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Using 'in' for modes of transportation

English speakers usually talk about travelling "by" car, "by" train, or sometimes "on" a bus or a plane. This means you have to choose between a few different prepositions depending on the vehicle.

Italian makes this much easier. When you want to express a generic mode of transportation, you generally just use the preposition in. Whether you are flying, driving, or taking public transit, the structure remains exactly the same.

Word list
aereomA1 airplane in aereo = by plane autofA1 car in auto = by car autobusmA1 bus in autobus = by bus bicifA1 bicycle in bici = by bike biciclettafA1 bicycle in bicicletta = by bicycle busmA1 bus in bus = by bus macchinafA1 car in macchina = by car trenomA1 train in treno = by train aeroplanomA2 airplane in aeroplano = by plane ambulanzafA2 ambulance in ambulanza = by ambulance automobilefA2 car in automobile = by car barcafA2 boat in barca = by boat camionmA2 truck in camion = by truck metrofA2 subway in metro = by subway metropolitanafA2 subway in metropolitana = by subway motofA2 motorcycle in moto = by motorcycle motociclettafA2 motorcycle in motocicletta = by motorcycle navefA2 ship in nave = by ship pullmanmA2 bus in pullman = by bus taximA2 taxi in taxi = by taxi trammA2 tram in tram = by tram astronavefB1 spaceship in astronave = by spaceship furgonemB1 van in furgone = by van pick-upmB1 pickup truck in pick-up = by pickup truck scialuppa di salvataggiofB1 life boat in scialuppa di salvataggio = by lifeboat sottomarinomB1 submarine in sottomarino = by submarine traghettomB1 ferry in traghetto = by ferry elicotteromB2 helicopter in elicottero = by helicopter kayakmB2 kayak in kayak = by kayak limousinefB2 limousine in limousine = by limousine nave cargofB2 cargo ship in nave cargo = by cargo ship nave da caricofB2 cargo ship in nave da carico = by cargo ship pullmanmB2 coach in pullman = by coach yachtmB2 yacht in yacht = by yacht canoafC1 canoe in canoa = by canoe carrozzafC1 carriage in carrozza = by carriage corrierafC1 coach in corriera = by coach nave a vaporefC1 steamship in nave a vapore = by steamship panfilomC1 yacht in panfilo = by yacht piroscafomC1 steamship in piroscafo = by steamship slittafC1 sled in slitta = by sleigh
How it works

To say you are travelling by a certain vehicle, simply place in right before the noun. You do not need to add a definite article like il or la.

This rule covers everyday transport like a macchina (car), auto (car), treno (train), autobus (bus), and aereo (airplane).

Vado a Roma in treno.
(I am going to Rome by train.)
Preferisci viaggiare in aereo o in macchina?
(Do you prefer travelling by plane or by car?)
Loro vanno a scuola in autobus.
(They go to school by bus.)
Two wheels, water, and city transit

This handy rule extends to almost everything you can ride. You use it for city transit like the tram (tram), taxi (taxi), and metro (subway). It also applies to two-wheeled transport like a bicicletta (bicycle) or moto (motorcycle), as well as water vessels like a barca (boat), nave (ship), or traghetto (ferry).

Oggi vado al lavoro in bicicletta.
(Today I am going to work by bicycle.)
Torniamo a casa in taxi.
(Let's go back home by taxi.)
Andiamo in Sardegna in traghetto.
(We are going to Sardinia by ferry.)
Watch out

There are two important exceptions to keep in mind. First, if you are not using a vehicle at all, the preposition changes. To say you are going on foot, you must use a piedi. Similarly, travelling on horseback is a cavallo.

Non ho la macchina, vado a piedi.
(I do not have the car, I am going on foot.)

Second, the in rule only applies when you are talking about a generic method of travel. If you need to specify exactly which vehicle you are taking, you must use the preposition con (with) combined with a definite article.

Vado a Milano con il treno delle otto.
(I am going to Milan on the eight o'clock train.)
Summary

To talk about how you get from point A to point B, use the preposition in right before the vehicle without an article. Just remember to switch to a for walking or riding a horse, and use con with a definite article if you need to point out exactly which specific vehicle you are taking.