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Roma / Rome to Napoli / Naples by train
How to take a rail journey from Rome/Roma to Napoli/Naples
The 'Frecce' trains operated by Trenitalia share the high-speed route between Roma and Napoli, with Italo trains.
They have similar speeds, so the differences between them are to do with the on-board experiences, check out the 'Trains' guides below; and the fact that tickets for the Italo trains and Frecce trains can be purchased from different online booking agents - it's a route on which you can save by booking in advance.
However, some trains from Roma to Napoli still take the older 'classic' route, so they're slower, because they don't travel at high speed and also make more station calls
If ticket price and not speed is your key criteria, you can usually save money by taking these trains and they're a cheaper option for rail pass users, but they are not as frequent as the high speed services.
From Rome to the Pompeii ruins or Sorrento by train:
It's a straightforward journey from Rome to Pompeii or Sorrento by train and you can avoid the Neapolitan traffic.
The first step is to take a train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale and it's worth taking the high speed trains; as they will save you more than two hours of travel time.
Napoli Centrale station is linked by a passage way to Napoli Garibaldi station, which has departures to both Pompei Scavi (the nearest station to the ruins) and Sorrento by Circumvesuviana trains.
It's not a particularly complicated interchange, but you will need to purchase tickets for the Circumvesuviana trains on arrival in Napoli.
The journey time from Napoli to Sorrento is around 1hr 5 mins, and to Pompeii S. Villa Misteri by Circumvesuviana trains takes only around 35 mins.
Check the Napoli Centrale station guide for more info.
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Routes
Option 1: taking the high speed Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Journey Summary
1hr 7min - 1hr 12min (Frecce trains)
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Napoli or Salerno or Taranto or Reggio di Calabria
A few departures per day are by Frecciargento train, but the Frecciarossa 1000 and Frecciarossa trains are used on most departures.
Most of these Frecce trains are non-stop between central Rome and central Naples and they all travel at more than 275 km/h for most of the journey.
The Rome to Naples high speed line isn't particularly scenic, what gives this journey a wow factor is the rather fabulous trains and travelling at up to 290 km/h for the majority of the journey.
1 - 3 x trains per hour
Tickets
Book early and save:** Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed train (AV) service between Roma and Napoli is provided by:
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
(2) alternative Italo trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for these Trenitalia trains.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Alternative money saving options:
You can usually save money by avoiding the high speed trains when travelling from Rome to Napoli
When the cheapest 'Super Economy' tickets are still available on the alternative Intercity (IC) trains those trains are usually the cheapest option of all.
Though if you want to compare the price of the Intercity trains with both these Frecce trains AND the Italo trains, you will need to look up the journey on Omio or Trainline.
When the cheapest discounted tickets for the Intercity trains have sold out, the even slower Regionale Veloce (RV) become the cheaper option for a journey by train from Rome to Naples/Napoli
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, you'll save by taking those RV trains.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.
How to book the rail pass reservations online is included on our guide to using rail passes in Italy.
Though rail pass users can save money by taking the Intercity trains or Regionale Veloce trains.
Rail passes aren't valid on the Italo trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trenitalia | from €19.90 | |
| Italiarail | from €19.90 | |
| Trainline | from €19.90 | |
| Omio | from €19.90 | |
| SaveATrain | from €19.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Some of these trains also call at: Napoli Afragola
If you're heading to Napoli/Naples city centre, then book tickets to Napoli Centrale station, also take care not to leave the train when it calls at Napoli Afragola if you are heading to Napoli Centrale, the station call after Afragola is Centrale.
Option 2: taking the high speed Italo trains
Journey Summary
1hr 7min - 1hr 11min
Daily
Travel Information
**Final Destination: Napoli or Salerno or Taranto or Reggio di Calabria
Most of these Italo trains are non-stop between central Rome and central Naples and they all travel at more than 275 km/h for most of the journey.
The Rome to Naples high speed line isn't particularly scenic, what gives this journey a wow factor is the speed of these trains.
14 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 5 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Roma and Napoli is provided by
(1) these Italo trains
(2) Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 4 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 5 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day - so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Rail passes are not valid on the Italo trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Italo | from €14.90 | |
| Omio | from €14.90 | |
| Trainline | from €14.90 | |
| Happyrail | from €14.90 | |
| Happyrail | from €14.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Some of these trains also call at: Napoli Afragola
If you're heading to Napoli/Naples city centre, then book tickets to Napoli Centrale station, also take care not to leave the train when it calls at Napoli Afragola if you are heading to Napoli Centrale, the station call after Afragola is Centrale.
Option 3: taking the Intercity trains
Journey Summary
2hr 5min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Siracusa or Reggio de Calabria or Salerno
Some of the trains from Roma to Napoli still take the older 'classic' route and the fastest trains along this railway line are the Intercity trains
The most heavily discounted 'Super Economy' tickets for these trains can be the cheapest tickets of all, when taking a train from Rome to Naples.
Though when those cheapest tickets for these trains have sold out, you can save money by taking the slower Regionale Veloce trains.
8 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
If you want to travel for the cheapest possible price between Roma and Napoli then book ahead when the 'Super Economy' tickets for these Intercity trains are still available.
When they're still on sale, they are even cheaper than the alternative Regionale Veloce trains.
Using Eurail or InterRail Passes:
Rail pass users
Target these IC trains if you want to save €10 on rail pass reservation fees.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of remaining in the same seat for the entire journey, paying the optional €3 reservation fee to travel by Intercity trains is virtually essential.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| ItaliaRail | from €9.90 | |
| Trenitalia | from €9.90 | |
| Trainline | from €9.90 | |
| Omio | from €9.90 | |
| SaveATrain | from €9.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Option 4: taking the RV trains
Journey Summary
2hr 14 min - 2hr 44min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Napoli
When the most heavily discounted 'Super Economy' tickets for the alternative Intercity trains have sold out these Regionale Veloce (RV) trains are the slowest, but cheapest option for Rome to Naples train journeys.
If you will be booking tickets last minute at the station, you can make a big saving by taking these trains; though they're always a cheaper option than taking the high speed Frecce and Italo trains.
Mon - Sat = 12 x trains per day
There is usually 1 x train per hour (the service is hourly after 12:00)
Sunday = 9 x trains
Tickets
Book early and save: No (not on these trains)
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
If you will buying at the station on the day of travel then it's likely that you will save around €15 by taking these trains and not the high speed Frecce or Italo trains.
Rail pass users can simply hop onto these trains.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trenitalia | from €11 approx | |
| Italiarail | from €11 approx |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
As seats can't be reserved on these trains, aim to be waiting on the concourse at Roma Termini, ticket(s) in hand, when the binari (platform/track) that the train will be departing from is confirmed.
You won't save money if you book tickets for a journey by these RV trains in advance, but it's worth confirming the departure times on Trenitalia, even if you will be buying tickets at the station
If you want to buy tickets at Roma Termini, then it's a good idea to be at the station a minimum of 40 mins before the train departs.
Buying tickets from a Trenitalia ticket machine is usually quicker than purchasing at the ticket office, but at busy times there can be lengthy queues for the machines.
Also these trains can depart from binari (platforms/tracks) which are some distance from the main concourse.
Don't forget to stamp your ticket before boarding these trains.
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