My husband and I are travelling to Italy for the first time. We arrive at FCO at around 1.00pm and need to travel to Venice on the same day, can we get a fast train from the airport or do we need to go to Rome city? We don't want to arrive after dark. I have read that the trains are the preferred option but hoping we don't need to go into Rome city.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16701 posts
There looks to be a train at 15:08 that's direct from Fiumicino Aeroporto to Venezia A. Lucia (4 hours/ 27 minutes) but that's the only one in your approx. time period that doesn't involve at least one change in Rome. I wouldn't pre-purchase tickets in case your flight is delayed.
Explore your options at:
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
Italotreno has other trains to Venice but all of them involve going into Rome Termini or Tiburtina stations to pick them up.
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
There are 2 direct train from the airport every day at 11:08 and 15:08, so that later one is a possibility. But if you miss it, don't be afraid of going into Rome. All you will be doing is getting off of one train and getting on another.
And the train will deposit you at Santa Lucia station, right on the Grand Canal. The airport is on the mainland across the lagoon with a bit of logistics involved getting into Venice proper.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1070 posts
From FCO take either the Leonardo Express or a taxi (48 euro I think is the set rate) to Roma Termini. Then the Freccia (same terminal and frequent trains) line to Venice (no change but stops in Florence). All told, maybe 4 1/2 hours - with some scenery and comfortable seats. I'm sure you might be able to beat that by flying but do the math for time and for expense. Once you fly into Venice you have to get to Venice and then to your hotel. The train lets you skip that last part. What time of the year - that will tell you if it's dark or not. Venice at night is really magical though!
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
From FCO you can also take the cheaper FL1 train to Roma Tiburtina station. The FL1 costs 8 € pp person, the Leonardo Express 14.
Most high speed trains going north stop at Tiburtina Station a few minutes after the departure from Termini.
Trenitalia runs all the trains departing from FCO, but once in Rome you can take either a Trenitalia or an Italotreno high speed train. Italo's trains to northern Italy may be a little slower that Trenitalia's FrecciaRossa 1000, but they are often cheaper.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5653 posts
Flights aren't likely to save you any time. I assume that you're asking thus because you've already bought your flights. There's no guarantee your flight into FCO will be on time, and then you still have the immigration lines and , perhaps, luggage pick up. Then you would have to check in for your flight to Venice before maybe going thru security again before getting to your next gate. No way I'd attempt this with less than a 4 hour window. So you wouldn't be leaving Rome before 5:00. And at the other end you still have to get to Venice from the airport. You'd be getting into S. Lucia about the same time on the train, but without all the rushing around. Whether or not it's still daylight depends on the time of year.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16206 posts
If you land on time, you could catch the Alitalia flight departing at 16:00. The arrival time is 17:05, but by the time you reach Piazzale Roma it’s going to be at least 18:00.
If you take the train at 15:08, you will get at the same point in Venice at 19:35, so approximately 1.5 hours later.
The train, full price, costs €96 per person.