You could spend a lifetime visiting Rome and all its stunning churches, museums, and ancient monuments, but if your time in Italy is limited and you want a change of scenery, hop into one of the several trains that will take you from the Eternal City to Venice in just a few hours. There are high-speed and regular trains that link the two cities several times daily, so when you’ve seen the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Trevi Fountain, make your way north-east to the Floating City.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
These Trains Will Take You From Rome to Venice for the Ultimate Trip Across Italy
- Is there a nonstop train from Rome to Venice?
- How long is a speed train from Rome to Venice?
- How much does it cost by train from Rome to Venice?
- Is it better to fly or train from Rome to Venice?
- Can you do Rome to Venice in a day?
- How many days do I need in Venice?
- Hotels near the Roma Termini train station
Is there a nonstop train from Rome to Venice?
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There are many daily nonstop trains between Rome (Roma Termini station) and Venice (Venizia Mestre or Venizia S. Lucia stations) and they run throughout the day, starting before 6 AM and until after 10 PM. You can choose to ride the high-speed train (Frecciarossa and Frecciarossa 1000), the Intercity train, or the Intercity Notte train which is a sleeper train. The high-speed train is faster than the intercity and the Intercity Notte trains and is not necessarily more expensive. You can book either on the website of the Italian train operator Trenitalia.
How long is the high-speed train from Rome to Venice?
The high-speed train usually takes four hours to travel between Rome and Venice, no matter if you ride the regular Frecciarossa or the Frecciarossa 1000. Some trips take up to four hours and 20 minutes. The length of the trip is displayed when you book your ticket so you can be sure to book the fastest one if that’s what you prefer.
Intercity trains and Intercity Notte trains (overnight sleeper trains) take between six and eight hours to complete the journey.
How much does it cost by train from Rome to Venice?
The high-speed train (Frecciarossa) between Rome and Venice starts at $30.75 (27.90 €), but just like with flights, the price changes according to the demand on your dates of travel and the class of service you opt for. Book in advance to get the best price and to secure a seat for your preferred journey.
Frecciarossa trains have five classes of services on offer:
- Standard: Seat with individual electrical and USB outlets. Complimentary WiFi and access the FRECCE Portal. Access to the café/snack bar.
- Premium: Reclining leather seats with individual electrical and USB oulets. Complimentary WiFi and access the FRECCE Portal. Welcome on-board service with snacks and hot and cold drinks served at your seat. Access to the café/snack bar.
- Business: Spacious reclining leather seats with individual electrical and USB oulets. Complimentary WiFi and access the FRECCE Portal. Welcome on-board service with a choice of snacks and hot and cold drinks served at your seat. Access to the café/snack bar.
- Business Area Silenzio: Spacious reclining leather seats with individual electrical and USB oulets in special silent cars. Complimentary WiFi and access the FRECCE Portal. Welcome on-board service with a choice of snacks and hot and cold drinks served at your seat. Access to the café/snack bar.
- Executive: Large single leather seats fitted with a reclining back rest and leg rest. Individual electrical and USB outlets. Complimentary WiFi and access the FRECCE Portal. Complimentary food and drinks served at your seat.
Intercity trains between Rome and Venice start at $12 (10.90 €). There are only two classes of service on board Trenitalia Intercity trains: Second Class and First Class, the only difference being that First Class offers wider seats with more legroom.
Intercity Notte trains start at $24.15 (21.90 €). There are four ways to travel on the Intercity sleeper train between Rome and Venice:
- Basic seating: A non-reclinable Second-Class seat
- Comfort berths: A cabin with four berths. Amenity kit with personal hygiene products provided. Beddings consist of clean and disinfected fleece blanket, sheets, pillow, and pillowcase. A small breakfast with coffee is included.
- Deluxe sleeping car: A cabin with two berths. Gender-specific amenity kits with personal hygiene products provided. Linens consist of comfortable pillow with sealed pillowcase, cotton sheets, comforter and duvet cover, towel, and rug. Full breakfast is included.
- Excelsior cabin: Cabin with a large bed for one or two passengers and a shower. Snacks and drinks to welcome passengers on board. Gender-specific amenity kits with personal hygiene products provided. Full breakfast is included and can be served in bed.
Is it better to fly or train from Rome to Venice?
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock
It is more advantageous to take the train between Rome and Venice than flying for several reasons:
- If you book early enough, it is hard for airlines, even the low-cost ones, to beat Trenitalia’s lowest fare, considering there is no restriction on the number of luggage you can bring in on the train.
- Because the train stations of Rome and Venice are closer to the centers of those two cities, you won’t have to pay for a long bus, subway ride, taxi, or Uber to get to and from the airport, which can save you a lot of time and money. (Note that in Venice, arriving at the S. Lucia train station is closer to the city center than the Mestre train station.)
- Even if the direct, high-speed train journey is longer than a direct flight between Rome and Venice (four hours on the train vs. one hour on the plane), riding on Frecciarossa saves you time. Flights require that passengers arrive 1.5 hours early at the airport, but if you ride the train, you won’t have to arrive more than 15 minutes early.
In terms of comfort and carbon footprint, riding the train between Venice and Rome beats flying any time. And if you want to save the price of a night in a hotel, the Intercity Notte train between the two cities is the way to go.
Can you do Rome to Venice in a day?
It’s very easy to travel between Rome and Venice by train in just one day — the high-speed train Frecciarossa takes only four hours to complete the journey between the two cities. That said, Venice is not a day trip from Rome. Plan to spend several days in each city.
How many days do I need in Venice?
Two full days or three days in Venice is a minimum. You’ll want to spend time seeing the iconic sights like St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, and Doge’s Palace, but you also want to laze in the beautiful historic cafés, get lost in the narrow streets, and enjoy some chichetti without being rushed.
Hotels near the trains stations in Rome
For hotels in Venice, check out Matador’s list of the best luxury hotels in Venice that let you live like a local but are close to all the major attractions, or book this exceptional Airbnb right on the Grand Canal.
We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.
UNAHOTELS Decò Roma
UNAHOTELS Decò Roma is a four-star property located a three-minute walk away from Roma Termini train station, i.e. the perfect location for travelers wanting to take the train from Rome to Venice. The luxury hotel’s Italian Art Déco interior, as well as the stunning furniture, create a chic and elegant atmosphere. There is a bar and a restaurant on site (with vegetarian and vegan options) and breakfast is available. Some of the rooms and suites on the top floors have beautiful views on the city.
Gioberti Hotel
The Gioberti Hotel is a four-star property located only four-minutes on foot from the Roma Termini train station. The hotel has an elegant and contemporary decor, serves a buffet breakfast daily, and has a rooftop terrace with stunning views on the Eternal City, including St. Peter’s Basilica.
Hotel Columbia
Hotel Columbia is located a six-minute walk from the Roma Termini train station. The decor of the 45 rooms is traditional and includes Murano crystal chandeliers. There is rooftop terrace garden with beautiful views where a large buffet breakfast is offered in the morning. During the day a bar and lounge are available for guests. 