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Trenitalia Tickets, FCO to Venice

Posted by (Salem) on

I'm hoping to get some input regarding train tickets from the Rome airport to Venice.

A friend and I are scheduled to land at FCO at 9:15 AM on Monday, April 1. Trains depart from FCO to Venice S. Lucia at 10:38 (arrive at 15:34) and 11:38 (arrive at 16:34). Today, the 10:38 ticket costs 106 Euro per person and the 11:38 train costs 90 Euro per person.

We are only traveling with carry-on luggage, hold American passports, and have no mobility issues that'll keep us from walking as quickly as possible from the plane to passport control.

I'd appreciate guidance about:
(1) Assuming that the plane lands on time, is it reasonable to purchase the 10:38 ticket with the expectation that we'd get through passport control in that timeframe?
(2) If we purchase the 10:38 but get delayed with flight or passport control, is it possible to transfer the ticket to the 11:38 train? Is this easy or will it cost more money?
(3) If we wait to buy tickets at the FCO counter, will tickets by significantly more expensive or sold out? This was my original plan.

Posted by
1746 posts
  1. No. I don’t think it is safe to assume that all the stars will align, your flight will land on time and with certainty you’ll be able to run the gauntlet of Passport Control and Customs at FCO in time to catch the 10:38 train. Is it likely? Probably. Is it a certainty? No. The next train is at 11:38, and that is the one I would book if there are no other options.
  2. If you buy a changeable ticket, you will have to get a refund of your unused ticket minus a €10 change fee and then purchase a new ticket at the last-minute walk up rate. That is certain to be more expensive than the one you bought 84 days in advance.
  3. The replacement train ticket will likely be more expensive just as tomorrow’s tickets on the same 10:38 and 11:38 trains are running about $132 and $136 respectively. One of these two trains is on the verge of being completely sold out, according to Trenitalia. That could be because on January 8 there will be strikes at major Italian airports
Posted by
7645 posts

Hi Meredith, to answer your third question, enter your route on trenitalia.com for your desired date of travel and compare it to today or tomorrow’s date to see how much more it will cost. If it’s less than €25, I would buy it when you arrive. Your plane could be late, etc.

You could always take the airport train into Roma Termini and have an early lunch there or nearby while you wait for the next train if you have an extra hour to wait. The Leonardo Express runs every half hour. (Don’t choose the one that requires an extra connection.)

If you want to purchase ahead of time, I would choose the 12:36pm from Roma Termini that arrives at Venezia S. Lucia at 16:34. And just buy a ticket at the airport for the next train that goes to Roma Termini. Then you’re not spending any waiting buffer time stuck at the airport.

Posted by
6992 posts

There are no direct trains from FCO to Venice
All require a change at Termini ( or Tiburtina)

Best advice is to wait til day of
If you download the Termini app you can purchase tickets once you are thru passport control

You’ll be taking the Leonardo Express from the airport to Termini

ETA
My mistake there in ONE direct train a day that leaves FCO at 1:53pm
I wouldn’t wait around at airport for that
Although if your flight is really late and passport takes long you might have lunch at airport then take that 1:53

Posted by
1035 posts

...you’ll be able to run the gauntlet of Passport Control and Customs at FCO...

In regard to getting through immigration at FCO - my experience back in November, arriving on ITA from Los Angeles, was that it was a non-stop, very long walk from the gate to baggage claim. There was a large bank of kiosks to scan passports, then a perfunctory stamp by a live agent. No queue anywhere.

Of course, YMMV. It was a very simple, high-tech process.

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