Roma / Rome to Messina by train

How to take the fabulous railway journey by day from Rome/Roma to Messina

Europe's last remaining train ferry service is used by the direct trains as they cross from the Italian mainland to the island of Sicily.
Also once the train is south of Salerno, this becomes Europe's most stunningly beautiful coastal railway journey!

Though an alternative to taking the direct trains is to use a combination of a train and a fast ferry, and taking this option has become easier recently, thanks to an increase in the number of rail + sea connections.

Routes

From Roma Termini to Messina Centrale

Journey Summary

From

Roma / Rome

The stunning roof over the front hall at Roma Termini

Roma Termini Rail Station Guide

Messina

Messina Centrale Rail Station Guide

Travel Time

8hr 4min (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Information

Final Destination: Palermo/Siracusa

All trains also call at: Villa San Giovanni

The Alternative Journey option:

You can travel from Roma to Messina in around less than 7 hours if you take one of the now much more frequent Frecce trains from Roma to Villa San Giovanni and then connect there into a fast ferry for a 20 minute crossing to Messina.

Though will also need to purchase separate tickets for the fast ferry, book the rail journey to Villa S.Giovanni

2 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 4 months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter, particularly when searching for journeys more than three months ahead during October and March.

These Intercity are the only direct trains from Rome to Messina and they are usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at around 07:26 and 11:26.

If you use the 'other search options' link on the home page, you can access the 'solutions without changing' facility, which will make these direct trains easier to find.

Where to book

Ticket Provider	Approximate Cost
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. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from Italy will help you save money, time and confusion. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from It... Using Rail Passes in and to/from Italy All that's good to know about using Eurail and InterRail passes on Italian train journeys and on international trains to and from Italy Using Rail Passes in and to/from Italy All that's good to know about using Eurail and InterRail passes on Italian train journeys and on int...
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. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from Italy will help you save money, time and confusion. Buying and using Tickets for Italian rail travel This guide to buying tickets and using rail passes for train journeys both within and to and from It... How to Buy Tickets on the Trenitalia website How to Buy Tickets on the Trenitalia website

On this journey

Travelling On

A refurbished train with the new red/white colour scheme

Intercity (Italy) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesCoastal viewsNot High Speed

Good to Know

The InterCity train will be loaded on to a train ferry for the sea crossing to Sicily, the ticket price includes the ferry crossing.
This is now the only train ferry service in Europe used by daytime trains.

The air-conditioning etc will be disconnected when the engine is separated from the train on arrival at Villa San Giovanni, so in summer temperatures on the train will rise.
The fascinating procedure in which the train is pushed on the ferry should take around 25 minutes.

For the 40 min sea crossing you can leave the train and travel on the passenger deck on the ferry; in the summer you'll be relieved to escape the heat.

Take food and drink with you on this journey, there are no on-board catering facilities available on Intercity trains.

The view through the rear door of the IC train to Sicily

The IC trains to Sicily spend hours of the journey by the shore

Our seats were on the left, hence the views through the rear door

No other European express train route has as much coastal scenery

For most of the final hour the train is on a cliff looking down on the shore

The IC train to Sicily being loaded on to the ferry

The view from the rear door of the train as it enters the ferry

The view from the deck of the train ferry to Sicily

Journey Description

Step on board and experience one of Europe's most beautiful and fascinating 'train' journeys.

So fabulous that the part of the journey south of Napoli/Naples, which equates to 90% of the trip, has been included on The Guardian's pick of the world's best rail journeys.

The train will be loaded on to Europe's last remaining train ferry for the sea crossing to Sicily.

There are great coastal views for much of the train journey, particularly if you take the first train of the day from Roma.

Between Napoli and Villa San Giovanni the views will be on the right; when facing the direction of travel...

The train will reverse direction on departure from Napoli.

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