A dash of 1940s Italian modernism
Rome Termini is the main station in Rome, and the best station to use for the city centre. It's called Termini not because it's a terminus, but after the nearby Roman Baths of Diocletian, as the Latin for baths is Thermae. There's been a station here since 1863. The original station building was demolished in 1937, but World War 2 delayed reconstruction of its replacement. The current station was designed in 1947 and inaugurated in December 1950, a fine example of Italian modernism. For more about the station's history see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_Termini_railway_station.
Station overview: Location map
There's a plan of the station at www.gsretail.it/en/network/roma-termini (click EN for English).
1. Rome Termini station exterior.
Taxi rank and main entrance at the front of the station. That's an impressive cantilevered canopy!
2. Atrium (Atrio Stazione), inside the main entrance with an equally impressive roof. The Trenitalia ticket office is here, indicated by the arrow.
3. Central concourse (Galleria Centrale), separated from the Atrium by a row of retail units, the central concourse spans the full width of the station with exits open to the street on either side. Another row of retail units separates it from the platforms concourse. The escalators in the centre go up to the food court and toilets. Note the departure boards. In the Galleria Centrale you'll find shops like Swatch, United Colours of Benetton, Nike, Victoria's Secret on this level and on a lower level too.
At each end of the central concourse (Galleria Centrale) there's an open exit into the street at the side of the station.
4. Platforms concourse (Fronte Binari) sits between the central concourse and the platforms, accessed from the central concourse through gaps in the row of retail units. A partition with ticket gates (on the right of this photo) separates it from the platforms. The escalators in the background are the ones from the central concourse up to the food court. Note the arrivals & departure boards on each column.
5. Platform circulating area. A circulating area behind the buffer stops lets you walk between platforms without going through any ticket check. The photo looks across the station, with the platforms on the left and the ticket gates & exit gates to the rest of the station on the right.
6. Platforms are numbered 1 to 29 from left to right. Platforms 25-29 are accessed by walking down platform 24, platforms 1est & 2est are accessed by walking 550m along platform 1. This photo shows platforms 10 & 11.
Which platform for your train?
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The station is a terminus with 31 platforms. The Italian for platform or track is binario.
The station departure boards show which platform each train leaves from and there are train departure indicators on every platform. You can easily walk between any two platforms in just 2 or 3 minutes (a few minutes longer if your change involves 1est or 2est, or 25-29), with easy level access between all platforms, concourse and streets outside, so no problems if you have wheeled luggage or a wheelchair.
Platforms 1est and 2est are located a 550m walk along platform 1. These tracks are either side of a new island platform built beyond the end of the main platforms. Do not confuse 1est & 2est with 1 & 2, they are separate platforms. 1est & 2est are usually only used by regional trains, for example to Terni, Orvieto & Chiusi. Allow an extra few minutes to reach your train!
Platforms 1 to 24 are lined up right next to the platforms concourse numbered left to right (northeast to southwest) as you look towards the trains. Most important trains go from these platforms including Frecciarossas, Frecciargentos and Italo trains to Naples, Florence, Milan, Venice also the Nightjet sleeper train to Salzburg, Munich & Vienna.
Platforms 25 to 29 are set back from the concourse and accessed by walking 450m along platform 24.
See the plan of the station & platforms at www.gsretail.it/en/network/roma-termini (click EN for English).
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Ticket check
There is a partition between the concourse and the platforms circulating area with rows of ticket gates at intervals. Scan your ticket QR code on your phone or printout to access the platforms. There are staff to let you though if your ticket doesn't work the gates. There is no ticket check when leaving the platforms.
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Check your departure platform on your phone
Stay one step ahead! If you go to www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilita/index.jsp on your phone and select Roma Termini you'll see a list of departures with planned platform number (Binario previsto) for Trenitalia trains (but not Italo trains) even before the actual platform (Binario reale) is announced on the station departure boards. Just remember that they can sometimes switch platforms on the day.
Alternatively, you can see actual departure platforms for all trains including Italo by selecting Roma Termini at www.rfi.it/en/stations/station-page/quality-services/Public-information/Live-departures-Arrivals-Monitor.html.
View of the platforms as you arrive at, or leave, Roma Termini by train.
Changing trains in Rome
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Changing trains at Rome Termini is straightforward. Being a terminus, there is easy level access between all platforms, you can walk between platforms around the back of the buffer stops without passing through any ticket check. It only takes a few minutes to change trains, even if you were changing from platform 1 to platform 24, a few minutes more if the change involved platforms 1est/2est or 25-29. Just make sure you allow for any delay to your first train - if a booking website suggests a connection, it will be a reasonable one. If connecting into a sleeper train, allow much more time.
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When connecting between two Trenitalia trains (for example, a Regionale into a Frecciarossa high-speed train) as long as the scheduled connection is over 15 minutes, you are entitled to later onward travel at no charge if a delay means a missed connection. Online systems will only suggest valid connections. See Trenitalia staff at the help desk if you need reserved seats on a later train. However, that does not apply if you were connecting from a Regionale into a privately-run Italo high-speed train as you'd then be using two different companies.
Left luggage
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Rome Termini has a left luggage office (deposito bagagli) on platform 24 if you need to leave your bags. It's run by KiPoint/KiBag (www.kipoint.it/deposito-bagagli), for prices & opening times see the left luggage page.
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To reach the left luggage office, walk along platform 24 until you pass the distinctive yellow KiBag left luggage office (see photo below left). The office has no door on the platform side, so a little further on (see photo below right), turn right and exit the platform area through the platform exit gates to reach the entrance to the left luggage office.
