Is there Uber in Italy? A Guide to Rideshare Apps in Italy
It can be frustrating traveling abroad and not being able to rely upon rideshare apps you are familiar with. When it comes to Italy, although Uber is not completely banned, it operates with restricted services in most areas, often not making it a viable ride sharing option. Luckily, Italy has its worthy share alternatives rideshare apps and transport options which this post will go through below.
Based on my experience traveling across different cities and regions in Italy, below is a guide to Rideshare Alternatives to Uber in Italy. We will cover – 1) What are the best alternatives to Uber in Italy? 2) Rideshare costs, and 3) Other public transportation alternatives, to help you effectively plan your holiday commute across Italy!
So is there Uber in Italy and does it work?
Yes, there is Uber in Italy, but its availability and the type of services it offers are limited compared to other countries due to local regulations. As such, the Uber app operates with limited service in main cities like Rome, Milan, Florence and Naples.
So what does this mean practically speaking? – Uber in Italy only offers Uber Black and Uber Lux, which are the more expensive premium services with professional, licensed drivers and higher-end cars.
The more affordable and commonly used UberX service, is generally not available in Italy due to its local regulations.
This can be frustrating when you want to get an Uber in Italy but don’t want to pay premium charges. Luckily, there are plenty of Uber alternatives rideshare apps in Italy, which we will go through below.
Uber Alternatives Rideshare Apps in Italy
Based on my experience traveling in Italy, I would say – do not assume that all the rideshare apps available in your home country are necessarily going to operate here. Nonetheless there is a good range of uber alternatives in Italy, you just need to be aware of what these alternative rideshare apps are to take adventage of them. The following guide is based on my own experiences and travels across Italy.
The closest uber alternatives/ rideshare apps in Italy are Free Now and IT Taxi.
Free Now App (FreeNow was previously known as MyTaxis)
Free now is a ridesharing app widely used across UK and Europe, including Italy. I have used FreeNow several times in the UK and Europe and found the service to be reasonably good. It is similar to Uber other than the fact that it connect users with licensed taxi drivers rather than private drivers like Uber. It’s available in many Italian cities, including Rome, Milan, Florence, and Naples.
IT Taxi App
IT Taxi short for Italian Taxi is a local taxi/ rideshare app in Italy that operates across most larger Italian cities. I have often found it recommended by Airbnbs and hotels. It similar to Uber in that it allows users to book rides with available drivers, specifically licensed taxi drivers. The app is more of a traditional taxi service app, but it does functions similarly to Uber in terms of showing on-demand availability.
WeTaxi
WeTaxi is one of the newer ride sharing apps that has become popular more recently in Italy.
Does Italy have Lyft?
No, Lyft does not operate in Italy. Lyft doesn’t actually seem to have much of a significant presence in Europe and the UK, including in Italy.
If you are planning to use Rideshare apps in Italy, I would highly recommend downloading a few of these in advance.
The above list of ridesharing apps is by no means exhaustive. I have found options differ slightly differ across each city in Italy, along with various public transport options.
When is Uber worth using in Italy?
Despite the restricted service and premium price of Uber in Italy, I would still say its worth using if you don’t mind paying the Uber Black premium price. A lot of people who do use the Uber premium service, highly recoemmend it. Secondly, it can still be worthwhile using Uber if you are specifically looking for a larger van/ vehicle to get a bigger group of people from A to B in Italy. Given Uber’s premium range of cars includes vans and larger vehicles, booking a larger capacity Uber premium vehicle may actually be more cost efficient than hiring two / more separate taxis.
Rideshare options by city in Italy
Below is a breakdown of Uber and alternatives rideshare apps by city in Italy –
Rideshares in Florence Italy
Uber: Limited to Uber Black’s premium service offering high-end vehicles.
Other rideshare options include Free Now, It Taxi, AppTaxi and WeTaxi to name a few.
Rideshares in Naples, Italy
Uber: Limited to Uber Black’s premium service offering high-end vehicles.
Other rideshare options include Free Now, It Taxi, AppTaxi and WeTaxi to name a few.
Rideshares in Rome, Italy
Uber: Limited to Uber Black’s premium service offering high-end vehicles.
Other rideshare options include Free Now, It Taxi, AppTaxi and WeTaxi to name a few.
Rideshares in Milan, Italy
Uber: Limited to Uber Black’s premium service offering high-end vehicles.
Other rideshare options include Free Now, It Taxi, AppTaxi and WeTaxi to name a few.
Rideshares in Turin, Italy
Uber: Limited to Uber Black’s premium service offering high-end vehicles.
Other rideshare options include Free Now, It Taxi, AppTaxi and WeTaxi to name a few.
Rideshares in Bologna, Italy
Uber: Limited to Uber Black’s premium service offering high-end vehicles.
Other rideshare options include Free Now, It Taxi, AppTaxi and WeTaxi to name a few.
Rideshares in Venice Italy
Due to the unique layout of Venice being a network of canals instead of roads, traditional rideshare services are not as practical here, at least in central Venice. The best way to get around Venice is by boat or walking. Nonetheless, taking a Taxi to and from Venice Airport to Venice central is still a viable option.
Average Cost of Rideshares in Italy
The costs can vary significantly during the peak hours and off peak hours as with all ride sharing apps, however the average cost of a rideshare can be around €20-€30 ($21-$32 USD) in larger cities across Italy.
Rideshare Alternatives in Italy for Intercity Travel
Rideshares can get very expensive for intercity travel or in fact not be available at all. If you don’t want to hire a car for your entire trip, then BlaBlaCar is a great community based carpooling option for intercity travel in Italy. It is often referred to as the AirBnb for carpooling. I have personally not used BlaBla car, but have heard its a viable budget friendly option for intercity travel.
Public Transport Options in Italy
I personally relied on rideshare apps in Italy moreso when traveling to and from airports or for late evenings. Other than this, whenever possible, I was using public transport options in Italy given their ease and convenience, as well as the affordability.
Train Travel between Cities in Italy
Trains are one of the best ways to travel between cities and regions in Italy. Italy has an extensive rail network that operates not just to the main cities but extends to the smaller lesser known regions as well. High-speed trains are operated by the main operator in Italy Trenitalia along with Italo.
A typical high-speed train ticket from Rome to Florence might cost between €30-€50 ($33-$55 USD) if booked in advance, but prices can rise closer to the departure date.
Tickets: For Trainitalia trains, tickets can be purchased on Trenitalia or Italo websites online or directly at the Trainitalia ticket machines in train stations, or through mobile apps.
Car Rentals Costs in Italy
If you’re planning to do your own tour of Italy or explore Italy’s more rural areas, like Tuscany, Puglia or the islands like Sicily or Sardinia, then renting a car is a great option.
Having rented a car a few times when traveling in Italy, I have found renting directly at the Airport most convenient. Most airports have the standard options like Hertz, Avis, Europcar, in addition to local Italian options like Noleggiare and DoYouItaly.
Local companies offer rentals across Italy, with prices starting around €30-€50 ($33-$55 USD) per day to hire a small car. The main thing to note is that car hire costs can vary hugely depending on type of car (manual v automatic) and also how early you book.
If you choose to hire a car in Italy, I highly recommend looking up information on the ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) zones in the cities you plan to visit and stay in. These are zones where only authorized vehicles are allowed. Violating these restrictions can result in significant fines. As such, you may not always be able to park at your accommodation, especially if its located in historic old towns.
I recently visited Puglia, and found that the ZTL zone in most towns in Puglia meant we typically had to park a short walk from our accommodation. There are plenty of allocated parking garages on the outskirts of ZTL zone, but it just just means having to lug your suitcase a little.
Buses (Long-Distance and Intercity travel)
Long-distance buses are a budget-friendly alternative to trains for intercity travel, particularly on routes where train service is less frequent.
I have found FlixBus to be a popular option in Italy. Flixbus connects across quite a lot of cities across Italy and also to other European countries. Prices are generally lower than train fares, with a trip from Rome to Florence costing somewhere between €10-€20 ($11-$22 USD) depending on how far in advance you book!
The most convenient way to get tickets is through the FlixBus app or website, otherwise directly at bus stations. Long-distance buses are slower than trains and definitely not as comfortable in my opinion, but can be a good option when traveling to regions less served by trains.
Domestic Flights
For travel between distant cities in Italy, flights are sometime the best option, especially if you want to save on time time. Airlines like ITA Airways (formerly Alitalia), Ryanair, and EasyJet are all budget airlines that operate intercity flights within Italy. These flights can be locked in at incredibly cheap prices if booked a few months in advance.
On a recent trip post Covid, I was amazed to find how cheap some of these local flights can be. For example, I paid about USD 25 for a domestic flight from Pisa to Sardinia in late May.
That being said I personally prefer train travel as the best option if you are traveling to cities within mainland Italy. Train stations are way less hassle than airport queues, plus the scenery you get with train travel is stunning.
Metro trains
Most major cities in Italy like Rome, Milan, and Naples have metro systems. A single metro ticket in Rome or Milan typically costs €1.50 ($1.65 USD) and is valid for 90 minutes across buses, trams, and metro lines.
I personally found buying multi day/ multi ticket passes much more convenient to purchase as it meant not having to go to the ticket machine each time.
In addition, buses and trams supplement the metro systems, always remember to validate your ticket upon boarding to avoid fines.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it – I hope the above guied has given you some insight into alternative Rideshare apps and transport options to Uber in Italy. Buon viaggio!
Are you heading to Italy – check out our other Italy guides below!
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