Train Stations

Roma Termini Train Station: A Practical Guide

Roma Termini Train Station: A Practical Guide

Roma Termini is Rome’s main railway station. Visitors sometimes search for “Rome Central Station,” but the official name shown on tickets and departure boards is Roma Termini.

It is the main departure point for high-speed trains, regional services and the Leonardo Express to Fiumicino Airport. The station has 32 platforms and is larger than it first appears.

Station at a Glance

  • Official name: Roma Termini
  • Common abbreviation: Roma Termini
  • Address: Piazza dei Cinquecento, Rome
  • Main operators: Trenitalia and Italo
  • Metro lines: A and B
  • Airport connection: Leonardo Express to Fiumicino Airport
  • Main entrances: Piazza dei Cinquecento, Via Marsala and Via Giolitti

Trains from Roma Termini

Direct high-speed trains connect Rome with:

  • Florence
  • Milan
  • Bologna
  • Venice
  • Naples
  • Turin
  • Verona
  • Salerno
  • Bari

Regional and intercity trains run to destinations including:

  • Civitavecchia
  • Tivoli
  • Frascati
  • Orvieto
  • Cassino
  • Nettuno
  • Latina
  • Perugia

Rome has several railway stations. Some trains use Roma Tiburtina, Roma Ostiense or Roma San Pietro instead. Check the complete station name before travelling.

How Early Should You Arrive?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Allow 40 minutes if you have luggage, need to buy a ticket or are unfamiliar with the station.

Platforms are often announced shortly before departure. Check your train number as well as the destination, because the board usually shows the train’s final stop.

For example, a train stopping in Florence may be displayed as “Milano Centrale” because Milan is its final destination.

The Italian word for platform is binario.

Finding Your Platform

Most platforms are directly behind the main departure concourse, but several are much farther away.

This is one of the most important things to know about Roma Termini:

  • Platforms 1 East and 2 East: About 500 metres beyond platform 1
  • Platforms 25 to 29: About 500 metres beyond platform 24
  • Platform 15: Reached by continuing along platform 14
  • Platform 18: Reached by continuing along platform 17
  • Platform 20 bis: Reached by continuing along platform 20

If your platform includes Est, meaning “East,” start walking as soon as it appears on the board. Reaching these platforms can take 10 minutes, especially with luggage.

RFI provides an official guide to the platforms at Roma Termini.

Tickets are checked at the entrance to the platform area, so keep your ticket or QR code ready.

Official Live Departures and Arrivals

For current platforms, delays, cancellations and service notices, use the official RFI monitor:

Check live departures from Roma Termini

You can switch between Departures and Arrivals at the top of the page.

Check the monitor again when you reach the station. Platforms can change, and the information on your original booking may not show the final platform.

Tickets and Validation

Trenitalia and Italo have ticket machines and staffed ticket offices inside the station.

High-speed tickets are normally valid only for the booked train and include a reserved seat.

For regional trains, check whether your ticket needs to be validated. Paper regional tickets may require validation before boarding. For digital tickets, follow the instructions shown in the app or booking confirmation.

Do not accept help from strangers standing beside ticket machines. Use the official ticket office or ask uniformed railway staff.

Getting to Central Rome

Roma Termini is served by two metro lines:

  • Metro A: Useful for the Spanish Steps, Piazza Barberini and the Vatican
  • Metro B: Useful for the Colosseum, Circus Maximus and Roma Ostiense

You can pay at the metro gate with a contactless bank card or phone using ATAC’s Tap & Go service.

Some places are also within walking distance:

  • Santa Maria Maggiore: About 8 minutes
  • Piazza della Repubblica: About 8 minutes
  • Colosseum: About 25 minutes
  • Trevi Fountain: About 25–30 minutes

With luggage, the metro or an official taxi is usually more practical.

Getting to Fiumicino Airport

The Leonardo Express is the easiest train connection between Roma Termini and Fiumicino Airport.

  • Journey time: 32 minutes
  • Stops: Non-stop
  • Typical frequency: Every 15 minutes, or every 30 minutes during some periods
  • Standard ticket price: €14 at the time of writing

The airport railway station is connected directly to the terminals. Check the current timetable and fare on the official Leonardo Express website.

The Leonardo Express ticket is separate from Rome’s normal metro and bus tickets.

Getting to Ciampino Airport

Ciampino Airport does not have a railway station directly inside the terminal.

The main options are:

  • A direct airport bus from the streets beside Roma Termini
  • The Trenitalia Ciampino Airlink, combining a train to Ciampino station with a connecting bus
  • An official taxi

If using an airport bus, check whether it leaves from Via Marsala or Via Giolitti. Different operators use different stops.

Station Entrances

Roma Termini has three main access areas:

  • Piazza dei Cinquecento: Main entrance, metro and city buses
  • Via Marsala: Left side of the station when facing the platforms
  • Via Giolitti: Right side of the station when facing the platforms

Knowing the correct side can save time. Many airport buses and hotels are located along Via Marsala or Via Giolitti.

Luggage, Food and Other Facilities

Roma Termini has:

  • Luggage storage
  • Restaurants, cafés and takeaway food
  • Shops and a supermarket
  • Ticket machines and ticket offices
  • Paid toilets
  • Waiting areas
  • Trenitalia and Italo lounges
  • Pharmacy
  • Metro, bus and taxi connections

The station’s main food area, Terrazza Termini, is on the upper level. Toilets are located on the upper and lower levels and normally charge an access fee.

Accessibility assistance is available through RFI’s Sala Blu service. See the official Roma Termini station page for current accessibility information.

Safety Around Roma Termini

Roma Termini is busy and heavily monitored, but pickpocketing is common around the metro entrances, ticket machines and crowded departure boards.

Keep bags closed and in front of you. Do not leave luggage unattended, and avoid anyone offering unsolicited help with tickets or machines.

Use only the official taxi rank. Ignore drivers who approach passengers inside the station or near the entrances.

Practical Tips

  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
  • Check the train number, not only the destination.
  • Keep your ticket ready for the platform gates.
  • Move quickly if your platform includes Est.
  • Allow extra time for platforms 25 to 29.
  • Confirm that your ticket says Roma Termini.
  • Check whether your train uses Roma Tiburtina instead.
  • Find your coach number before boarding.
  • Watch your luggage in the station and metro.
  • Check which side of the station your airport bus uses.

Roma Termini is manageable once you understand the platform layout. The biggest mistake is underestimating the walk to the remote platforms, so arrive early and check the live departure board as soon as you enter the station.

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