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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
Journey Summary
3hr 6min
Daily
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 | |
| Italia rail | from €29 approx |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
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
Journey Summary
3hr 47min (approx)
Daily
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 | |
| Italia rail | from €19.90 | |
| Save A Train | from €19.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
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
Journey Summary
4hr 26 min (approx)
Daily
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 | |
| Italia rail | from €9.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
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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