Venice to Rome train with Italo

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!

An Italo high-speed train at Rome Termini station.

An Italo train on the track, seen from a platform in Venice.

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!

A comfortable, red leather solo seat in Italo's first-class section.

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 & 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.