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The stunning San Simeone Piccolo church is across the Grand Canal from Venezia S. Lucia

Roma / Rome to Venezia / Venice / Venedig by train

How to take a rail journey from Rome/Roma to Venice/Venezia

The 'Frecce' trains operated by Trenitalia share the high-speed section of the route between Roma and Bologna, with Italo trains.
They have similar speeds, so the differences between the two services are to do with the on-board experiences, check out the 'Trains' guides below; and the fact that tickets for the Italo trains and Frecce trains can be purchased from different online booking agents - it's a route on which you can save by booking in advance.

However, some trains from Roma to Venice/Venezia take an entirely different and much longer cross-country route.
If ticket price and not speed is your key criteria, you can usually save money by taking these trains and they're a cheaper option for rail pass users; but they are not as frequent as the high speed services.

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Routes

Option 1: taking the high speed Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia

Journey Summary

From
Roma / Rome
The stunning roof over the front hall at Roma Termini
Roma Termini Rail Station Guide
To
Venezia / Venice / Venedig
The breathtaking exit from Venezia Santa Lucia station
Venezia Santa Lucia/Venice S. L. Rail Station Guide
Travel Time
4hr 3min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Venezia S.L.

All of these trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina

All of these trains also call at: Padova/Padua and Venezia Mestre*
*Take care not to leave the train at this station if you will be heading to the historical heart of Venice.

A variety of 'Frecce' trains are now used on this route with some of the departures by the Frecciarossa 1000 trains.

14 x trains per day

For most of the day the service is hourly, but there is a two hour gap in the departures of these trains, which arrive in Santa Lucia station, between 16:35 and 18:35.

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.

The high speed train (AV) service between Roma and Venice/Venezia is provided by:

(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains

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.

Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale up to 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are typically made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.

So, if you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.

Rail Pass Users:

If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.

How to book the rail pass reservations online is included on our guide to using rail passes in Italy.

Though rail pass users can save money by taking the Intercity trains.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italia rail from €39.90

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.

Trenitalia from €39.90

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.
Trainline from €39.90

Trainline Guide

Omio from €39.90

Omio Guide

Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.

The three key advantages of using Omio are

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.

Save A Train from €39.90

Save A Train Guide

On this journey

Travelling On
A Frecciarossa train has arrived at Venezia St Lucia
Frecciarossa 500 (Frecce) (Italy) Train Guide
A full side view of a Frecciarossa 1000 train - two of these trains can be joined together
Frecciarossa 1000 (Frecce) (Italy) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial journey)

Good to Know

One daily train commences its journey at Roma Fiumicino Airport* at 13:53 .
*this is the name of the station at Leonardo Da Vinci airport.

Journey description:

The high speed train journey from Rome to Venice has four distinct phases:

(1) The high speed line between Rome and Florence is more scenic than most, it's not a beautiful journey, but there is a wow factor of travelling across the rolling landscape at more than 240 km/h.

The direttissima between Rome and Florence was the first high speed railway line to be built in Italy, so it has a slower maximum speed than the other Italian high speed lines.

This video, taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction, gives an idea of the journey experience on this part of the trip.

These Frecce trains also divert off the direct route in Florence so that they can call at Firenze S.M.Novella station, where they will reverse direction.

(2) Once the train has departed from Florence it will travel at up to 290 km/h, but nearly of the high speed line between Florence and Bologna is within tunnels.

(3) There is no high speed line between Bologna and Padua/Padova, but the trains follow a comparatively fast and straight route, over a flat landscape.

(4) The highlight of the journey is the final five minutes as the train heads out over the lagoon between the mainland and historical Venezia; don't leave your seat too soon!

