From time to time, I see inquiries from prospective travelers debating whether to fly or take the train between Rome (or Naples or Salerno) and Siracusa (or Palermo or Taormina). Since this is a less straightforward issue than meets the eye, I thought it might be helpful to post this thread in which I attempt to articulate the pros and cons of each form of travel.
Let's start out by comparing the two:
TRAVEL BY PLANE:
Total travel time between Rome and Siracusa is around FIVE (5) hours, as follows:
Travel time from Roma Termini Station to FCO airport via the Leonardo da Vinci nonstop airport train: 30 minutes
Minimum arrival time at FCO airport for domestic flight (for check-in and security clearance): 90 minutes
Flight time from gate departure to gate arrival: minimum 60 minutes, but can be 90+ minutes with time on the tarmac to reach the runway
Time to retrieve checked luggage: can be around 30 minutes
Travel time of airport bus to Siracusa: 70 minutes (plus waiting time for the bus)
TOTAL TRAVEL TIME: around FIVE (5) hours
COST: Air fare (can vary considerably), PLUS EXTRA CHARGES for checked luggage, PLUS airport train (14 Euros), PLUS airport bus (7 Euros) = ??
NOTE: Flying from Rome to Palermo is very similar in terms of travel time and cost, compared to flying into Catania, so the information above is still valid.
TRAVEL BY DAYLIGHT DIRECT INTERCITY TRAIN (TRENITALIA):
Total travel time between Roma Termini and Siracusa is ELEVEN (11) hours. Travel time to Palermo is 11.5 hours, and 9 hours to Taormina. This is a DIRECT train with no connections. The passenger railcars are shunted on board a special train ferry across the Straits of Messina and reassembled at Messina Centrale where half the train proceeds south to Taormina, Catania and Siracusa, while the other half goes west to Milazzo, Cefalu and Palermo.
COST: From Rome to Siracusa, anywhere from 26.90 Euros (Super Economy fare, second class, with a long advance purchase, non-refundable** and non-changeable) to 77.50 Euros ("Base"/Full fare, second class) which is 80% refundable and changeable. NOTE that the cheapest fare of 26.90 Euros is just a few Euros more than the cost of ground transportation to FCO airport and from CTA airport, without even figuring the air fare and associated extra charges for checked luggage, etc!!! The same train to Palermo costs anywhere from 27.90 Euros to 80.50 Euros. Fare out of Naples or Salerno are a couple of Euros cheaper. Fares to Taormina are a bit lower.
**GET THE "TI RIMBORSO" PARTIAL REFUND OPTION
If you are concerned about the need to modify your travel date or cancel the trip, you can opt for the "TiRimborso" refund feature (must be purchased simultaneous with the ticket) which allows you to CANCEL FOR ANY REASON (not modify) your ticket up to 23:59 (Italy time) on the SECOND day prior to your scheduled travel date. You will get a 90% refund of what you paid for your ticket. The "TiRimborso" option is available for all discounted and otherwise non-refundable fares, at an additional cost of either 1 or 2 Euros per passenger per train. It is WELL WORTH it to purchase this partial refund option, especially if you book your ticket many weeks or months in advance. The "TiRimborso" option is optional, not mandatory.
