Milan To Rome By Train

How to get from Milan to Rome, the two powerhouse cities of Italy. Milan flies the flag for fashion across the world, houses Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous work The Last Supper and dazzles visitors with a stroll along the rooftop spires of its cathedral.

Rome, meanwhile, has the Sistine Chapel within the city-state of the Vatican, the gladiatorial Colosseum and some of the country’s edgiest up and coming designers and open air markets.

How to get from Milan to Rome by train

By high-speed train

Direct high-speed trains run from Milan to Rome in just under three hours. You can catch your morning espresso in Milan and reach Rome in time for lunch. Reservations are required, which costs €10 at the ticket desk or the self-service machines at the station. This service runs several times an hour from Milano Centrale station. It’s a slick, fast service although there isn’t much chance to appreciate the view.

You can travel by high-speed train to Bologna and Florence en route to Rome but you’ll have to pay the same reservation fee for each leg of the journey. This makes it a far less cost-effective option.

By regional train

To truly relax on the way from Milan to Rome, travel by regional train. Included in your Eurail pass, there are no extra costs and you have plenty of chances to enjoy the scenery. The only thing you need is time. The journey takes between ten and twelve hours.

Getting to Milano Centrale

Milan Central station

Like most big cities, Milan has more than one station. For heading south into Italy, it’s Milano Centrale you want. It’s a grand, beautiful affair with a touch of Art Deco and as many as 24 platforms. Luggage lockers are located on the ground floor, accessible seven days a week. You can find shops for food, drinks, and clothing throughout the complex.

Arriving in Rome

Rome Termini station

Fast trains whoosh into Roma Termini while the regional ones chug into Roma Tiburtina. Roma Termini lies in the heart of the city, only a half hour walk from the ancient Colosseum. The metro lines run through here and trains leave for Fiumicino airport every 30 minutes.

Roma Tiburtina is located in the north-eastern part of the city. It connects to Line B of the metro and has a bus station for both national and international routes.

Top 3 Italian cities on the Milan to Rome route

The regional trains allow you to enjoy the fields of Tuscany as you make your way to Rome.  Your Eurail pass also allows you  to hop on and off the regional services to catch one or all three of these beautiful Italian highlights.

1. Bologna

   

   View from the Asinelli Tower in Bologna
   Home to the oldest university in Western Europe, Bologna has an energetic student vibe beneath its portico-laden walkways. It has a rewarding, authentic feel and yet there’s something ever so familiar about its signature dish: bolognese. For the genuine version, ask for tagliatelle, never spaghetti.

2. Florence

   

   Galileo’s Tomb in Florence
   The compact city of Florence simply overflows with world class art. Gaze at the towering might of Michelangelo’s David or into the dewy eyes of Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Pay your respects at the tombs of Galileo and Machiavelli or receive a lesson in Renaissance art, by wandering through the charming streets. To see the masterpieces, it’s worth booking in advance as queues are often long and can easily cut into your stopover time.

3. Pisa

   

   Tower of Pisa, Italy
   Yes, it’s true. There’s a tower. And it leans. There’s also a great riverside view, a string of tasty gelaterias and an open air market. If you’re on a tight schedule, though, it’s certainly possible to just see the tower, take the obligatory “pushing the tower back” photo and head back to Rome.