Venice to Rome Train or Plane?

The Venice to Roma trip by train is only 3.5 hours and you go from city center to city center. The flight might be shorter from wheels up to wheels down, but you have to go to the airport outside of Venice and land at one outside of Roma. With travel times, security, and waiting, it will take you longer to fly. I'd guess close to 6 hours from door-to-door.

Be sure to book a Frecciarossa train for the fastest train trip. Plus it is far more relaxing than flying!

Train, no contest. If you allow for getting to and from the airport, check-in time etc. a train is quicker city centre to city centre (3h45, less than half a day), and a lot more comfortable.
Look up times and buy tickets on the Italian railways website: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en

The stations you want are Roma Termini and Venezia S. Lucia. If you buy far enough in advance prices start at €35.90

Train from Venice (Venezia S. Lucia ) to Rome (Roma Termini): 3:45 (no change)

Plane:

1. Bus from Venice to airport: 20 minutes
2. Be in airport early: 1 hour
3. Flight: 1 hour 5 minutes
4. Get out of plane, Walking through airport: 30 minutes
5. Train to Rome center: 32 minutes

Total: 3 hour 27 minutes (2 changes)

Your call, but I would prefer to sit quietly in the train and enjoy the scenery, a book, and maybe a packed lunch (Sushi and a bottle of white wine is our usual favorite).

In addition to times mentioned, with a plane you are more likely to have to factor in flight delays. I would take the train.

My experience is that train travel is quality sightseeing time. Air travel is a waste of precious time on the ground.

Train - about twice as fast as a plane. Where did you get the idea that you would spend the day cross country on the train? You can have breakfast in Venice and lunch in Rome. Far, far easier.

Slowest train is an intercity at 6 hrs and 30 Euro and the fastest is 3.30 hrs and 50 Euro for Super Economy ticket.

The more similar votes the better, eh? For all the reasons listed above, no question that train is the best choice. In addition, if you're traveling with more versus less luggage - as cruisers often do - there's no additional fees for baggage or other annoying extras which so bedevil air travelers these days.

And you don't need to spend the extra to travel first class. We never do as 2nd class seating is plenty comfortable and certainly preferable to aircraft coach seats!

Tom - whatever train you're thinking of taking that will cause you to use an entire DAY to travel from Venice to Rome is NOT the one you want.

THere's no question that the "Fast Train" is the best option...no ifs ands or buts!

Train is 3h45min not all day. Likely faster than airplane once you take into account transfer to/from airports and check in/security procedures.

tom,

I most definitely agree with the others - take either the Freccia or Italo high speed trains, which travel at up to 300 km/h. That will be a much more pleasant experience than air travel on that route and also quicker. More importantly no hassles or extra charges for luggage, uncomfortable seating, etc.

I love the trains in Italy and have taken them many times, but I recommend not buying tickets in advance for the high-speed trains in case you miss a train. They are nonrefundable and nontransferable and you will have to buy another ticket. You can buy tickets from the machines in the train station right before you leave. You will need a chip and pin credit card, so be sure to bring one and make sure you contact your credit card company before you leave and tell them you are going to Italy. If you are not sure if your card is chip and pin, call your credit card company for confirmation. There is usually a man at the ticket vending machines to help tourists and we have found them useful. I know Rick doesn't like them! All they expect is a small tip - no they don't work for the trains station, they are on their own and we have always found them to be honest and helpful. They can also give you directions to the right train platforms if they are not in sight of the vending machines. There are different platforms for high-speed vs. slower local trains.