Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For more information,
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.
DRIVING LICENCE & DOCUMENTATION
»
All EU member state driving licences are fully recognised throughout Europe.
»
Drivers from non-EU member states should obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) to accompany their national
licence. Issued by your national automobile association, it's valid for 12 months and must be kept with your proper li-
cence.
INSURANCE
You must have evidence of third-party insurance. If driving a vehicle registered and insured in an EU country (and
Switzerland), your home-country insurance is sufficient.
Ask your insurer for a European Accident Statement (EAS) form, which can simplify matters in the event of an acci-
dent. A European breakdown assistance policy is a good investment. If, for whatever reason, you don't have such a
policy, assistance can be obtained through:
Automobile Club d'Italia
(ACI; 80 31 16, from a mobile phone 800 11 68 00;
www.aci.it
)
Foreigners do not have
to join, but instead pay a per-incident fee. The numbers operate 24 hours a day.
Automobil Club der Schweiz
(
41 44 628 88 99;
www.acs.ch
) The Swiss equivalent of Automobile Club d'Italia.
Train
Milan is a major rail hub. High-speed services arrive from across Italy, from France via Turin in the west and from ma-
jor Swiss cities like Zürich and Geneva to the north. An overnight sleeper train also runs from Barcelona (Spain).
For train timetables and fares, check out
www.trenitalia.com
(Italy) or
www.sbb.ch
(Switzerland).
STAMP IT!
Countless foreign travellers in Italy learn the hard way that their train tickets must be stamped in the yellow ma-
chines (usually found at the head of rail platforms) just before boarding. Failure to do so usually results in fines,
although the cry of 'I didn't know'
sometimes
elicits an indulgent response from ticket controllers. This is not an
issue in Ticino.
FRANCE, SWITZERLAND & UK
Paris-Milan
Fast direct trains (TGV) run from Gare de Lyon to Stazione Centrale (from €83, seven to 7½ hours) in
Milan.
Geneva-Milan
Cisalpino high-speed services converge on Milan from Geneva (via Lausanne, Brig and Domodossola)
and Zürich (via Ticino). The trip takes 3¾ to 4½ hours (Sfr95 one way).
London-Milan
Eurostar (
www.eurostar.com
) passenger trains travel between London and Paris from where there are
TGV connections to Milan. For the latest information on journeys to Italy, check out
www.raileurope.co.uk
.
THE REST OF ITALY
The partially privatised state train system
Trenitalia
(
www.trenitalia.it
)
runs most services. Travelling by train in Italy is
relatively cheap compared with other European countries. The most useful types of train include the following:
