Finding Accommodation in Italy: Best Places to Stay Near Trains, Cities & Historic Centres

Who This Italy Accommodation Guide Is For

Italy is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, but your experience can be very different depending on where you stay and how you move around.

This guide is for travellers who:

• Prefer private rooms and quiet nights over party hostels
• Want easy access to trains, trams and buses rather than driving everywhere
• Enjoy a mix of history, food, architecture and day trips
• Appreciate hotels and apartments that offer comfort, cleanliness and walkability

We focus on Milan, Venice (Mestre) and Bergamo—places where we’ve stayed—plus suggestions for planning wider Italian itineraries.

A Short Historical Prelude: Italy and World War II

Italy’s long history spans the Roman Empire, medieval city‑states and the Renaissance, but traces of World War II are still visible in many cities if you know where to look.

During WWII:

• Italy was initially ruled by Mussolini’s fascist regime, allied with Nazi Germany.
• Cities such as Milan, Turin and Genoa were heavily bombed due to their industrial and transport importance.
• The armistice in 1943 led to German occupation in the north and a long, difficult period of resistance, reprisals and civilian hardship.
• Railways and stations, vital for troop movements and deportations, became both targets and symbols of this dark chapter.

Today, alongside classic art and architecture, you’ll find memorial sites and small museums that quietly preserve this history.

One powerful example in Milan is the Memoriale della Shoah at the Central Station area. This underground museum is housed at the historic Platform 21 (Binario 21), from where Jewish citizens and political prisoners were deported to concentration and extermination camps.

If you are visiting Milan we highly recommend seeing this museum as a stark reminder of the horrors of WW2. You can see original freight cars, documents and testimonies which tell the story of persecution and deportation. It’s a sobering counterpoint to the grandeur of Milan’s boulevards and shopping streets and a reminder that many Italian sites of everyday travel—stations, rail lines, bridges—also carry wartime stories.

When you choose where to stay in Italy, you’re often staying near places that witnessed occupation, resistance and rebuilding. Many modern hotels and station districts sit on ground that was once bombed or reshaped during and after WWII, blending contemporary convenience with layered, sometimes painful history.

Getting Around: Why Trains Work So Well in Italy

Travelling Italy by train is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to see the country:

• High‑speed lines connect major cities such as Milan, Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples in just a few hours.
• Regional trains link smaller towns, lakes and hill cities, ideal for day trips.
• Many main stations sit near historic centres, so you often can walk or take a short tram/bus to your hotel.

Using trains rather than driving lets you:

• Avoid city traffic, ZTL (limited traffic zones) and parking headaches
• Watch the landscape change—from industrial north to vineyards, lakes and hill towns
• Build itineraries around a few well‑chosen bases rather than constant hotel changes

In our own travels, we’ve found it particularly helpful to stay within walking distance of major stations in cities like Milan, and then use regional trains for side trips to places such as Bergamo or Venice.

Best Types of Accommodation in Italy (If You Don’t Want Dorms)

Mid‑Range City Hotels

Common in business and transport hubs like Milan, Turin and Bologna:

• En‑suite bathrooms, air‑conditioning and Wi‑Fi
• Decent soundproofing (important in busy areas)
• Easy access to metro, trams and main stations

Good if you want function, cleanliness and a predictable level of comfort.

Modern Chain Hotels and Business Hotels

Often found near stations or on the edge of historic centres:

• Reliable facilities, 24‑hour reception, luggage storage
• Often better value than “tourist” hotels right in old towns
• Great if you’re using trains frequently and prioritise logistics

Guesthouses, B&Bs and Boutique Hotels

More common in historic centres and smaller cities:

• Individually decorated rooms in older buildings
• More local character, sometimes fewer “big hotel” services
• Good for travellers who enjoy a homely or historic feel

Apartments and Aparthotels

Useful if you’re staying longer or travelling as a family:

• Kitchenettes or full kitchens for simple meals
• More space to spread out
• Can be great value outside the most famous centres

Where to Stay: Good Urban Bases for Exploring Northern Italy

Northern Italy is well-connected by rail, so you can see a lot with only a few bases. We based ourselves in both Venice and Milan to explore for a few days in each, including an overnight stay in Bergamo where you can enjoy a more  relaxed historic atmosphere.

From these, you can easily reach lakes (Como, Garda, Iseo), other cities (Verona, Bologna, Turin) and even cross into neighbouring countries by train.