Venice to Rome train with Frecciarossa

Venice to Rome by Train – Across the Heart of Italy at High Speed

Introduction

Every time I go to Italy for work or a holiday, traveling by train is a must for me. It’s fast, reliable, and affordable. Venice to Rome by train is a scenic, recommended way to discover this wonderful country. You can zoom through on a high-speed train or take it easy on local trains and experience the real Italy. Come with me as I travel from the Veneto all the way to Lazio via the splendid Tuscany region.

Route Overview

To go from Venice to Rome, you have three options. Two are via high-speed trains, which link the cities in about four hours. The high-speed route goes via Florence. The two operators are the national railway Trenitalia, with its Frecciarossa service, and Italo, a private high-speed train operator – that’s the one I chose for today’s experience. If you’re not in a rush, you can also take a night train to link the two cities. To sum things up, there's plenty of choice!

Transportation Experience

I booked my ticket via Omio since it shows all operators, including Trenitalia and Italo. I went with Italo, as it was the cheapest, and I scored a first-class seat for a small upgrade fee. With that, it was time to treat myself!

Route Details

Departure & Arrival Stations

Venice Santa Lucia station has to be one of my favorite stations in Italy. When you step out of the terminal, you’re literally right in front of the Grand Canal. No taxis or cars in sight – just pedestrians, boats, and the immense beauty that only Venice can offer. Everything is just a five-minute walk from here.

Rome Termini Train Station is definitely different from Venice but still has its own charm. Despite being quite a contrast compared to the surrounding buildings, the station is conveniently located in the city center and well-connected to Rome’s transit system. My personal recommendation: always walk wherever you need to go – you get to see more!

Schedule & Frequency

High-speed trains take, on average, four hours to connect the two cities. With Trenitalia, you’ll have a train departing every hour – plenty of choice! The same goes for Italo, which also runs hourly. Both operators offer four classes, from the very fancy business class to the comfortable economy class, which honestly isn’t bad. Two trains per hour between Venice and Rome? I’m in!

Onboard Experience & Services

I traveled in first class (Prima Business) during my four-hour ride through Italy and had a solo seat – perfect for relaxing. In this class, you get free snacks and coffee served via trolley service! I remember sipping my espresso as we went through Tuscany – truly memorable. And if you want more coffee, the train has a Lavazza coffee machine, and you can see it grinding beans and making coffee through a glass door – pretty cool!

Don’t miss the view after Venice Santa Lucia Train Station. For a few minutes, the train runs on a bridge above the Venetian Lagoon. My personal tip: sit on the right-hand side when leaving Venice for the best view. On the left side, the road unfortunately blocks some of the view, but it’s still cool!

After Florence, you’ll experience Italian high-speed rail at 300 km/h. Even at that speed, Tuscany feels surreal – I just want to stop the train and get lost in one of those tiny villages. Just four hours after leaving Venice and its canals, I arrived stress-free in the bustling city of Rome. It’s quite magical – but that’s what Italy’s high-speed trains offer!

Ticketing Advice & Budget Breakdown

The sooner, the better, especially for high-speed trains. But with so many departures, you have a good chance of getting a deal. I paid €67 for my four-hour Venice to Rome train journey with Italo, and the upgrade was only €17 via Omio – I couldn’t resist.

Top Tips & Personal Recommendations

• Enjoy a coffee at any café across the canal in front of Venice station – in just 5 minutes, you can go from sipping a coffee with a gondola in view to sitting on a high-speed train heading to Rome!
• Choose a window seat on the right side for the best views of the Venice Lagoon.
• Be sure to get a coffee from one of the machines on the train.

Conclusion

Train travel in Italy never disappoints, and I’m glad I did it once again. Venice-to-Rome is one of the classic train experiences you must do between these two iconic cities. And the transition from Veneto to Lazio via Tuscany? Just amazing. Italy in a nutshell.

About the Author: Thibault Constant

• Job Title: Content Creator
• Bio: Thibault Constant, also known as Simply Railway, is a content creator specializing in train travel across the globe, with over 40 countries explored by rail.