The 'Frecce' trains operated by Trenitalia share this route 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.
The Frecce and Italo trains are now the only option for taking a direct train from the historical heart of Venice (Venezia S. Lucia station) to Naples/Napoli.
Final Destination: Napoli Centrale or Salerno
All trains also call at: Roma Termini
The train journey from Venice to Naples has been transformed by Italy's high speed lines, for most of the journey you will be travelling at more than 250 km/h on what are contenders for the world's most fabulous trains.
The alternative train journey options:
High speed Italo trains compete with these Frecce trains on the Venice to Naples route.
They're less frequent than the Frecce trains, but they match them for speed and can be cheaper (see below).
9 x trains per day
*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 Venezia/Venice and Napoli/Naples is provided by:
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
(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 will need to pay a €10 reservation fee prior to boarding these trains, which can be comparatively good value for such a long journey.
Taking an indirect train from Venice to Naples:
When looking up a Venice to Naples train journey on the ticket agents, most of the journey options will involve a change of train, usually at Roma Termini.
The journey options, with a connection, can be cheaper, but pay attention to the connecting time between trains.
Frecce trains aren't exceptionally punctual and your ticket will be specific to the second train you will be connecting into; having to get such a ticket re-issued in the event of a delay is a situation best avoided.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italia Rail | from €39.90 | |
Trenitalia | from €39.90 | |
Trainline | from €39.90 | |
Save A Train | from €39.90 | |
Omio | from €39.90 | |
OBB | from €39.90 |
The Venice to Naples train journey has five distinct phases;
(1) It's not a scenic journey, but it starts with a flourish as the trains head out over the lagoon from the heart of historical Venice/Venezia.
The best of the views are from the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel).
(2) Between Padova and Bologna the train will travel across a flat landscape, with nothing of note to see
There is no high speed line between and Venezia/Venice and Bologna.
(3) Then from Bologna to Firenze the train will travel at more than 275 km/h on a high speed line, but virtually all of this part of the route is contained within a series of tunnels
(4) The high speed line between Florence and Rome 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 Florence and Rome 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.
Much of this part of the route is elevated on viaducts, and the video, was taken from one of these.
Then as the train races towards Roma across the farmland, it flashes by a series of villages.
(5) The fastest part of the journey is when the train travels on the high speed line between Roma and Napoli.
The fastest part of the journey is when the train travels more than 280 km/h on the high speed line between Roma and Napoli.
Note that trains will reverse direction when departing from Firenze S.M.Novella AND Roma Termini stations.
Final Destination: Napoli or Salerno
All trains also call at: Roma
The alternative train service:
Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia compete with these Italo trains on the Venice to Naples route.
They're more frequent than these Italo trains and they match them for speed, but they can be more expensive.
8 x trains per day
There are an additional three daily Italo trains which only depart from Venezia Mestre station.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Venice/Venezia and Napoli/Naples 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 with 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
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
Italo | from €39 approx | |
Omio | from €39 approx | |
Trainline | from €39 approx | |
Happy rail | from €39 approx |
These Italo trains take the same route as the Frecce trains.
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