OPINION: Clearly, the ONLY advantage of flying is to save time. For many tourists, time IS money! The DAYLIGHT train will take up the entire day (although Trenitalia also has overnight sleeper trains between Rome and Sicily where you save the cost of one hotel night and travel mainly by night). The train option is clearly the cheapest, and by far. Then there are a few more considerations: (1) you see much more by daylight train, especially the beautiful coastlines of western Calabria and eastern/northern Sicily; (2) you avoid the hassle of dealing with crowds and long lines at two airports, plus the stress of flying on a plane with very tight leg, seat and shoulder room (compared to more generous room on the train); (3) although the train ride is quite long, there are electronic sockets at each seat for plugging in your electronic devices. You can enjoy music, lectures, variety programs and movies on your smartphone, tablet or personal computer if you have an internet connection or downloads. Intermixed with admiring the scenery, the 11 hours go by quickly.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE TRENITALIA INTERCITY TRAIN TO SICILY:
The TWO DAILY direct daylight Intercity trains each have one first class and three second class railcars to EACH of Palermo and Siracusa. The trains split in two at Messina (each with its own locomotive), half going west to Milazzo, Cefalu and Palermo (and other stops), the other half going south to Taormina, Catania and Siracusa (and other stops). The electronic seat reservation system assigns you a seat in one of the railcars going to your final destination. All seats are reserved. You can select your seat from the seating chart when you book the tickets but remember that the train will change direction of travel after leaving Napoli Centrale and possibly also Messina Centrale. The second class railcars each have around 74 seats, four-across. The first class railcars have only around 52 seats, three-across. Second class seats are 51 cms. wide and have 95 cms. of legroom. First class seats are 63 cms. wide and have 103 cms. of legroom (as described on the Trenitalia website). The seat bottom pivots out to afford a small recline. A portion of one of the second class railcars has a lounge area with vending machines and tables. One vending machine sells hot espresso, cappuccino, tea and chocolate, made from powdered product. A second sells bottled/canned cold water, soda and juices. A third sells packaged sweet and salty snacks. These machines replace the former wheeled snack cart with uniformed sales person. (You are WELL ADVISED to bring your own food and beverages with you, although the machines are useful in an emergency or if you want hot coffee or cold tea). There are electrical outlets at each seat, handy to charge electrical devices (sometimes the outlets are broken or defective), plus reading lights and folding tables. Windows have pull-down shades. Luggage can be placed overhead, under the seat, on the floor wedged in-between the seatbacks, put in the oversized luggage racks at one end of the railcar or in dedicated racks within the car itself. The train is air conditioned and heated, but the air conditioning is turned off during the crossing of the Straits of Messina (when it can get very stuffy during the summer).
www.trenitalia.com
CROSSING THE STRAITS OF MESSINA IS AN UNFORTETTABLE EXPERIENCE:
The train (minus the locomotive) crosses the Straits of Messina on a train ferry, onto which it is shunted in two sections. Passengers are free (but not required) to leave their railcar (remember its location!) and climb the steep metal stairs to the open-air promenade deck, where one can enjoy the crossing, which is exceptionally scenic on a clear day. Don't forget to bring a jacket because it's quite windy! Take lots of photos! The center of the promenade deck is enclosed (quite handy on a windy or rainy day), with many seats, plus restrooms, a few vending machines and a coffee/snack bar. Many travelers remark that the crossing of the Straits is the highlight of the train journey and makes the train experience very worthwhile.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
THESE DIRECT TRENITALIA TRAINS ALSO CALL AT NAPOLI CENTRALE AND SALERNO (and other stops en-route to Sicily), so they are quite useful for both tourists and locals. Fares from Napoli and Salerno to Sicily are usually a couple of Euros lower than from Rome.
The train station in Siracusa is 1.2 kilometers north of the northernmost tip of Ortigia Island, easily walkable with wheeled luggage in about 15 minutes. There are also taxis. The bus station at Corso Umberto 196 is around the corner, 1 kilometer north. In Palermo, the central train station is 900 meters from the Quattro Canti intersection. The bus station is adjacent to the train station.
In my opinion, it is worthwhile to take the train between mainland Italy and Sicily at least once in your lifetime, if you cross the Straits of Messina in full daylight OR if you simply want to travel on the cheap. The scenery south of Salerno is lovely in parts, as are the coastlines in Sicily. And on long distances traveling by train is more comfortable than by bus (at least for most).
I have taken both planes and the direct train between mainland Italy and Sicily and CAN RECOMMEND BOTH. It comes down to a personal decision, with the TIME FACTOR being the overriding consideration for many.
www.trenitalia.com
www.interbus.it (airport bus between CTA airport and both Siracusa and Taormina)
www.prestiaecomande.it (airport bus between PMO airport and central Palermo)
https://www.prestiaecomande.it/orari-e-linee/ (see intermediate bus stops in central Palermo)
NOTE: you can also take the Trenitalia regional train between PMO airport and the Palermo central train station (with intermediate stops). Cost and travel time is about the same as the airport bus, BUT the bus makes a few useful stops prior to reaching the central train station which could be close to one's lodging in central Palermo.
