How to travel from Rome to Milan

How to travel from Rome to Milan?

Travelers who are hoping to make the journey from Rome to Milan will have a broad range of transportation options available to them every day of the week. The journey of 356 miles (572 km) can be covered by train, bus or plane and, typically, between these three modes there are more than 100 service options scheduled each day. For those who are looking to make the Rome to Milan journey a weekend trip, flights may be the best travel option since flights typically take about 1h 10min. Those who want to enjoy the city for a longer trip can take advantage of buses and trains, which can run roughly around 7h, on average. In Milan, journeyers will want to explore architectural works, like the Duomo di Milano or the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

What is the cheapest way to get from Rome to Milan?

The most cost-savvy way for travelers to make the trip from Rome to Milan is via bus. Each day of the week there is a consistent schedule of direct bus service options available provided by Itabus and, to a lesser extent, Autoservizi Salemi and Flixbus—typically, services leave Rome from Autostazione Tiburtina or the FCO airport, they then arrive at Milan’s Autostazione Lampugnano or San Donato M3.

On average, these routes can take customers between about 6h 50min and 7h 30min; however, with the rare bus option that does include a single transfer, the trip can take upwards of about 12h. It’s important to note that while the cheapest tickets from Rome to Milan are for buses, the bus journeys are the lengthiest of the three available travel options. To ensure booking from Rome to Milan the cheapest way, prospective passengers will want to book in advance of travel and review their eligibility for potential discounts. The Rome to Milan cost is even less mid-week, so passengers who have flexibility regarding travel dates may want to take advantage of this benefit.

What is the fastest way to travel from Rome to Milan?

The quickest travel time from Rome to Milan will typically be offered via plane, and this includes consideration of check-in and waiting time at the airport. Between about 10 and 20 flights are on the schedule every day of the week and, typically, a majority of those options are offered by ITA as direct service options; these non-stop options can generally take about 1h 10min. That said, there are some one-stop options that may take much longer. Flights to Milan from Rome will depart from Rome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and arrive at Milan Linate Airport (LIN).

Tourists checking a map in Rome. Source: Shutterstock

Find the best tickets from Rome to Milan and book withOmio

Travelers exploring options for round-trip tickets or one-way tickets for a Rome-Milan trip will likely appreciate the ability to evaluate journey options pulled from a variety of transportation companies and presented for a number of departure times. TheOmio booking platform does this. The platform lets users look at options from Rome to Milan side-by-side, then select the best-suited one. The site also caters to travelers by supporting their ability to search in their preferred language. The parameters of the search dictates the results; results are clearly displayed and can be filtered, which helps users narrow options based on departure time, transportation vehicle and more. Once a ticket is purchased, it’s then made accessible on the user’s mobile device. Travelers are encouraged to visit theOmio magazine Window Seat for travel tips.

Trains from Rome to Milan

Trains offer passengers with the greatest number of weekly departure options. On average, there are nearly 80 daily departures operating the route from Rome to Milan run by either Trenitalia or Italo. Because these routes run on average around 6h 42min—with quicker options running about 2h 59min—they’re a good option for those with schedule flexibility and who are planning to spend significant time in Milan. A vast majority of the options available will operate directly, with a small handful of routes requiring a transfer. Italo services, while less frequent, generally operate a more consistent duration; Trenitalia options run the route with a variety of train types, which makes for a broader discrepancy in duration. Routes leave Rome from Ostiense, Termini and Tiburtina, which are 3.2 miles (5.2 km), .3 miles (550 m) and 2.8 miles (4.6 km) from the city center, respectively. They can be reached via Cotral bus, local train, the ATAC subway, and taxi or rideshare. Upon arrival, trains arrive at either Centrale, Rogoredo or Porta Garibaldi, from which the city center is 1.7 miles (2.8 km), 5.4 miles (8.7 km) and 2.3 miles (3.7 km), respectively. From each station the Milan Trams, subway, and taxis or rideshares are available.

Train travel from Rome to Milan with Trenitalia

Trenitalia offers the most number of train services for the route. The Trenitalia Rome to Milan journey leaves Rome from one of tree stations: Ostiense, Termini or Tiburtina. The trains arrive in Milan at either Centrale, Rogoredo or Porta Garibaldi. Options run most hours of each day and are serviced by a variety of train types, such as the Frecciabianca and Frecciarossa, which are fast trains, and the Intercity, InterCityNotte and Regionale. Because of this, the journeys can take anywhere from 2h 59min to 9h 49min. The train type variety also means that the cost per ticket can vary dramatically, too. Rides on InterCityNotte trains, for example, are almost priced competitively with bus journeys.