WiFi, ATMs, safety & security
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The station has free WiFi. Select the WiFiStation, network and on https://portale.wifistation.it either sign in with a Facebook or Twitter account or enter your mobile number to have a verification text sent to you (this works with international numbers including UK +44 mobiles).
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There are ATMs in various locations around the station.
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The station is perfectly safe at any time of day or night, it has CCTV and security staff on duty. But be aware of your surroundings, as in any busy public place. For the locals, the Stazione Termini is a destination in its own right, for the shopping opportunities!
Ticket office & ticket machines
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The Trenitalia ticket office and customer service centre is in the atrium, see the photo below. It's often quicker to use the Trenitalia self-service ticket machines dotted around the station which can sell high-speed & mainline tickets with reservations & regional tickets (although not Interrail or Eurail pass reservations). They have a touch screen with English language facility.
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Italo has its own clearly-marked ticket office.
Executive & Club class lounges
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Trenitalia has a FRECCIALounge for Executive class & Salottino passengers on its Frecciarossa trains and those with certain Trenitalia loyalty cards. It's located on the main concourse, open daily early until late. It offers power sockets, free WiFi and complimentary drinks and snacks.
You can add lounge access to your booking for €20 when you book any domestic Trenitalia Intercity or high-speed train in any class at Trenitalia.com. Look for the FrecciaClub/FrecciaLounge +Add button, or the link to add other services. You can use the lounge for up to 4h before departure.
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Italo has a lounge for Club class passengers on its Italo trains, located on the first floor in the retail block which separates the atrium & central concourse. You can use it from 3 hours before your train departs. In Smart & Prima classes, you are often offered lounge access for an extra €12 or so when you buy your ticket at the Italo website.
Trenitalia's Freccialounge. Courtesy of @AndyBTravels.
Club Italo lounge at Rome Termini with complimentary coffee, soft drinks, snacks, wine & prosecco. This new lounge opened 2023. Courtesy of Chris Ogilvie
Somewhere to eat, drink or buy supplies
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There are many and various eateries inside & outside the station. For a coffee, there are cafés Acafe in the atrium and Moka Cafe on the platforms concourse. There's a MacDonald's between the atrium and central concourse, and a Roadhouse Grill near platform 1.
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To get away from the hustle and bustle of the station, head up the escalators from the central concourse to the Terrazza Termini (terrace) where you'll find a selection of bars and trattorias including Paul (see photo below) and Five Guys.
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There is a Coop minimarket a little way along platform 1. Alternatively, the Mercato Centrale is an artisan food & drink market, some way along platform 24, open 8am till midnight 7 days a week, good for pizza slices & a bottle of wine to take on the train!
The terrace (Terrazza Termini), up the escalators from the central concourse, good for a coffee or beer while waiting for your train. There are toilets here.
View over the platforms from the food court.
Hotels near Rome Termini
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There are many hotels near Rome Termini, look up hotels at Booking.com, anything scoring over 8.0 will not disappoint.
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The Hotel Diocleziano is a top choice with a 9/10 review rating set in a 19th century building next to the Terme di Diocleziano ancient Roman baths. It's relatively affordable and just a 6-minute 400m walk from the station, see walking map.
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The Hotel Le Petit is another highly-rated hotel, an 8-minute 700m walk from the station, see walking map.
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Other affordable hotels near Rome Termini with good or great reviews include Hotel Varese, The Hive Hotel, Dream Station, The Republic Hotel.
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For something top end, try the luxurious Palazzo Cinquecento, highly-rated and on the piazza right outside the station.
Local transport: Walking, metro, taxis
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Walking
Rome Termini is in the city centre, see city map. From Rome Termini to:
Roman Forum: 22 minute 1.8 km walk, see walking map.
Colosseum: 23 minute 1.8 km walk, see walking map.
Trevi Fountain: 25 minute 1.9 km walk see walking map.
Spanish Steps: 28 minute 2.1 km walk see walking map.
St Peter's Square & Vatican: 1 hour 4.4 km walk, see walking map.
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Metro
Rome has an efficient metro system. Line A links Stazione Termini with St Peters Square & the Vatican museum in just a few minutes. Line B links Stazione Termini with the Colosseum & Circus Maximus.
This is the easiest way to travel between the station and the sights, see the official Rome transport website www.atac.roma.it.
There are escalators down to a lower level, from where there are escalators down to the metro, between the platforms concourse & central concourse, and at the north end of the central concourse, and in the atrium, all clearly marked with an 'M' symbol.
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Regional trains to the Vatican
Trenitalia regional trains link Rome Termini with Rome San Pietro station every half hour, journey time 19 minutes. San Pietro station is a 14 minute 1.1 km walk from St Peter's Square and the Vatican, see walking map.
The metro is more frequent, but if you have a Eurail or Interrail pass you can use these local trains free of charge, the metro isn't covered by your pass. You can check train times at www.trenitalia.com.
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Taxis
For a taxi fare calculator see www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Rome-Italy. Taxis are usually plentiful outside the station.
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Hop on, hop off tour buses
The main stop for these is on the station forecourt a little way from the station entrance.
The metro links Rome Termini with the Colosseum, Circus Maximus and the Vatican.
Other stations in Rome
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Rome Ostiense is located in the southwest of the city, again considerably further away from all the city centre sights than Rome Termini. Use Rome Termini if you can
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Rome Tiburtina is a modern station used by many high-speed trains, some on their way into or out of Roma Termini, some by-passing Rome Termini en route between Milan or Florence and Naples. It's located in the northeast of the city, considerably further away from all the city centre sights than Rome Termini. Use Rome Termini if you can.
