Hi All! We'll be in Sicily with the April 2024 tour group & very excited to experience the magic! At the close of the tour, we're thinking to travel from Sicily to Rome to catch our departing flight to the US. Does anybody know about the train travel; scenery; cost; etc? Is it a worthwhile experience to extend our time in Italy with another mode of transportation? Any clues or feedback is welcome!
Posted by
Wengen
2448 posts
The train is not a fast way to make this trip, but it is an interesting one. This is the only train line in Europe where trains are still put on ferries, in order to cross from Sicily to Rome. However they also offer train+ferry+train combo's that are faster. (Moving people from train to boat is quicker than loading cars on a boat).
See on www.trenitalia.com
There are a couple of day time trains, as well as night time trains. We one took the day time train down (to Siracusa), and then returned on the night train from Palermo. We got ourselves a pic-nic from the market in Palermo (bread, cheese, sausage, fruit, a bottle of wine) and had quite a nice ride. Up to Messina (where the train is loaded on the ferry) they kept the compartment in day mode. That is not something you see often on night trains anymore.
If you go by day its going to be a long day, but it is a nice route.
There are also two night trains from Palermo, and also from Siracusa. The train that originates in Siracusa has special Excelsior sleepers, where you have en suite bathrooms. I have not travelled on these, only on the deluxe sleepers.
Do it for the experience, not just to get to Rome. If you just want ot quickly return to Rome just fly.
Some info on those trains here: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/trains-to-sicily.htm#Sleeper_trains
Posted by
Washington DC
27812 posts
I had a miserable, sleepless night in a couchette on the night train from Rome to Catania. I assumed the problem was the tracks; the rail car jerked constantly from side to side. But a few other folks have taken that night train and not had the same experience, so perhaps the issue was the specific couchette carriage I was in, or the location of the compartment within the carriage. Maybe it was positioned right over the wheels? Whatever the reason, it was horrible.
However smooth the ride may be, the train will make quite a lot of stops during the night, so you'd be smart to consider whether you'll sleep through the activity at all those stations. You can see the list of stops on trenitalia.com if you click the little circled "i" to the right of the word "Details" in the entry for the train you're considering.