Let's start out by comparing the two:
TRAVEL BY PLANE:
Total travel time between Rome and Siracusa is around FIVE (5) hours, as follows:
Travel time from Roma Termini Station to FCO airport via the Leonardo da Vinci nonstop airport train: 30 minutes
Minimum arrival time at FCO airport for domestic flight (for check-in and security clearance): 90 minutes
Flight time from gate departure to gate arrival: minimum 60 minutes, but can be 90+ minutes with time on the tarmac to reach the runway
Time to retrieve checked luggage: can be around 30 minutes
Travel time of airport bus to Siracusa: 70 minutes (plus waiting time for the bus)
TOTAL TRAVEL TIME: around FIVE (5) hours
COST: Air fare (can vary considerably), PLUS EXTRA CHARGES for checked luggage, PLUS airport train (14 Euros), PLUS airport bus (7 Euros) = ??
NOTE: Flying from Rome to Palermo is very similar in terms of travel time and cost, compared to flying into Catania, so the information above is still valid.
TRAVEL BY DAYLIGHT DIRECT INTERCITY TRAIN (TRENITALIA):
Total travel time between Roma Termini and Siracusa is ELEVEN (11) hours. Travel time to Palermo is 11.5 hours, and 9 hours to Taormina. This is a DIRECT train with no connections. The passenger railcars are shunted on board a special train ferry across the Straits of Messina and reassembled at Messina Centrale where half the train proceeds south to Taormina, Catania and Siracusa, while the other half goes west to Milazzo, Cefalu and Palermo.
COST: From Rome to Siracusa, anywhere from 26.90 Euros (Super Economy fare, second class, with a long advance purchase, non-refundable** and non-changeable) to 77.50 Euros ("Base"/Full fare, second class) which is 80% refundable and changeable. NOTE that the cheapest fare of 26.90 Euros is just a few Euros more than the cost of ground transportation to FCO airport and from CTA airport, without even figuring the air fare and associated extra charges for checked luggage, etc!!! The same train to Palermo costs anywhere from 27.90 Euros to 80.50 Euros. Fare out of Naples or Salerno are a couple of Euros cheaper. Fares to Taormina are a bit lower.
**GET THE "TI RIMBORSO" PARTIAL REFUND OPTION
If you are concerned about the need to modify your travel date or cancel the trip, you can opt for the "TiRimborso" refund feature (must be purchased simultaneous with the ticket) which allows you to CANCEL FOR ANY REASON (not modify) your ticket up to 23:59 (Italy time) on the SECOND day prior to your scheduled travel date. You will get a 90% refund of what you paid for your ticket. The "TiRimborso" option is available for all discounted and otherwise non-refundable fares, at an additional cost of either 1 or 2 Euros per passenger per train. It is WELL WORTH it to purchase this partial refund option, especially if you book your ticket many weeks or months in advance. The "TiRimborso" option is optional, not mandatory.
