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Want to find out more about taking the train from Rome to Madrid? Look no further.
There are around 10 trains per day running between Rome and Madrid, which usually take 27 hours 4 minutes to complete the 847 miles (1363 km) journey. It can take as little as 23 hours 28 minutes on the fastest services though, if you want to get there as quickly as possible. Although there aren't any direct services on this line, it's still easy to travel to Madrid from Rome, you'll just need to make 3 changes along the way. During your journey, you're likely to be travelling with AVE, Frecciarossa or Frecciabianca, as these are the main train operators on this route.
You can save money on train tickets from Rome to Madrid if you book in advance, as tickets usually start from £158.22. Use our Journey Planner at the top of the page to compare ticket prices and get the cheapest fares.
Want to book your train tickets now? Just start a search with us today. If you want to find out more about the journey, read on for timetables (including first and last train times), FAQs and tips on how to book cheap train tickets.
| First train | 12:20 | |
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| Last train | 23:51 | |
| Departure station | Rome | |
| Arrival station | Madrid | |
| Journey time | From 23h 28m | |
| Distance | 847 miles (1363 km) | |
| Frequency | 10 trains per day | |
| Changes | 3 changes | |
| Price | From £158.22 | |
| Train and bus operators | ALSA, Autoservizi Salemi, BlaBlaCar Bus, Flixbus, iryo, Itabus, Italo, Marino, OUIGO, Renfe, SNCF Voyageurs, Trenitalia |
Frecciarossa trains are Trenitalia's flagship high-speed trains, capable of reaching speeds of up to 186 mph (300 km/h). The "red arrow" trains are distinguished by their comfort, their ultra-modern design and their reduced impact on the environment. All Frecciarossa trains are equipped with a food carriage, free WiFi connection and 4 levels of service – Standard, Premium (with drinks and snacks served on arrival), Business (with drinks and snacks plus larger seats) and Executive (with Fast Track, access to FrecciaClub lounges in selected stations, and gourmet meals served to your seat). You can now also travel with Frecciarossa between Milan and Paris via Turin, Modane and Chambéry. The new Frecciarossa trains have 4 levels of service – Standard, Business, Executive and Meeting Room – and two types of carriage: Silence Area, for those who want to travel in total tranquillity, and Allegro Area, for those who want to chat with their fellow passengers.
Italo is a high-speed train operator that runs services between many of the major cities across Italy. All Italo trains are modern, air conditioned, and have free WiFi available for all travellers. There are four comfort classes, or "ambiances", as Italo like to call them – Smart (the cheapest price), Comfort (with wider seats and extra legroom), Prima (with a welcome selection of food and drink, fast track boarding and extra space), and Executive Club (with all Prima services, extra-wide seats, access to Italo Club lounges and personal entertainment screens at your seat).
Trenitalia is the national railway company of Italy, with a fleet including high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca), Intercity and Intercity night trains and regional trains. Trenitalia offers discounts and special promotions on selected routes, two types of discounted tickets for young people under 30 and people over 60.
Frecciabianca trains operate outside Trenitalia high-speed lines. Offering more than 40 daily routes, they're capable of reaching a maximum speed of 125 mph (200 km/h). Frecciabianca trains connect the centres of northern and southern Italy, running along the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts. All Frecciabianca trains have power sockets and large reclining seats, as well as ample space for luggage. There are two classes of service – First Class and Second Class.
With Frecciarossa Standard, you’ll enjoy high-quality services including eco-leather reclining seats, folding tables and free WiFi at a reasonable price. You can order food and drink from the FRECCIABistrò car or using the Easy Bistrò at-seat meal service.
Providing all the perks of First Class for the price of Second Class, Frecciarossa Premium offers more legroom and luggage space, as well as a total of 4 food / beverage products including: sweet or savory snack, welcome drink, small water bottle, 1 wet wipe.
If you’re travelling for work, Frecciarossa Business is the ideal option for you – it offers more legroom, glass dividers for more privacy, and a private 4-seat compartment called Salottino. A free food box containing 7 fresh food & beverage products differentiated according to the time of day + Illy expresso coffee is also included.
Frecciarossa Executive can accommodate up to 10 single armchairs and offers plenty of legroom, wider reclining leather seats, free entry to FRECCIALounge at the main train stations, unlimited drinks, and monthly menus (some of which were ideated by Michelin star chef Carlo Cracco).
Although Smart is Italo’s standard and cheapest class, you won’t miss out on the fantastic service! This class provides you with the following amenities:
In addition to all the perks of Italo Smart, Italo Prima also provides a little extra, such as a dedicated Fast Track service and a welcome service.
