From Rome to Manarola by train

McLau,

For future reference, it's usually more cost effective to purchase tickets directly from Trenitalia or from agencies like ItaliaRail, as they will be able to sell tickets for the entire route.

The easiest solution would be to purchase your ticket at Roma Termini, either from a Kiosk (they're very easy to use) or from the staffed ticket office (usually LONG queues). You could even buy it the day before you travel to Manarola. The train you'll be using will likely be a Regionale, so it won't be usable until it's validated. You MUST validate using one of the track-side machines in La Spezia prior to boarding the train or risk hefty fines. DON'T validate in Rome as the tickets have a shelf life once they're stamped.

If you could provide more specific details on the train you'll be using from Rome to Manarola, it would be easier to offer more detailed suggestions.

Thank you for the quick and informative response. We're planning to purchase the tickets from RailEurope's website. It would be the Trenitalia train from Rome to Manarola and back to Rome.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

McLau,

Just to clarify, you haven't purchased the tickets yet? That should simplify things.

What day and time do you want to travel to Manarola? I'll try to offer a few suggestions.

Ken,

We arrive in Rome on September 13 just before noon. We would go directly from FCO airport to Roma Termini to hop on a train to Manarola. We would return to Rome on September 16 and enjoy a 5 day stay.

Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

McLau,

Thanks for the additional information. As you're arriving on an international flight and travelling directly to Manarola, I'd suggest buying your tickets when you arrive at FCO. It's risky to pre-purchase tickets that involve the premium trains such as the high speed Freccia versions, as the tickets will be specific for only one particular train, date and departure time. If you miss that train because your flight was late, Passport control was backed up or whatever, the tickets will be worthless and you'll have to buy more.

This is the method I'd use under the same circumstances.....

• When you have your checked luggage and are through Passport control, go directly to the airport train station. Buy tickets for the entire journey either at a staffed ticket office or from one of the Kiosks. The journey will consist of three legs:

(1.) FCO to Termini via the Leonardo Express (€14 PP, departures every 30 minutes and the trip is 32 minutes) - DON'T forget to validate your tickets prior to boarding the train, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! THIS short video shows how to validate tickets (note that the machines may also be green & gray coloured). If possible try to connect with the 13:08 departure from FCO as that will get you to Termini in time to connect with the high speed train to La Spezia.

(2.) Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale. If the planets align and you're able to connect with a 13:57 departure from Rome, the trip will be relatively easy. However that's only a 17 minute connection time and if you're not familiar with using trains in Italy, it could be a bit "tight". If you're able to connect with the 13:57 train to La Spezia, it will be a very pleasant trip via high speed train (NOTE: you'll have assigned car and seat numbers, so must only sit in the places listed on your ticket). If you can't connect with that one, the next departure isn't until 14:50 and that one has two changes in Florence and Sarzana and is longer. Note that on the later trip, the last two legs are via Regionale trains, so DON'T forget to validate your tickets prior to boarding the train.

(3.) La Spezia to Manarola - you'll only be making that connection if you use the first departure mentioned above. The second (later) departure goes directly from Sarzana to Manarola.

When you arrive at the airport rail station, you'll have to make a decision on which trains to buy tickets for. This is what you'll have to consider when deciding....

• If you arrive at the FCO station well before 13:00 and there are no queues at the Kiosks or ticket offices, you should be able to buy your tickets and make the 13:08 L.E. departure, so also buy tickets for the 13:57 departure from Roma Termini to La Spezia.
• If you arrive at the FCO station after the 13:08 L.E. has departed, you'll have to buy tickets for the later train mentioned above, which will probably mean using the 13:38 L.E. departure. You can see all the schedule information and train details on the Trenitalia website.

If you use the earlier departure, you'll have to hustle to get from the L.E. to your next train.

One other point to note is that the Freccia and other "premium" trains have compulsory reservations, which are specific to one train, date and departure time and therefore you can ONLY use the one train specified on your ticket. If you're caught without valid reservations (where required) for the train you're riding on, again hefty fines which are collected on the spot!

If you have to use the later departure, you'll have a short layover at Roma Termini. Be sure to watch your luggage and kit, as there may be scammers about. There are lots of restaurants there so you can have a hot meal while you're waiting for the train.

Ken,

WOW!!! Your detail and precise information is truly invaluable! Thank you so very much for the suggestions and guidance. We will definitely travel per your directions once we arrive in Rome.

I'd noticed your responses and insight on the Travel Forum. You're truly an amazing resource to go to. If I have any other questions, I hope you'll be able to help out. Thank you again!

McLau,

Hopefully it should all work out as I've described. It sounds complicated, but it shouldn't be all that difficult.

Buon Viaggio!

Thanks, Ken. We certainly agree with not pre-purchasing train tickets that are dependent on flight arrival.