Roma to Trieste by train

How to take a rail journey from Roma/Rome to Italy's most north-eastern city

Trieste is the most distant city in northern Italy from Rome/Roma which explains the comparative lack of daily departures.
Though despite that there is a wide choice of options for making this journey from Roma/Rome to Trieste by train, however when travelling by day, it isn't possible to be in the city on The Adriatic until after 18:30.

  1. The daily 'Frecce' train operated by Trenitalia is the fastest option.
  2. The daily Italo service shares the high speed route as far as Bologna with the 'Frecce' train.
  3. The two daily IC services are a slower, but typically cheaper option.
  4. There is also an overnight train, which is typically due to arrive in Trieste at around 09:00.
Share

Routes

Option 1: taking the daily Frecce train

Travel Information

Final Destination: Trieste Cle.

This train also calls at: Trieste Airport

This train is typically scheduled to depart Roma/Rome at 16:30 and arrive in Trieste at 21:55.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: up to 6months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter

The high speed (AV) train service between and Roma/Roma Termini and Trieste is provided by

(1) this Frecce train operated by Trenitalia, and
(2) an alternative Italo train

Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale up to 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.

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 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 this train, 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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italia rail *

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 *

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.
Save A Train *

Save A Train Guide

Omio *

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 *

Trainline Guide

On this journey

Journey Features

High Speed (partial journey)

This is a journey of three distinct parts:

  1. Until the train reaches the outskirts of Florence/Firenze it will be travelling at up to 250 km/h on the original Italian high speed line, the direttissima.
  2. The part of the journey between Florence/Firenze and Bologna is mainly in tunnel, but it is the fastest section of the trip.
  3. For the remainder of the journey on from Bologna the train will be on a conventional 'classic' railway.

Option 2: taking the daily Italo train

Travel Information

Final Destination: Trieste Cle.

This train also calls at: Monfalcone (the Frecce train does not call here)

This train is typically scheduled to depart Roma/Rome at 14:55 and arrive in Trieste at 20:53.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 5months ahead of the travel date - usually

The high speed (AV) train service between and Roma/Roma Termini and Trieste is provided by

(1) This Italo train
(2) a Frecce train operated by Trenitalia

Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains; and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.

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 with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.

Rail passes cannot be used on Italo services.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italo *

Italo Guide

Omio *

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 *

Trainline Guide

Happy rail *

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

Journey Features

High Speed (partial journey)

This is a journey of three distinct parts:

  1. Until the train reaches the outskirts of Florence/Firenze it will be travelling at up to 250 km/h on the original Italian high speed line, the direttissima.
  2. The part of the journey between Florence/Firenze and Bologna is mainly in tunnel, but it is the fastest section of the trip.
  3. For the remainder of the journey on from Bologna the train will be on a conventional 'classic' railway.

Option 3: taking the slower, but typically cheaper IC services

Travel Information

Final Destination: Trieste Cle.

These trains also call at: San Dona di Piave-Jesolo (connect for bus to Jesolo Lido) and Monfalcone

These trains are usually schedule 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: 4 months ahead of the travel date

If the cheapest Super Economy tickets are still available, you can save more than €20 by taking these trains in comparison to the faster Frecce trains.

Rail pass users

Target these trains if you want to avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fees charged on the Frecce services; both the high speed trains and the Frecciabinca train.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of being able to remain in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 reservation fee is virtually essential.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Italia rail *

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 *

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.

On this journey

Journey Features

Not High Speed

Between Rome and Bologna these IC trains take a different slower route to the Frecce and Italo trains as they don't use the-high-speed line.
After Bologna the trains take the same route as those other services, though if you take the first train of the day you'll be able to see the intermittent sea views to the east of Venezia, over on the right.
Though this isn't one of Europe's most stunning coastal journeys.

Option 4: taking the overnight train

Travel Information

Final Destination: Trieste Cle.

This train also calls at: Monfalcone

This train is typically scheduled to depart Roma/Rome at 22:35 and arrive in Trieste at around 09:00

1 x train per night

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date - usually

See the 'Train Guide' below for info on the type of accommodation available and the how tickets can be booked.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
Trenitalia *

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.

On this journey

Journey Features

Not High Speed

Good to Know

The daily EC train on to Ljubljana, Maribor and Graz is typically scheduled to depart from Trieste just after 13:00, but if you'll want to reach these destinations by train from Rome/Roma,. without spending the night in Trieste, you'll need to take this train.
Frustratingly this train is usually due into Trieste only two minutes before the morning regional train from Trieste will be due to depart, so if you have an InterRail or Eurail pass you can make a dash for the connection, but making it is very much not guaranteed.

Between Rome and Bologna these IC trains take a different slower route to the Frecce and Italo trains as they don't use the-high-speed line.
After Bologna the trains take the same route as those other services, though if you take the first train of the day you'll be able to see the intermittent sea views to the east of Venezia, over on the right.
Though this isn't one of Europe's most stunning coastal journeys.

Take the stress out of your journey Everything planned to your specification, so sit back and relax… Try Concierge
hand-money

Please support ShowMeTheJourney

Help keep us advertising and paywall free!

Donate

This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.

We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.

Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.

So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.

See if there’s a unique journey guide for your trip, featuring info on the trains, tickets & stations.
Leaving From
Going To
ShowMeTheJourney

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.