If you fancy travelling in style, upgrade to Italo Club Executive and enjoy dedicated catering service, personal screens, and free entry to Italo Club Lounge.
In Second Class, you'll find comfy seats with fold-down tables, reading lights and power sockets. Feeling peckish? Head to the FrecciaBistrò café-bar counter located in the middle part of the train to get food and drinks.
Enjoy larger and comfier seats in Frecciabianca's First Class. In carriage 3, you'll also find a bar service as well as baby changing facilities, if you're travelling with your baby.
If you're looking for a reasonably-priced experience without compromising on the best service and comfort, Inicial Class is ideal for you!
Singular Class is ideal for business travellers looking for flexibility and comfort. If you need to, you can adapt your ticket to your needs at the time.
If you're looking for added comfort and full flexibility, Singular Only YOU class is a fantastic choice, with access to select hotels too.
iryo's Infinita Bistró Class offers plenty of amenities on board, including wider leather reclining seats, free WiFi and at-seat meal service offering a complimentary gourmet meal. You'll need to book your meal 24 hours in advance.
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What special assistance is available? | If you need to request special assistance, you can call: the toll-free number 800 90 60 60, which can be reached from a landline in Italy, or the national number +3902323232 which can be reached from a landline or mobile, even from abroad (international calling charges may apply). |
What else do I need to know? | Air-conditioning is available on board. You can also charge your devices thanks to the power sockets you can find at your seat. |
What luggage limits are there? |
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What food and drink is available? | While there’s no bar or restaurant carriage on Italo trains, you can use the vending machines on board to get snacks and drinks during your journey. |
What onboard entertainment is available? |
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What facilities are there for travel with children? |
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Can I bring a bike on board? |
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Can I bring pets on board? |
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What special assistance is available? | Priority seats for passengers with reduced mobility are available on Italo trains. They’re usually located next to an accessible toilet. All accessible toilets also have tactile and Braille signs. |
What else do I need to know? | Air-conditioning is available on all Italo trains, as well as at-seat power sockets. |
What luggage limits are there? |
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What food and drink is available? |
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What onboard entertainment is available? | At the moment, Frecciabianca trains do not offer an entertainment portal on board. However, you can make use of your internet data, as well as charge your devices thanks to the power sockets that are available at your seat. |
What facilities are there for travel with children? |
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Can I bring a bike on board? |
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Can I bring pets on board? |
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What special assistance is available? | If you need to request special assistance, you can call the toll-free number 800 90 60 60 which can be reached from a landline in Italy, or the national number +3902323232 which can be reached from a landline or mobile, even from abroad (international calling charges may apply). |
What else do I need to know? | Air-conditioning is available on all Frecciabianca trains. |
What luggage limits are there? | Iryo's luggage policy varies by class. With an Inicial ticket, you can take one carry-on bag measuring 36 x 27 x 15 cm and one cabin suitcase measuring 55 x 35 x 25 cm. With a Singular (and Singular Only YOU) ticket, you can also take one large suitcase measuring 80 x 55 x 35 cm. The Infinita Bistró fare includes all of the above and also allows travel with one pet inside a carrier. |
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What food and drink is available? | iryo offers different menus with high-quality products in all classes. You can buy your favourite meal from their onboard restaurant/bar carriage, which is usually near coach 2. If you’re travelling in the Infinita Bistró Class, you can enjoy the Infinita Bistró food service – your meal will be served straight to your seat. Please note that you’ll need to book your meal at least 24 hours in advance. |
What onboard entertainment is available? | You can enjoy free WiFi in all classes on iryo trains, as well as an onboard entertainment platform providing a wide selection of movies, TV series, live news and Spotify. |
What facilities are there for travel with children? | Children aged 0-3 travel for free on all iryo trains. Children aged 4-13 get a discounted ticket while those aged 14-18 need to pay the full price. Please note that children aged under 18 need to be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. |
Can I bring a bike on board? | You can take your bike on board iryo trains for free if it’s folded and does not exceed 90 x 120 x 40cm. Also, your bike must travel without the pedals and with the handlebar rotated 90 degrees. |
Can I bring pets on board? | iryo allows pets that do not exceed 10kg in weight, as long as they travel inside a carrier with a maximum size of 60 x 35 x 35cm. You'll need to buy a ticket for your pet in advance. In addition, guide dogs can travel at no additional cost. |
What special assistance is available? | There are seats for people with reduced mobility on iryo trains. Step-free access is also available both when boarding and when getting off the train. |
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.