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Wondering how best to travel from Milan to Rome? Read my comprehensive guide, detailing all the best ways to get from Rome to Milan and vice versa!

Both the ‘Eternal City’ of Rome, as well as the fashion capital of Italy, Milan, have long since captured the hearts of the millions of visitors that pass through these gorgeous, historic cities annually! 

With many incredible and iconic Italian sights & landmarks to explore, delectable cuisine to try out, famous Italian drinks to sip on, and not forget all the history, culture, and charm that these cities offer up, it’s no wonder they are so popular! 

If you intending to visit Rome and spend some time in Milan, then this guide is just for you! Here I detail exactly how to travel from Milan to Rome by air, by train, by bus, or by car, so you can decide what suits your travel needs and budget best! 

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Pssst…Have you packed all your essentials? Make sure to read our European packing list post to ensure you’ve ticked all the packing necessities off your list!

Milan to Rome Flights

Journey Duration: Fastest – 1 Hour 15 Minutes

Flights from Milan to Rome average roughly 1 hr 15 minutes in flying time, making this the quickest and most convenient way to get between Rome and Milan. 

Depending on when you book, the best price found on Skyscanner is around €35 for a one-way adult fare on this route at the time of publication of this guide. Click here to search & book flights on Skyscanner.

Currently, there are several airlines operating up to 224 direct flights per week from Milano Linate Airport to Leonarda da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport being operated by Alitalia and Neos between the two destinations, in addition to connecting flights such as Swiss International Air via Zurich.

Milan to Rome Train

Journey Duration: Fastest Train around 3 Hours 10 Minutes

Milano Centrale and Rome Termini are two of the busiest railway stations in Europe, serving close to about 150 million passengers each year. This popular Milan Rome train route sees dozens of trains connecting these two destinations every day, providing travellers with an easy and efficient mode of transit between the city of the Sistine Chapel and Italy’s fashion favourite capital of the world.

If you want to get from Rome to Milan in the fastest possible way, consider buying a ticket for the express trains which have fewer stops, as these trains will complete the 297 miles trip in just over three hours, as opposed to the slower services which can take up to eleven hours. 

Apart from encountering some of the most stunning scenery of the Lombardy and Tuscany regions, these trains are designed for providing maximum passenger comfort with their ultra-modern and sleek design, as well as different levels of service which include drinks, snacks and gourmet meals served to your seat.

Milan to Rome by Train: Services

Since the Milan to Rome rail route is popular with visitors and locals alike, several train operators provide non-stop high-speed service between Milan Centrale Station and Rome Termini. 

While the Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa and Frecciarossa 1000 trains are the fastest on this Rome Milan train route, the other main operators Italo Treno and Frecciabianca also offer fast connections. The coaches are modern, comfortable and have free WiFi onboard, both in the Standard Class and the exclusive First Class compartments. 

Trenitalia also offers connections with one-stop (9 hrs 8 minutes) and two stoppages (11 hrs 28 minutes). Additionally, you can catch a local sleeper train, leaving at 23:20 hrs, which runs all night from Milan to Rome arriving early morning at 07:17 hrs.

There are around 70 direct train departures on the Milan to Rome route on weekdays and typically fewer trips on weekends of about 65 trips. The first train leaves Milan Centrale at around 05:20 hrs and the last train leaves at 23:17 hrs. 

You can easily find a schedule that is most convenient for you from early morning to late-night.

Train from Milan to Rome: Fares & Buying Tickets

Anyone can make a train reservation on Italian trains up to six months in advance. If bookings are not yet open for your Milan to Rome trip, you can set a booking alert to receive a message the day the best rates are available. 

Popular journey prices are on the 30 and 7-day advance tickets on this Rome to Milan train network, as their cost fluctuates on demand and availability at the time of logging in. The best way to ensure you bag a cheap ticket is by booking as much in advance as possible and avoiding the rush hours. 

If you buy the ticket on the same day, it will cost you around €90/€95 on the fastest trains, whereas the cheapest ticket with stops can cost nearly 50% less at around €45 on a fast train. Booking in advance will reduce the fast train cost to around €77 for a one-way adult fare.

If you are not hard-pressed for time, you can travel for as little as €17 with any of the three companies. But, this is likely to be on a train journey of several hours and when booking well in advance. 

Consider booking on my favourite site, Omio, which will give you the best prices and schedules for this leg of the trip. Here you’ll be able to view and book all available options, saving you both time and money in the planning stages!

Train Stations in Rome & Milan

You can catch a fast train to Rome from the imposing Milan Centrale (platforms 14-17) the main terminus or a comfortable night train from Porta Garibaldi to the northwest of the city, near the port of the same name.