From the right there are distant views of the Apennine foothills From the right there are distant views of the Apennine foothills
Racing over the river Paglia and entering Umbria Racing over the river Paglia and entering Umbria
The view from one of the many viaducts on the Rome to Florence high speed line The view from one of the many viaducts on the Rome to Florence high speed line
Approaching Florence through the countryside in Tuscany Approaching Florence through the countryside in Tuscany
Leaving the mainland and heading out on the bridge to Venezia S. Lucia Leaving the mainland and heading out on the bridge to Venezia S. Lucia
The view of the Venetian lagoon from the left hand side of the train The view of the Venetian lagoon from the left hand side of the train

Option 2: taking the high speed Italo trains

Journey Summary

From
Roma / Rome
The stunning roof over the front hall at Roma Termini
Roma Termini Rail Station Guide
To
Venezia / Venice / Venedig
The breathtaking exit from Venezia Santa Lucia station
Venezia Santa Lucia/Venice S. L. Rail Station Guide
Travel Time
4hr 4min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Venezia S. Lucia

All of these trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina; Padova and Venezia Mestre*

*If you're heading to the historical heart of Venice/Venezia, take care not to leave the train at Venezia Mestre.

8 x trains per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open:: around 3 months ahead of the travel date

The high speed (AV) train service between Roma and Venice/Venezia is provided by
(1) these Italo trains
(2) Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia

Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.

Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.

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.

If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.

Rail passes are not valid on the Italo trains

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italo from €34

Italo Guide

Omio from €34

Omio Guide

Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.

The three key advantages of using Omio are

  • it offers prices in multiple currencies
  • it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
  • when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.

The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.

Trainline from €34

Trainline Guide

Happy rail from €34

Happy rail Guide

Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.

HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.

On this journey

Travelling On
One of the newer Italo trains which are mainly used on services to/from Venice/Venezia
Italo (Italy) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - NoHigh Speed (partial journey)
From the right there are distant views of the Apennine foothills From the right there are distant views of the Apennine foothills
Racing over the river Paglia and entering Umbria Racing over the river Paglia and entering Umbria
The view from one of the many viaducts on the Rome to Florence high speed line The view from one of the many viaducts on the Rome to Florence high speed line
Approaching Florence through the countryside in Tuscany Approaching Florence through the countryside in Tuscany
Leaving the mainland and heading out on the bridge to Venezia S. Lucia Leaving the mainland and heading out on the bridge to Venezia S. Lucia
The view of the Venetian lagoon from the left hand side of the train The view of the Venetian lagoon from the left hand side of the train

These Italo trains take the same route as the Frecce trains.

Option 3: taking the Intercity trains

Journey Summary

From
Roma / Rome
The stunning roof over the front hall at Roma Termini
Roma Termini Rail Station Guide
To
Venezia / Venice / Venedig
Image coming soon...
Venezia Mestre
Travel Time
5hr 55min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Trieste

These trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina

These Intercity trains are slower than taking a Frecce or Italo train from Rome to Venice/Venezia because they don't use the high speed lines between Rome and Bologna.

But the higher speed of those alternative train services comes at a price, so these Intercity (IC) trains are a cheaper option for a Rome to Venice/Venezia rail journey.

These trains are usually scheduled to depart from Roma Termini at 10:22 and 15:30.

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 at 10:22 and 15:30., so target those times when looking up this journey.

Tickets for these IC trains are always cheaper than the faster high speed trains
However, if you'll be heading to Venezia S. Lucia, enter that as the 'to station' and book the journey which include a connection into a Regionale train at Venezia Mestre.
You cannot book to Venezia Mestre and then hop on the train to Venezia S.Lucia.

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.
Rail pass users can hop on the Regionale trains to Venzia S.Lucia if that is your ultimate destination.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia from €24.90

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 €24.90

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 €24.90

Save A Train Guide

On this journey

Travelling On

Journey Features

Not High Speed

Good to Know

Note that these trains arrive at Venezia Mestre and not at Venezia S.Lucia, which is the station in the Venetian lagoon, located on the banks of the Grand Canal.

The easiest option for accessing Venezia S. Lucia from these trains is to take a Regionale train on from Venezia Mestre.

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

Heading through the Appenines east of Foligno Heading through the Appenines east of Foligno
The view on the left as the train heads to the coast The view on the left as the train heads to the coast
The sea views are on the right when heading north The sea views are on the right when heading north
South of Rimini the line follows the Adriatic Coast South of Rimini the line follows the Adriatic Coast
Travellers have stepped out into the corridor to see the views Travellers have stepped out into the corridor to see the views
Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge
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