OPINION: Clearly, the ONLY advantage of flying is to save time. For many tourists, time IS money! The DAYLIGHT train will take up the entire day (although Trenitalia also has overnight sleeper trains between Rome and Sicily where you save the cost of one hotel night and travel mainly by night). The train option is clearly the cheapest, and by far. Then there are a few more considerations: (1) you see much more by daylight train, especially the beautiful coastlines of western Calabria and eastern/northern Sicily; (2) you avoid the hassle of dealing with crowds and long lines at two airports, plus the stress of flying on a plane with very tight leg, seat and shoulder room (compared to more generous room on the train); (3) although the train ride is quite long, there are electronic sockets at each seat for plugging in your electronic devices. You can enjoy music, lectures, variety programs and movies on your smartphone, tablet or personal computer if you have an internet connection or downloads. Intermixed with admiring the scenery, the 11 hours go by quickly.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE TRENITALIA INTERCITY TRAIN TO SICILY:
The TWO DAILY direct daylight Intercity trains each have one first class and three second class railcars to EACH of Palermo and Siracusa. The trains split in two at Messina (each with its own locomotive), half going west to Milazzo, Cefalu and Palermo (and other stops), the other half going south to Taormina, Catania and Siracusa (and other stops). The electronic seat reservation system assigns you a seat in one of the railcars going to your final destination. All seats are reserved. You can select your seat from the seating chart when you book the tickets but remember that the train will change direction of travel after leaving Napoli Centrale and possibly also Messina Centrale. The second class railcars each have around 74 seats, four-across. The first class railcars have only around 52 seats, three-across. Second class seats are 51 cms. wide and have 95 cms. of legroom. First class seats are 63 cms. wide and have 103 cms. of legroom (as described on the Trenitalia website). The seat bottom pivots out to afford a small recline. A portion of one of the second class railcars has a lounge area with vending machines and tables. One vending machine sells hot espresso, cappuccino, tea and chocolate, made from powdered product. A second sells bottled/canned cold water, soda and juices. A third sells packaged sweet and salty snacks. These machines replace the former wheeled snack cart with uniformed sales person. (You are WELL ADVISED to bring your own food and beverages with you, although the machines are useful in an emergency or if you want hot coffee or cold tea). There are electrical outlets at each seat, handy to charge electrical devices (sometimes the outlets are broken or defective), plus reading lights and folding tables. Windows have pull-down shades. Luggage can be placed overhead, under the seat, on the floor wedged in-between the seatbacks, put in the oversized luggage racks at one end of the railcar or in dedicated racks within the car itself. The train is air conditioned and heated, but the air conditioning is turned off during the crossing of the Straits of Messina (when it can get very stuffy during the summer).
Servizi
CROSSING THE STRAITS OF MESSINA IS AN UNFORTETTABLE EXPERIENCE:
The train (minus the locomotive) crosses the Straits of Messina on a train ferry, onto which it is shunted in two sections. Passengers are free (but not required) to leave their railcar (remember its location!) and climb the steep metal stairs to the open-air promenade deck, where one can enjoy the crossing, which is exceptionally scenic on a clear day. Don't forget to bring a jacket because it's quite windy! Take lots of photos! The center of the promenade deck is enclosed (quite handy on a windy or rainy day), with many seats, plus restrooms, a few vending machines and a coffee/snack bar. Many travelers remark that the crossing of the Straits is the highlight of the train journey and makes the train experience very worthwhile.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
THESE DIRECT TRENITALIA TRAINS ALSO CALL AT NAPOLI CENTRALE AND SALERNO (and other stops en-route to Sicily), so they are quite useful for both tourists and locals. Fares from Napoli and Salerno to Sicily are usually a couple of Euros lower than from Rome.
The train station in Siracusa is 1.2 kilometers north of the northernmost tip of Ortigia Island, easily walkable with wheeled luggage in about 15 minutes. There are also taxis. The bus station at Corso Umberto 196 is around the corner, 1 kilometer north. In Palermo, the central train station is 900 meters from the Quattro Canti intersection. The bus station is adjacent to the train station.
In my opinion, it is worthwhile to take the train between mainland Italy and Sicily at least once in your lifetime, if you cross the Straits of Messina in full daylight OR if you simply want to travel on the cheap. The scenery south of Salerno is lovely in parts, as are the coastlines in Sicily. And on long distances traveling by train is more comfortable than by bus (at least for most).
I have taken both planes and the direct train between mainland Italy and Sicily and CAN RECOMMEND BOTH. It comes down to a personal decision, with the TIME FACTOR being the overriding consideration for many.
www.trenitalia.com
www.interbus.it (airport bus between CTA airport and both Siracusa and Taormina)
www.prestiaecomande.it (airport bus between PMO airport and central Palermo)
https://www.prestiaecomande.it/orari-e-linee/ (see intermediate bus stops in central Palermo)
NOTE: you can also take the Trenitalia regional train between PMO airport and the Palermo central train station (with intermediate stops). Cost and travel time is about the same as the airport bus, BUT the bus makes a few useful stops prior to reaching the central train station which could be close to one's lodging in central Palermo.
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