When you get to Rome from Milan, Roma Termini is most likely to be your Rome train station stop, though a few services go further to the secondary stations of Tiburtina and Ostiense.

Milan to Rome Bus Service

Journey Duration: Fastest service around 7 Hours 25 Minutes

From all the bus services which leave Milan for Rome each day, two are non-stop which eliminates the need to change en route. These direct buses cover the 570-kilometre distance from Rome to Milan in around 7 hrs and 25 minutes, compared to the coaches with stopovers that take about 8 hrs. 

If you are on a budget you can save a few euros by taking the second option. The earliest Milan Rome bus departure from Milan is at 02:20 hrs and the last departure is at 23:35 hrs. Bus travel is made possible by operators such as Flixbus, and MarinoBus to name but a few.

Bus from Milan to Rome: Fares & Buying Tickets

With Omnio, comparing prices and buying tickets for a bus from Milan to Rome is a walk in the park. You can check online for a large selection of fares and schedules in order to get the best deal for yourself. 

On average the ticket cost should be roughly €57 on the direct Rome Milan bus route. This is by far one of the cheapest ways to travel from Milan to Rome.

Driving from Milan to Rome by Car

Distance from Milan to Rome: 570 Kilometres

Getting from Milan to Rome, or from Rome to Milan for that matter, by car is a great way to explore the country and especially suited to those who prefer to travel at their own pace and with more freedom on hand. 

If you are considering getting to Rome from Milan by car, you can cover the roughly 570 km distance, via A1 and A1/E35, in approximately five and a half to six hours and explore a good part of Italy as well. 

It’s worth noting that this route will encounter tolls. To help you plan out your budget, visit the Via Michelin site that will provide you with rough estimates of tolls & fuel costs for this journey!

Tip: Check out AutoEurope when ready to book your car rental, they offer great prices across various suppliers, allowing you to view & book all at once.

A private car transfer provides door to door service with an English speaking driver, child seats and sightseeing on the way. This trip is a private sedan that will likely set you back a few hundred Euro and is probably not a top choice when considering travel between Rome and Milan.

Where To Stay In Rome and Milan

Need to firm up your accommodation for your Italian adventures, see my recommendations down below for choice options of where to stay in both Rome and Milan.

Rome Hotels:

Rome has so many exciting neighbourhoods to choose from, making the decision on where to stay in Rome a little bit trickier. Hopefully, these suggestions may narrow down the field and help you find the perfect home-away-from-home in Rome. 

A great hotel choice based near the Colosseum is the Otivm Hotel. The Hotel Vilon is a fabulous luxury hotel choice, and the Hotel S. Anna is a great option for being based near the Vatican City.

For a more advanced search, click through to this map showcasing a range of Airbnbs and Hotel choices in Rome that you can view & book too!

Milan Hotels:

Choosing the perfect home base in Milan need not be any hassle at all! Hopefully, these inspired choices will help you settle on the perfect stay in Milan.

The INTOMILAN Aparthotel Galleria Duomo is a fabulous choice close to the Piazzo Duomo. The Torino48 Guesthouse is another great option if you want to be in the heart & centre of all the action. For a truly out of this world luxury stay I would highly recommend the 5* Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa – LHW! 

If you want to search for more great hotel options or in search of an Airbnb instead, click on this map to view & book!

What To Do – Rome & Milan Tours & Activities

When visiting a new destination, there’s nothing better than getting hands-on and experience the local culture, cuisine and sights by booking a tour or activity. Here is a selection of tours you may want to consider booking.

Rome Tours & Activities:

To make the most of your time in Rome, why not book this Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and see all the sights of the city. For travellers in search of a bit of history & culture, be sure to grab your entry tickets to the Colosseum & Roman Forum, as well as a Skip-The-Line entry ticket to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

Foodies will no doubt love this 2.5-Hour Pasta Making Class where a local chef will teach you to cook the real Italian way!

For more exciting tours in Rome click here! 

Milan Tours & Activities:

Whilst in Milan you’ll want to check out all the major sites, including the gorgeous Milan Cathedral. Get your Fastrack Milan Cathedral and Terraces tickets here. Or, for a truly unique way to see the city embark on this 2 – 3 Hour Segway Tour of Milan.

For a spectacular day trip, why not book this full-day Cinque Terre Day trip from Milan.

Last but not least, if you’re pressed for time, consider booking a ticket on this Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour of Milan that covers all the sights and sounds of this beautiful city.

To view & book other exciting Milan tours, click here!