Roma / Rome to La Spezia by train

How to travel by train from Rome to La Spezia, in order to connect into trains on to the Cinque Terre

There is a choice of three different rail services when taking a train from Rome/Roma to La Spezia.
1: The early morning Frecciargento train races up the high speed line to Firenze and then joins the 'classic' route near Pisa.
2. The Frecciabianca trains don't take the high speed line, but they tilt, so they can travel faster on the 'classic' coastal route.
3. The Intercity trains take the same coastal route as the Frecciabianca trains, but they don't tilt and they make more station calls, so they're the slowest option; therefore they're typically the cheapest option too.

There are no Italo trains between Rome and Genoa.

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Routes

Option 1: taking the high speed Frecciargento train

Travel Information

Final Destination: Genova P.P.

This train also calls at: Pisa Centrale

This train, which is usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at 06:25 is the fastest train of the day from Rome to La Spezia.

It is primarily aimed at business travellers, hence its early departure time, but if you need, or would rather be in La Spezia before 09:15, this is the train you'll need to take.

1 x train per day

Tickets

*Save by booking in advance: Yes, for more details on how to obtain the cheapest prices for Frecce trains see the guide to Italian rail tickets.

Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December.

This fastest train of the day from Rome to La Spezia is usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at 06:05, so target this time when looking up this journey.
Though when looking up this journey you can easily compare it with the prices of the alternative Frecciabianca and Intercity trains

Rail Pass Users:

If you will be travelling in Italy with a Eurail or InterRail pass, you can save €10 in rail pass reservation fees, by taking an Intercity train from Rome to La Spezia.
But if you'll be happy to pay a fee and won't mind an early start, the €10 fee for this train is better value for money in comparison to taking the slower Frecciabianca trains.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €29.90

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Italia rail from €29 approx

Italia rail Guide

Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.

The Early Bird service

Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.

On this journey

Journey Features

High Speed (partial journey)

Good to Know

A day trip from Rome to the Cinque Terre by train:

It's entirely feasible to make a day trip to the Cinque Terre villages by train from Rome.

Take this train from Rome and another train on from La Spezia to any of the five Cinque Terre villages and you should be at your destination before 10:30
The return fast train back to Rome doesn't depart from La Spezia until 20:03 in the evening, so you will be able to spend a full day in the Cinque Terre.

The La Spezia rail station guide has details of how to buy and use the Cinque Terre passes, which enable visitors to hop on and off the trains which link the five villages.

This train takes a different route to the other trains between Roma and La Spezia.
It is the only the train between the two cities which heads north on the high speed line between Roma and Firenze.

After departure from Firenze the train will then use conventional tracks for the remainder of the journey - at Pisa it will join the route which the other, slower, trains from Rome to La Spezia take.

Option 2: taking the Frecciabinca trains

Travel Information

The tilting Frecciabianca trains are used on this route from Rome to La Spezia.

Final Destination: Torino or Milano or Genova

All of these trains also call at: Grosseto and Livorno and Pisa

Note that these Frecciabianca trains don't call at Roma Ostiense station, but the alternative Intercity trains from Rome to La Spezia do call there.

4 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Seat reservations are complimentary and included within the ticket price..

Though when looking up this journey you can easily compare it with the prices of the alternative, faster Frecciargento train and the, usually cheaper, Intercity trains

Rail Pass Users:

If you will be travelling in Italy with a Eurail or InterRail pass, you can save €10 in rail pass reservation fees, by taking an Intercity train from Rome to La Spezia

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €19.90

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Italia rail from €19.90

Italia rail Guide

Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.

The Early Bird service

Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.

Save A Train from €19.90

Save A Train Guide

On this journey

Journey Features

Not High SpeedCoastal views

Good to Know

The alternative train journey options:

There are also two daily Intercity trains which take the same route as these Frecciabianca trains from Rome to La Spezia.
They're slower because they don't tilt and call at more stations, but they're also usually cheaper.

OR if you need or want to be in La Spezia before 09:15, you can take a faster train.

The route that these trains take, follows the Mediterranean Coast north from Rome, though the sea can only be seen close to in a few locations south of Civitavecchia and north of Grosetto; though the railway also heads inland between Livorno and La Spezia.

These coastal views are on the left, but to see them you need to be sat on the right when boarding at Roma Termini; on departure the train will head south and then loop around the city in a semi-circle before heading north.

Option 3: taking the Intercity trains

Travel Information

Final Destination: Torino or Ventimiglia

These Intercity trains also call at: Roma Ostiense and Grosseto and Livorno and Pisa

2 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

These trains are usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini station at around 09:57 and 15:57

Seat reservations are complimentary and included within the ticket price.

Though when looking up this journey you can easily compare it with the prices of the alternative Frecciabianca trains.

Rail Pass Users:

Target these IC trains if you want to save €10 on rail pass reservation fees.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of remaining in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 reservation fee is virtually essential

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €9.90

Trenitalia Guide

Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:

  • Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
  • Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
  • The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
    Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Italia rail from €9.90

Italia rail Guide

Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.

The Early Bird service

Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.

On this journey

Journey Features

Not High SpeedCoastal views

Good to Know

Final Destination: Torino or Vengtimilia

These Intercity trains also call at: Roma Ostiense*, Pisa

*The alternative Frecciabianca trains from Rome to Genoa not call at Roma Ostiense.

The route that these trains take, follows the Mediterranean Coast north from Rome, though the sea can only be seen close to in a few locations south of Civitavecchia and north of Grosetto; though the railway also heads inland between Livorno and La Spezia.

These coastal views are on the left, but to see them you need to be sat on the right when boarding at Roma Termini; on departure the train will head south and then loop around the city in a semi-circle before heading north.

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