Transpiration from Rome to Venice

The best way to get to Venice on the ground is to go out in front of FCO Terminal 3 to the train station there and buy your tickets to Venice. Your first ticket will be for a 30-minute ride on the Leonardo Express to the main Rome train station (Roma-Termini). You change trains there to a very high-speed train that goes to Venice. This train will stop at Florence, Bologna, Padova and Venice Mestre before arriving at Venezia Santa Lucia which is the station you want. 88E-94E for the fare. Trip takes just under 5.0hrs. For train transportation, you have no other choice other than Trenitalia, the primary train system in Italy.

The other part of your question: multiply the price in euros by 1.4 to get the approximate us$ cost. Use your credit card to make the purchase and your cc co will take care of the rest. And be sure to notify them before you leave, what your travel plans will be.

If you are at the airport, why not just continue on to Florence. Probably much quicker and if a part of your original flight, probably cheaper than adding the train.

Holly, My advice would be much the same as Larry posted. When you arrive at FCO, buy your tickets for the Leonardo Express and to Venice at the airport rail station. Take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini (DON'T forget to validate!) and then connect to the Freccia high speed (300 kmH) train to Venice. BE SURE to board ONLY the train specified on your ticket (ie: ES 9710) or you could face hefty fines! As mentioned, your destination station will be Venezia Santa Lucia. Unfortunately, when buying rail tickets on the day of travel you'll be paying "BASE" fare for the Freccia train, which is the highest tier. That's the best method though (IMO), as if you pre-purchase tickets and there are any delays in your flight (meaning you can't connect with the train listed on your ticket), you'll have to buy new tickets at "Base" fare anyway. Although you could consider taking another flight from FCO to Venice, I'm not sure if it will be much (if any) faster, and will certainly be more of a hassle (not too pleasant when tired and jet lagged). You may have to change Terminals and there will also be check-in, security, wait times, loading and de-planing with the "herd", cramped seating and then transfer time in Venice from the airport into the city. I'd much rather sit on a train with comfortable seating and no issues with luggage weights, 3-1-1 bags or whatever. Happy travels!

Ken is correct about the flight hassle IF you have two separate tickets but if you have a flight to Venice as a part of your original ticket, then your luggage is checked through to Venice. It will take the better part of seven, maybe eight hours to get to Venice from the time you land at Rome.

@Frank, "A base fare ticket is fully exchangeable if you miss the train" Is that also true for Super Economy or Economy tickets that were pre-purchased a few months before the travel date? I'll have to do some further research on that point. On the issue of flights, while it's true that luggage will be checked through to final destination if using code share flights, but there's no way to avoid the hassles of a possible terminal change, security and the usual airport "dog & pony show". Even if it takes a bit longer, I'd still prefer to use the train, if just to see the magnificent view walking through the doors of Venezia Santa Lucia and seeing the vista of the Grand Canal right in front of me. Cheers!

If you are going from Charlottesville to Venice you can actually get there faster and for about the same price by flying direct rather than via Rome.

Did you book your airfare already? If not get a open jaw flight. Fly into Venice and depart from Rome. Saves you the 5 hr train travel day once you land in Rome.

Holly, Just to clarify, your end destination will be Schio and not Venice? Could you provide a bit more detail about your Itinerary? As you'll have to arrive at FCO, I'd suggest following the route that I outlined earlier, as it's the simplest and easiest. Take the Leonardo Express to Termini (DON'T forget to validate!) and then use Freccia high speed trains to travel north. On the Freccia trains, second class is perfectly adequate (IMO). I'm not familiar with Schio, but it appears to be a very easy connection via Vicenza. According to the Trenitalia website, that trip will be about 40 minutes via Regionale train (DON'T forget to validate!) and the current cost is listed at €3.55 PP (about US$ 4.95). I'm assuming you have family there? You may find it helpful to have a look at the excellent Ron In Rome website (click the "Transportation" tab). If you could provide more information, it would be easier to offer more detailed suggestions. Cheers!

You are all wonderful!!! I'm a flight attendant and I have to fly into Rome because there are more open seats. I'm still trying to figure out bout the train though... Buy befor or there?? I'm wanting to end up in Schio if possible??? You have given so many suggestions and I thank you so much!! Does anyone know of Schio??

I'd say buy train ticket at the airport, since there a lot of ifs, especially if you are traveling nonrev. A last minute bump? There looks like an hourly connections to Vicenza at 2 before the hour with changes at Rome Tiburtina and Padua. You would be on the local train from Rome airport to Rome Tiburtina, NOT the Leaonardo Express to Rome Termini. At least that's the way Deutsche Bahn sees it. From vicenza you need to proceed by bus to Schio (or rent a car).

Holly, you can easily buy your tickets online before you go. But, it's the highest risk of missing your train because of your flight being late. As a Flight Attendant, you can understand that. When you buy a discounted ticket online in advance, you are locked in to a specific train departing at a specific time. The tickets are non-refundable. If you are late and the train departs, your ticket is toast. If you really must buy tickets in advance and you want the non-refundable ones, then you really must plan for about 3.0hrs out from the time your plane is supposed to land. If everything is on time, you will spend some time waiting for your train. If you are willing to pay the regular base fare, just follow the instructions I provided in the first response above.

You're in luck. Trenitalia services Schio. You would take the high speed train to Padua, and regional trains from Padua to Vicenza and on to Schio. Total travel time from airport is 5.5 to 6.0 hours. Cost for base fare, including Leonardo Express, would be about €95 each way. You can find schedules on the Trenitalia website – use the Tutti i Treni tab.

Thanks guys I can't go better luck next time!!!