Roma Termini

All of the binari (platforms/tracks) at Roma Termini have step-free access to the main station buildings - simply walk ahead and beyond the front of the trains to access the exits, and the metro etc.

You'll find yourself in an enormous building, so take your time and follow the signs.

For the taxi and bus station head out of the front of the station, which will be directly ahead at the far side of the concourse.

In the main bus station - there is an information booth that gives details of the onward bus connections.

This area isn’t particularly crowded - in contrast to the constantly busy exits at either side of the main concourse on to the streets named Via Giovanni (to the left) and Via Marsala (to the right).

The exits to these streets are at either end of the main central hall at the station, they're under the video screens.

Pick-pockets and beggars exploit these crowds at the exits to the Via Marsala and Via Giovanni Gioltti - particularly avoid being distracted by children asking for help and money, their elders are hoping to exploit the situation!

Nine Things Worth Knowing About Taking Trains from Roma Termini;

(1) At the front of the station, facing the street/taxi rank, is a huge and airy entrance hall.

It is the furthest part of the station from the platforms/binari that the trains depart from - so tends to be quieter - despite the fact that it only takes a minute to reach the access points to the trains from here.

It houses departure screens and ticket machines - so can be a good place to wait for a train, buy a ticket etc.

It is rightly also a global icon of post-World War 2 architecture.

(2) Between the entrance hall and the departure concourse is a central hall, which houses most of the shops at the station.

(3) The departure concourse, the part of the station closest to the binari (platforms/tracks) is divided into two parts;

(i) an area which is in front of the ticket gates and houses the main exit from the Metro – though there are other quieter Metro access points around the station.

(ii) An area on the other side of the ticket gates - immediately in front of the binari (platforms/tracks) which the trains depart from.

If you'll be taking a Regionale Veloce (RV) or Regionale (R) train at busy times, it can be a good idea to wait on the other side of the gates

You can then beat the rush, when the specific binario (track/platform) that the train will be departing from is confirmed.

(4) Ticket gates have been erected between these two areas of the departure concourse.

Manned ticket checks are carried out at these gates - you can't reach the trains without passing through them.

(5) Queues will inevitably build up at these ticket gates - so allow a minimum of 5 mins to board a train, even if you don’t need to buy a ticket.

Prior to the confirmation of the specific binario (track/platform) that your train will be departing from, the departure screens will tell you the optimum ticket gate to pass through.

So if you want to wait on the other (train) side of the ticket gates, for the departure details of your train to be confirmed, you can pass through the appropriate gate and be assured that your train will be departing from a binari (track/platform) nearby.

(6) Be at Roma Termini a minimum of 30mins before your train departs - if you do need to buy a ticket.

If there’s a long wait in the ticket office, use the Trenitalia branded ticket machines – they have excellent English translations, so are comparatively easy to use.

But at busy times you will have to queue to use a machine.

(7) Don't forget to stamp your ticket if you will be taking a Regionale Veloce (RV) or Regionale (R) train.

(8) Some Regionale Veloce (RV) or Regionale (R) trains, particularly those heading north, can depart from binari '1 Ouest' and '2 Ouest;.

These tracks/platforms are a 3 - 5 min walk from the departure hall.

(9) There are no direct international DAYTIME trains from and to Roma/Rome.