Venice to Rome Trains from £31.38

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Departure station: Departing from Venice Santa Lucia or Venice Mestre

Most trains from Venice to Rome depart from Venezia Santa Lucia, and fortunately, it happens to be one of the most dramatic railway stations anywhere in the world. Sitting right on the banks of the Grand Canal, its modernist facade opens directly onto the water, allowing you to soak up Venice’s unique charm right until the moment you board your train for Rome.

The station itself is a terminus, so there’s no danger of heading in the wrong direction, and is easy to navigate, with all trains departing from the same level. There are no ticket barriers and platforms are usually displayed on the boards around 20 minutes before departure. Long-distance trains to Rome use the eastern and central platforms, so you won't have far to walk. Both FrecciaClub and Italo Club lounges are available at Santa Lucia for eligible passengers.

Venezia Mestre, the mainland alternative

A small number of Rome services also depart from Venezia Mestre, the mainline station on the Italian mainland just across the causeway. Mestre is around 10 minutes from Santa Lucia by train – and considerably less scenic – but if you're staying on the mainland or travelling in from the Veneto, it can be a useful, practical option.

Arrival station: Arriving at Roma Termini or Rome Tiburtina

Step off the train at Roma Termini, and you'll find yourself at the bustling heart of one of the world's great cities. Thanks to Rome’s excellent metro system, virtually every major sight lies within easy reach of the station.

At €1.50 for a single ticket, valid for 100 minutes on buses too, Rome’s metro is excellent value. Both metro lines A and B intersect at Termini, the only interchange between the two lines in Rome, giving direct access to the Colosseum (Line B, two stops to Colosseo), the Vatican (Line A, six stops to Ottaviano), Piazza di Spagna (Line A, four stops to Spagna) and Piazza del Popolo (Line A, six stops to Flaminio). Taxis are also available at the official taxi rank directly outside the main exit. Licensed taxis are white with meters – always use the official rank and never accept offers from drivers inside the station. Fares to most historic centre destinations run to around €10-15.

If you’re only in Rome for a few hours, or have time to explore before checking into your hotel, luggage storage (Deposito Bagagli) is available on the lower level near platform 24 via KiPoint, open from 06:00 to 23:00. Demand can be high in the summer and at peak times, but there are also several private luggage storage companies just outside the station exits.

The Roma Tiburtina alternative

Some Frecciarossa and Frecciargento services from Venice stop at Roma Tiburtina rather than continuing on to Roma Termini. Tiburtina is a modern station a few kilometres northeast of the city centre. It’s considerably less hectic than Termini, but also considerably less convenient for most visitors, as it’s located well outside the tourist centre.

If your ticket shows Roma Tiburtina as your arrival station, don't worry, you can get to the centre quickly and easily by metro. Line B connects Tiburtina directly to Termini in around five minutes, from where you can pick up Line A for the Vatican, Spanish Steps and beyond.

Taxis are also available outside Tiburtina station, though the metro is almost always faster given Rome's traffic. Always check your ticket before travel to confirm which station in Rome your train is heading to.

With over 30 direct high-speed services running every day, the Venice to Rome train is one of Italy’s busiest and best-served long-distance routes. Two operators share this route across the Apennine foothills – Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa and the private operator Italo – and while both will get you to Rome in under four hours, the experiences they offer are subtly different. Here’s how they compare.

Frecciarossa

• Average journey time: 3 hours 45 minutes
• Best for: Travellers looking for the widest choice of departure times, established onboard services and the flexibility of Trenitalia’s loyalty programme (CartaFRECCIA)
• Onboard perks: Free Wi-Fi, at-seat power sockets, a cafe car, and four travel classes – Standard, Premium, Business and Executive – with service levels stepping up significantly at each tier. Business class includes welcome snacks and an at-seat food and drink service, while Executive adds lounge access upon departure and arrival and a full meal service.
• Worth knowing: Some Frecciarossa services to Rome stop at Roma Tiburtina instead of continuing on to Roma Termini, so worth checking your ticket as Tiburtina sits 3km outside the city centre.

Italo

Where Trenitalia has the Frecciarossa, Italy's private rail operator NTV has Italo – a sleek, modern competitor that has been giving the state-owned operator a run for its money since first launching in 2012. Running about 22 direct services between Venice and Rome a day, Italo is particularly popular with travelers looking for great value and a modern onboard experience.

• Average journey time: 3 hours 34 minutes to 3 hours 49 minutes
• Best for: Travellers looking for competitive fares, a contemporary travel environment and the flexibility of Italo's loyalty programme (Italo Più)
• Onboard perks: Free Wi-Fi, reclining leather seats with power outlets, a snack area with vending machines, three travel classes – Smart, Prima and Club Executive. Prima includes extra legroom and complimentary snacks, while Club Executive is a dedicated lounge-style carriage with full hospitality service
• Worth knowing: Italo sometimes offers lower fares than Frecciarossa for the same journey, with advance fares starting from around €29.90. If you’re returning the same day, Italo also offers a flexible round trip deal (A/R in giornata).

Intercity

For travellers looking to keep costs down and aren’t in too much of a hurry, Trenitalia’s Intercity services offer a comfortable alternative to the high-speed options using the conventional rail network. Running at speeds of up to 200 km/h, with several more stops along the route, the journey from Venice to Rome might take longer, but the fares are often considerably cheaper – particularly for last-minute bookings when high-speed advance fares may no longer be available.

• Average journey time:  Around 4 hours, 30 minutes to 5 hours
• Best for: Budget-conscious travellers or those flexible on timing
• Onboard perks:  First and second class with reserved seating, onboard café service on most trains
• Worth knowing: Intercity tickets are priced on a fixed fare basis rather than dynamic pricing, making them a reliable fallback for last-minute travel when Frecciarossa and Italo advance fares have sold out. Intercity Notte overnight services also run between Venice and Rome.

If you’ve arrived in Rome and can’t wait to embark on your own Roman holiday, the good news is that all of the city’s main attractions are within easy reach, thanks to its affordable and frequent metro system. Here are some of the Eternal City's most famous sights closest to the station.

• The Colosseum and Roman Forum

Rome's most iconic landmark is closer to Termini than most visitors realise. Built in 70-80 AD and capable of holding up to 80,000 spectators, the Colosseum is the largest amphitheatre ever constructed and the best-preserved symbol of the Roman Empire. Take metro Line B two stops to Colosseo and you can be standing in front of the Colosseum within 10 minutes of arriving in Rome. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are right alongside, and a single ticket covers all three sites. Book online in advance to avoid the long queues in summer.

• The Vatican and St Peter's Basilica

From Roma Termini, Line A runs direct to Ottaviano station, the closest stop to the Vatican, in around 20 minutes. St Peter's Basilica is free to enter, although a visit to the Dome steps costs from €10 or more, depending on whether you choose to take the lift or climb its 500-plus stairs. For the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel it’s also best to book in advance in high season.

• Piazza di Spagna and the Trevi Fountain

Metro line A also stops at Spagna, right at the foot of the Spanish steps – one of Rome's most theatrical public spaces, and the starting point for exploring the historic centre or luxury shops around Via Condotti on foot. From the steps, it's a 15-minute walk to the Trevi Fountain, where you can throw in a coin or two and ensure your return to Rome, as legend has it.

• Mercato Centrale and the neighbourhood around Termini

If you've just arrived and are in the mood to sample some Roman pizza or pasta (carbonara and cacio pepe are both Roman dishes), skip the station chain restaurants and head upstairs to Mercato Centrale – a multi-level gourmet food hall accessible from the Via Giolitti entrance, with excellent food, wine and gelato from some of Rome's best producers.