You can get from Rome to Milan in less than three hours by train — how’s that for fast fashion?
Endless reasons have brought you to the Eternal City, and countless more will send you on day trips to Italy’s other iconic cities. With a central train station just as stunning as its threads, Milan is a must-visit destination.
From ruins to runway, the train is the best way to get from Rome to Milan.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Gary Yeowell. Image Location: Milan, Italy
At a glance: train from Rome to Milan
- Rome’s station: Roma Termini
- Milan’s station: Milano Centrale
- How far is Roma Termini to Milano Centrale by train: 297 miles
- Fastest duration for high-speed trains: 2h 52m
- Average duration for general trains: 3h 30m
- Number of trains per day: 50
- Ticket prices: As low as $16.81 when you book in advance
- Earliest departure: 5:38 AM
- Latest departure: 23:55 PM
Is a day trip to Milan from Rome worth it?
Milan is one of the best day trips from Rome and a quick trip to the city is totally worth a few hours away from the Colosseum’s queues. With limited time in the city, you still have oodles of time to shop Milan’s trendy boutiques, grab a bite at a café, and stroll around a museum or two.
How far is Milan from Rome by train?
Milan and Rome are separated by approximately 300 miles of Italian landscape — a similar distance to driving between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. But instead of trading chili for pierogies, you’re swapping cacio e pepe for risotto alla Milanese.
How long is the journey from Rome to Milan by train?
Milan to Rome by train takes roughly three hours. That means you can use the free WiFi on the train to watch Netflix’s Murder Mystery — which was filmed in Milan — twice.
How often is the train from Rome to Milan?
There are 50-ish trains per day departing from Rome to Milan, which leaves your schedule spoiled. Wake up early, see Palatine Hill, check out the Roman Forum, then hit Milan for lunch. Alternatively, you could grab a quick cappuccino, head to Milan, then be back in Rome for a ghost tour around the Colosseum.
How much is a train ticket from Rome to Milan?
Train tickets from Rome to Milan start as low as $20, but that’s when booking in advance. Full disclosure: prices can escalate quickly. If you wanted to hop a train right now from Rome to Milan, tickets for a mid-afternoon ride reach $100 or more. Book train tickets in advance on the Trainline app and save money before you even get to Rome.
What is the cheapest way to get from Rome to Milan?
The cheapest way to get from Rome to Milan is by train when you factor in speed and convenience. Tickets from $20 make train travel between Rome and Milan a great deal. Sure, a bus ticket could cost half the price; but it would also take you on an uncomfortable journey that would last three-times as long.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Busà Photography. Image Location: Milan, Italy
Is there a direct high-speed train from Rome to Milan?
Yes, there is a direct high-speed train from Rome to Milan. Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa high-speed trains run between Roma Termini and Milano Centrale daily.
Is the train from Rome to Milan scenic?
The train from Rome to Milan has scenic portions: you are riding through the Tuscan countryside, after all. It’s not the epic view you’d get, say, taking the train to the Alps or through Cinque Terre, but we assure you that the scene outside your window will distract you from the screen in your hand.
Is one day enough for Milan?
Unfortunately, one day is not enough to see everything Milan has to offer — but rarely is there an Italian city that you can conquer in a day (unless your name is Hannibal). But you can have an awesomely fulfilling visit to Milan in a single day that includes shopping, eating, strolling, and museum-hopping.
Why is Milan famous?
Milan is famous for its fashion industry and its shopping scene, which includes the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The world’s top fashion houses all have an address in Milan; and from an architectural perspective, we’d go so far as to say Milan’s claim to fame is also that its cityscape is dressed as stunning as its mannequins.
Is Milan a walkable city?
Yes, Milan is a walkable city, particularly if you’re sticking to the tourist trail emanating from the city center. Sites like Europark, Acquatica Park, Pirelli HangarBicocca, and Forum - Milano are a few steps too far; but, thankfully, Milan’s metro system is well-connected from the core to the crust of the city.
Image Credit: Getty Images, undefined undefined. Image Location: Milan, Italy
Is Milan or Rome more beautiful?
Italy wears all of its cities well; Rome and Milan are no exception. Rome has a more well-worn look, showing that its ancient style does not fade with age. Milan is often a new dress off-the-rack, rocked with jewelry passed down through generations. Both cities are beautiful in their own charming ways; it’s personal preference, not a matter of record, on which is most stunning.
Is Milan cheaper than Rome?
Rome is generally cheaper than Milan from a food + hotel perspective, but both can be budget friendly. If you want elevated dining and shopping, Milan will milk your coin purse. If you’re seeing every exhibit imaginable, then Rome’s museum and attraction costs will add up faster.
Can you visit Milan on a budget?
Milan can totally be a budget-friendly city if you’re not funding a haute couture lifestyle. There’s no shame in rolling into Milan with your faux-Gucci luggage set and scouting the filming locations for House of Gucci for free. The Museum of Cultures, Museum of Natural History; Casa Mangini Bonomi; and viewing Leonardo’s Last Supper are among the museums that have free admission throughout the month.
Is Milan expensive for food?
Milan is a major Italian metropolitan city which means menus are as diverse as its fashion trends. You can throw down all of your Euro for exceptional eats at the Michelin-starred Horto, Sadler, and Enrico Bartolini al Mudec. Prefer street eats that only cost you coins? Mercato Centrale has bodacious, budget-friendly bites near the Milano Porta Garibaldi train station.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Nikada. Image Location: Milan, Italy
How much does a meal cost in Milan?
Expect to spend between $25 and $50 per meal in Milan, depending on who you’re eating with and what you want on your table. You can definitely dine out for $20 per person and load up on a fantastic Italian meal but do remember that slapping a €20 down doesn’t usually include wine with your food.
How much is a cup of coffee in Milan?
Listen: you can snag an espresso for €1 and a cappuccino or Americano for a note or two more, just make sure you’re drinking it on the Italian schedule. Milky coffee is a morning beverage, a caffe macchiato in the afternoon is an acceptable pick me up, and an espresso is a post-meal sipper in the evenings.
How much does a pizza cost in Milan?
A €3 slice is within reach in Milan, while whole pizzas can range from €10 or more depending on the toppings and circumference. Speaking of shape, you will find thin crust, deep dish, and even small-cubed cuts if you look hard enough (hint: Spontini Pizzeria).
How to get to Lake Como from Milan?
So, you’ve traveled from Rome to Milan by train and you realize that Lake Como is close enough to cram into your itinerary.
Marvelous.
Your best bet is to take the train from Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi to Como San Giovanni. The journey time will range between 40 and 60 minutes, respectively. This train route runs around the clock, which means you can casually explore Como and maybe take a boat ride or two without feeling like you’ll be stranded at the station via a missed train.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Francesco Vaninetti Photo. Image Location: Milan, Italy
