Naples Central to Rome Termini Trains from £7.96

Departure station: Departing from Naples Centrale

Napoli Centrale is a busy station and can feel overwhelming at first, but the mainline platforms are well signposted and straightforward to navigate. Luggage storage is available via KiPoint near Platform 2, open daily from 06:00 to 23:00. For a coffee before boarding, the cafes just outside on Piazza Garibaldi are considerably better value than the options on the station concourse – and a proper Neapolitan espresso standing at the bar is one of the great small pleasures of southern Italy.

Arrival station: Arriving at Roma Termini

One of Europe's great railway stations, Roma Termini handles nearly half a million passengers a day, and serves as the primary hub for nearly every train journey into or out of Rome. Renovated in 2022, its vast modernist interior is busy and sometimes overwhelming, but easy to navigate once you know where everything is.

High-speed trains from Naples arrive at the main platforms 1-24, all within easy walking distance of the main concourse. If your arrival platform is numbered 25 to 29, it’s a long 10-minute walk down the eastern corridor. Metro lines A and B both connect directly at Termini, the only interchange between the two lines in Rome, giving rapid access to the Colosseum (Line B, two stops), the Vatican (Line A, six stops) and the Spanish Steps (Line A, four stops).

Taxis are available at the official rank outside the main entrance. Fares to most central Rome destinations cost around €10-15. Hungry after the journey? Head to the Via Giolitti exit for the Mercato Centrale on the upper level. With fresh pasta, pizza and coffee from some of Rome's best producers, it’s far superior to anything on the concourse.

With over 50 direct services a day and journey times as short as 1 hour and 5 minutes, the Naples to Rome route is one of Italy's most heavily served high-speed corridors. Both Trenitalia's Frecciarossa and private operator Italo cover the route at speeds of up to 300 km/h, with intercity services offering a slower, more affordable alternative. Here's how they compare:

Frecciarossa

Trenitalia’s flagship service is the most frequent operator on the Naples to Rome route, with departures roughly every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the day from Napoli Centrale to Roma Termini.

• Average journey time: 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes
• Best for: Travellers wanting the most flexible timetable, the widest choice of travel classes and access to Trenitalia’s CartaFRECCIA loyalty programme
• Onboard perks: Free Wi-Fi, at-seat power sockets, café car and four travel classes – Standard, Premium, Business and Executive. Business includes at-seat food and drink service, while Executive adds a full meal service and lounge access at both Napoli Centrale and Roma Termini
• Worth knowing: Advance Super Economy fares start from around €9 – great value for a journey of this speed and comfort. The Milan-Rome-Naples corridor is one of Italy's busiest and at peak times delays are not unusual.

Italo

Italy's private high-speed operator runs a strong alternative service on the Naples to Rome corridor, with affordable advance fares and a loyal following among both Italian and international travellers.

• Average journey time: 1 hour 12 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes
• Best for: Travellers looking for great value fares and a contemporary onboard environment, or those continuing north to Florence, Milan or Turin on an Italo service
• Onboard perks: Free Wi-Fi, reclining leather seats with power outlets and footrests, a snack area with vending machines and three travel classes – Smart, Prima and Club Executive. Prima includes extra legroom and complimentary snacks, while Club Executive provides a dedicated lounge-style carriage with full hospitality service
• Worth knowing: Italo advance fares frequently match or undercut Frecciarossa on this route, so it’s always worth comparing both operators before booking.

Intercity

Somewhere between the high-speed services and the regional train, Trenitalia’s Intercity is the fastest and most comfortable option on the conventional network, offering reserved seating for a more relaxed journey, often at a price that undercuts high-speed advance fares.

• Average journey time: Around 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes
• Best for: Travellers who want a more comfortable journey than the regional train without paying high-speed prices
• Onboard perks: First and second class with reserved seating, more spacious carriages and an onboard café service on most trains
• Worth knowing: Intercity fares are fixed, so you’ll pay the same price whether you book weeks ahead or on the day of departure

Regional

For travellers with time to spare, the regional train is the slowest and cheapest option, but perfectly comfortable for the scenic journey from Naples to Rome.

• Average journey time:  Around 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours
• Best for: Budget-conscious travellers or those looking to enjoy the scenery of Campania and Lazio at a slower pace
• Onboard perks: Comfortable seating, no reservation required.
• Worth knowing: Tickets start from around €10-12, making this the best-value option on the route. Remember to validate your paper ticket at the yellow machines at the platform before boarding.

Stepping off at Roma Termini, you're just a short metro ride away from some of the finest examples of art, architecture and history anywhere on earth. Here are some of the top highlights closest to the station:

• The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Two stops south on metro Line B to Colosseo and you can be standing in front of the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre ever built, constructed between 70 and 80 AD and capable of holding up to 80,000 spectators. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are directly alongside, and all three sites are covered by a single ticket.

• The Vatican and St Peter's Basilica

Metro Line A runs west from Termini to Ottaviano in around 20 minutes, the closest stop to the Vatican. Free to enter, St Peter's Basilica is awe-inspiring in scale, with Michelangelo's dome offering panoramic views over Rome for a fee of around €10, depending on whether you take the lift partway or climb all 500-plus steps to the top. Book in advance in high season for entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

• The Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps

Four stops west on metro Line A brings you to Spagna and the foot of the Spanish Steps. Climb the 135 travertine steps to the Church of Trinità dei Monti and enjoy views from the top down Via Condotti towards the Tiber. From here, the Trevi Fountain is just a 15-minute walk through some of the most photogenic streets in the city. Throw a coin in and as legend has it, you're guaranteed to return to Rome.

• Trastevere

For a glimpse of Rome beyond the tourist trail, head across the Tiber to Trastevere, the medieval neighbourhood on the western bank, where narrow cobbled streets, ivy-covered facades and some of the city's oldest churches create an atmosphere quite unlike anywhere else in the city. Bus H from Roma Termini runs directly there in around 20 minutes. Come for dinner – the trattorias here serve some of the most honest Roman food in the city at considerably better prices than anywhere near the main sights.