How to Get from Milan to Rome on Your Own and... Cheap?

The road - how to get from Milan to Rome by car?

How to get from Milan to Rome quickly and inexpensively: by train, bus or car? Distance, travel time, timetable, ticket prices 2026. Why few people get to Rome from Milan by plane, what an independent tourist should know – in the Eurotraveler article.

Milan is the second most important city in Italy. And, apparently, the first in terms of shopping opportunities in branded stores.

But when it comes to what to visit in Milan, most tourists get lost. And on the move, he will confidently announce the only attraction – the carved Duomo, the Milan Cathedral.

Apparently, this is the main reason that tourists rarely devote more than 2 days of their precious time to the capital of Lombardy. That is why there is such an impressive flow of those who intend to continue their journey through Italy soon.

For example, by going on a short visit somewhere else, even to her capital?! Why not, if you can get from Milan to Rome in just 3 hours with a short tail? Without resorting to the help of an airplane, by the way!

How to Get There by Train

Anyone who has ever ventured across Italy by car has seen the swift caterpillar-like silhouettes flying along the expressway. And he only had time to sigh enviously, watching the train train instantly turn into a dot on the horizon.

Yes, the “Red Arrows” ploughing the Apennine Peninsula in all directions are very fast. And they cover the 500 km distance between Milan and Rome in just over 3 hours.

Tickets can hardly be called cheap, but it’s not a sin to overpay for convenience, comfort and speed. Fast trains run at intervals of 10-40 minutes, detailed schedules and prices are available on the official website of the Italian state (!) railways www.trenitalia.com.

If you are not in a hurry, you can use the “long-running” Intercity direct train. He covers the distance in 6.5 long hours, but tickets are sometimes 2 times cheaper.

Note that Intercity arrives at Rome’s Tiburtina Train Station, not at Termini like Frecciarossa. Both of these key transport hubs, however, are installed in the metro system (how to use the Rome metro), and are located 4 stops apart.

On a note! Trenitalia offers discounts for children under the age of 15 by providing them with free travel on the Frecciarossa and Intercity (Bimbi Gratis) trains. To take advantage of the offer, read the information carefully: www.trenitalia.com/en/offers/bimbi_gratis.html.

Where to Stay

Living near Termini Station is a natural aspiration for a traveler who has arrived in Rome for a few days from Milan. After all, first of all, you will be located almost within walking distance from the main attractions of the “Eternal City”. And secondly, pay reasonable money for the placement.

However, everything has its downside. In the case of Termini, this is the general disadvantage of the area, and the abundance of dubious personalities – not everyone will risk walking here in the evening.

Actually, that’s why we advise you to stay away from the train station. For example, in the not too expensive and cozy B&B hotel Alle Porte di San Giovanni near Piazza San Giovanni and the metro station of the same name. The Colosseum and Roman Forum are a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Not in a hurry…

Bus

If you think this is the cheapest way to get to Rome from Milan, then think in the right direction. Since the ticket price for an adult passenger starts from €14-15.

Departure is from Autostazione Lampugnano near the metro station of the same name, it happens that flights depart from San Donato or Assago, other stations of the Milan metro. Buses arrive at Tiburtina in Rome or directly at Anagnina Bus Station. Travel time: 7.5 to 11 hours – depends on the time of departure.

By Car

The minimum distance between Milan and Rome by highway is 570 km, travel time is from 6 to 7.5 hours. You will have to pay from €40-45 for toll roads, and another €70 will be spent on fuel payments.

Add to this the cost of renting a car and estimate the labor costs. And then think about it – do you need it?

Only locals who are well-versed in their own metropolis can find free parking in the Italian capital. Most experienced tourists prefer to park their cars in intercept parking lots near metro stations – this is the most convenient and cheapest way.

By Plane

The flight duration from Milan’s Linate Airport to Rome’s Fumicino is about 1’10. A ticket for a regular Alitalia flight can be found for ~ €40 if you take care of the issue a couple of months before the trip.

You can get to Linate Airport, which serves domestic flights, for example, by bus number 73 from the Milan Duomo M1 stop. The duration of the trip is about an hour. Planes arrive in the capital Fiumicino.

The most progressive way to get from Fiumicino to Rome is the Leonardo express train. It runs every 15 minutes and is on the road for just over half an hour. The ticket costs €14, and children under 12 years of age, no more than one per accompanying adult, travel free of charge: www.trenitalia.com/it/treni_regionali/lazio/leonardo_express.html.

If you are not in a hurry, you can save money. Since there are many regular bus services from Fiumicino Airport to Termini or Tiburtina Station, as well as other stations of the Rome metro. Tickets for them cost from €7 one way, and from €12 if you immediately buy both “there” and “back”.