Night train travel from Rome to Milan with Trenitalia

There are a handful of night train options run by Trenitalia. Typically, these evening options will depart from Rome roughly around 7:50 p.m. or just around midnight, then arrive in Milan either around 12:35 a.m., or the following morning around 6:55 a.m. or close to 10:00 a.m. As with most train routes on the schedule, these journey durations vary, running between about 4h 45min and 9h 39min. With night trains, passengers can get in a full day at either end of their journey. Additionally, they may depart from any one of the three Rome train stations, then arrive in Milan at either Centrale or Porta Garibaldi.

Buses from Rome to Milan

There is a consistent bus schedule operating from Rome to Milan each day. Typically, there are around 185 weekly routes, with roughly 24 daily options Tuesdays through Sundays and about 41 options on Mondays. Service operates between about 6:00 a.m. and 11:45 p.m., with one route leaving Rome around 1:45 a.m. Almost all options each week run directly, with Itabus providing a majority of the services. Buses will depart Rome from either Autostazione Tiburtina or Ciampino, which are 2.1 miles (3.4 km) and 9.5 miles (15.3 km) from the city center respectively. In Milan, buses will arrive at either Autostazione Lampugnano or San Donato M3, from which the city center is 4.3 miles (7 km) or 5.5 miles (8.9 km), respectively. In Rome, there are taxis, rideshares, Cotral buses, local trains and the ATAC subway available; Milan has taxis, rideshares, and the Milan Trams subway and buses.

Traveling by bus from Rome to Milan with Itabus

The Itabus Rome to Milan routes operate every single day of the week. Typically, buses will leave Rome from either Autostazione Tiburtina or Ciampino. The Rome to Milan price per ticket is consistently low throughout the week and is the most affordable route option for any transportation vehicle. Each week, there are around 140 Itabus options, with about 20 daily routes departing Mondays through Sundays. Operation is between 7:15 a.m. 11:45 p.m. The affordability of these travel options means journeyers can invest their budget upon arrival in Milan.

Flights from Rome to Milan

There are anywhere between 10 and 20 flights departing Rome for Milan each week, with a majority of each day’s routes running directly. Flights are typically run by either ITA or Air France; however, those operated by Air France are usually just on weekends and often include a single layover in Paris, which results in a lengthier trip. Flights typically take off from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO), then arrive at Milan Linate Airport (LIN). From Rome’s city center to the airport is about 18 miles (29 km), which is easily reached by taxi, rideshare, Leonardo Express train or TerraVision IT bus. From the airport in Milan to the city center is about 4.8 miles (7.7 km), which is reachable via rideshare, taxi or Milan tram.

Flying from Rome to Milan with ITA

A majority of the flights that fly from Rome to Milan will be operated by ITA. The air carrier operates a consistent schedule that provides travelers with passage all seven days of the week. What’s more, a majority of the services on the schedule are direct; direct service typically runs about 1h 10min, a pace that gives travelers ample time at their destination. ITA’s Rome to Milan flights will take off from Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and arrive at Milan Linate Airport (LIN).

To Milan by train / bus / flight—travel tips

Journeyers may want to choose the cheapest way to get from Rome to Milan, so that they can use their travel budget upon arrival, since the city of Milan offers a wealth of exciting activities to visitors. For a bit of culture, journeyers will want to check out the Duomo di Milano, known as one of the largest cathedrals in all of Italy. The Catholic church begun work on the building in the late 14th century and, over the years, it has evolved and been expanded—it’s considered to have been completed in the mid-20th century. For those who are lucky enough to visit Milan during opera season, the Teatro Alla Scala should top their list. The gilded theater was constructed in 1778 and, here, opera-goers can enjoy the classic works from composers like Verdi and Puccini. For a more self-driven adventure, travelers may want to check out I Navigli, a canal-side walk that offers intriguing vistas. At night, the path boasts access to restaurants and a number of thriving nightclubs.

The Cathedral in Milan. Source: Shutterstock

Inspirational content

While the city of Milan is renowned for its business, culture and history, it is also chockful of options for the style-incline traveler. The city is the fashion capital of Italy and, as such, boasts a number of shopping areas worth a visit, including:

• Via Montenapoleone, in Milan’s so-called Golden Quarter
• Corso di Porta Ticinese, located near Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore
• Basilica San Lorenzo Maggiore, thought to be the longest shopping street in Europe
• Corso Venezia, an exclusive area in the city’s Porta Venezia district
• Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, situated in the heart of the city

How to Travel from Rome to Milan

Travelers in Italy journey between Rome and Milan frequently for both business and leisure. It is convenient to travel from Rome to Milan by plane, train or bus with direct routes departing multiple times per day. Key departure points in Rome include Rome Termini bus station, Rome Tiburtina train station, and Rome Fiumicino airport.

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