

Long-distance coaches are the budget option: Itabus Rome–Naples from €4.99, FlixBus Rome–Naples from €6.48 (from 1 h 35), Rome–Milan from about €6 but 7 hours. Luggage rules differ: FlixBus and Itabus include one hold bag up to 20 kg, MarinoBus two bags of 12 kg. Regional buses matter where trains don’t go: SITA on the Amalfi Coast (COSTIERASITA €10 for 24 h), Cotral from Rome (Fiumicino €5 online, €7 on board), ARST in Sardinia, AST/SAIS/Interbus in Sicily, Südtirolmobil and Dolomiti Bus in the mountains. Validate every ticket — an unvalidated ticket counts as none (Cotral fine €100–500). On routes of 250 km+, a 2-hour delay gives you a choice of refund or rerouting.

Checked 2026-09-23 · Italy · Getting around

At a glance
Rome–NaplesItabus from €4.99 · FlixBus from €6.48
Rome–MilanFrom ~€6 · 7 h+
Hold bagFlixBus/Itabus 20 kg · MarinoBus 2×12 kg
Amalfi CoastCOSTIERASITA €10 / 24 h
Cotral FCO€5 online · €7 on board
Delay >2 h (250 km+)Refund or rerouting

Long-distance coaches

Transport option

MarinoBus

Verified 2026-09-23
North–south corridors (Milan–Bari, Rome–Matera, Naples–Lecce). Two hold bags of 12 kg each plus a 5 kg hand bag; bicycles €20 on request, no e-bikes.

MarinoBus · conditions of carriage (Feb 2026) ↗

Regional buses

Transport option

Rome region · Cotral

Verified 2026-09-23
Buy online, in the app or from sellers; on board €7 (exact cash or card). Fiumicino Air Terminal ticket €5 online. Validate the QR on boarding — failure means a €100–500 fine.

Cotral · tickets ↗ · Cotral · validation ↗

Transport option

Sardinia · ARST

Partially verified · 2026-09-23
Regional buses; tickets through sellers and apps (DropTicket, TabNet, Around Sardinia). Plan with the official planner — fares aren’t published as a simple table.

ARST · mobility charter ↗

Delays and rights

Watch out

Your rights on long routes

Verified 2026-09-23
On regular services of 250 km or more: cancellation or a departure delay over 120 min → choice of rerouting or refund (refund +50% if the carrier doesn’t offer it). Over 90 min on trips over 3 h → meals and up to 2 hotel nights at €80. No compensation for arrival delays.

Transport Regulation Authority · bus passenger rights ↗

Quick answers

Is FlixBus or Itabus cheaper in Italy?

Both start around €5–7 on Rome–Naples; compare the date you need.

How much luggage can I take on Italian coaches?

FlixBus and Itabus: a hand bag plus one 20 kg hold bag; MarinoBus: two 12 kg bags.

Is there a day pass for Amalfi Coast buses?

Yes — COSTIERASITA, €10 for 24 hours on SITA Sud.

Do I need to validate bus tickets in Italy?

Yes — an unvalidated ticket counts as no ticket and can mean a fine.

What if my long-distance bus is delayed?

On 250 km+ routes, 2 hours’ delay gives you refund or rerouting.

Go deeper in our guides

Guide

Amalfi Coast

Open →Guide

Sardinia

Open →Guide

Sicily

Open →

Related answers

Sources: FlixBus · Rome–Naples ↗ · Itabus · Rome–Naples ↗ · MarinoBus · conditions of carriage (Feb 2026) ↗ · SITA Sud · tickets and passes ↗ · Cotral · tickets ↗ · Transport Regulation Authority · bus passenger rights ↗