New Direct Train Launching Between Germany And Italy Will Link 2 OF Europe’s Most Iconic Cities
Whether it’s the shambles at safety with staffing complications and snaking queues, or the chaotic rollout of the new Entry/Exit System, which now requires Americans to have their fingerprints and facial picture collected, I can’t consider a worse place to be proper now than a European airport.
The Old Continent appears to have gotten the memo, if not the lots of of 1000’s of complaints, and for a number of years now, operators have been betting closely on new prepare routes.
This yr alone, European Sleeper revived its Paris–Berlin service and is days away from launching Brussels–Milan, whereas České dráhy’s roughly 530-mile ComfortJet now runs all the best way from Prague to Copenhagen without a change.
But that’s not all: beginning in summer time 2027, a brand new direct daytime service will hit the tracks, this time between Rome, the one and solely Eternal City, and Munich, Germany’s southern cultural powerhouse.
You positively don’t wish to sleep on this:
Rome To Munich In Only 8h30
A brand new direct Frecciarossa 1000—Italy’s flashy, scarlet-red high-speed delight and pleasure—is about to begin working between the Italian capital and Munich, capital of Germany’s southern state of Bavaria, in summer time 2027.
The precise inauguration date nonetheless hinges on the profitable completion of technical approvals.
This prepare was initially meant to be up and working with the December 2026 timetable change, however trial runs are nonetheless underway in Germany and Austria, the place 9 specifically modified trainsets should clear a somewhat prolonged certification course of.
In different phrases, we’re clearly within the ultimate stretch, however the ink just isn’t fairly dry but, so I wouldn’t go reserving a non-refundable Munich lodge round a guessed June launch date.
Unlike European Sleeper’s trains, the Italian ‘Red Arrow’ is a daytime high-speed service, with the journey anticipated to take about 8 hours and half-hour every manner—and this time, there will probably be no modifications.
One necessary distinction: Munich and Rome are already related by a direct ÖBB Nightjet in a single day, so this is not going to be the primary direct prepare between the 2 cities, full cease.
It will, nonetheless, be the primary direct daytime high-speed choice.
At current, vacationers making the journey in the course of the day usually want to vary no less than as soon as, mostly in Bolzano, Verona, Bologna, or Innsbruck, relying on the itinerary.
Once the brand new service launches, there’ll be no extra enjoying connection roulette midway via the Alps.
From The Eternal City To Germany’s Southern Cultural Powerhouse
Rome is without doubt one of the most sought-after metropolis breaks throughout the pond, and actually, it greater than earns the hype.
From the 2,000-year-old behemoth that’s the Colosseum to the ochre-hued, winding alleys of Trastevere—house to a number of the finest cacio e pepe you’ll discover anyplace on the town—previous the Trevi Fountain and into the treasure-packed Vatican Museums, there are sufficient layers to Rome to maintain you busy for weeks, if not months on finish.
By the best way, in case you’re questioning how protected Rome feels nowadays after doomscrolling on X and coming throughout literal horror tales, it’s not practically as dangerous because it’s typically made out to be.
Rome itself just isn’t topic to a separate U.S. city-specific advisory, although Italy as an entire presently sits at Level 2, with Americans suggested to train elevated warning because of terrorism.
In sensible phrases, pickpocketing and scams in crowded vacationer areas will probably be a much more fast concern for the common customer than violent crime.
The metropolis presently scores 86 out of 100 on Travel Off Path’s Traveler Safety Index, which relies on first-person impressions of security ranges from current guests.
The Journey Is The Destination
At the opposite finish of the road, Munich is the crown jewel of southern Germany:
Its Altstadt is a sophisticated, storybook sweep of Old World façades, onion-domed church buildings, beer halls, and grand squares flanked by neo-Gothic monuments that look as if a nostalgia-driven architect went utterly overboard with the turrets… and I imply that as a praise.
The coolest factor about Frecciarossa’s new route, although?
The sheer variety of epic, unimaginable locations it’ll service:
Planned Route From Rome To Munich
- Rome — Roma Termini, anticipated terminus
- Florence — Firenze Santa Maria Novella
- Bologna — Bologna Centrale
- Verona — Verona Porta Nuova
- Rovereto
- Trento
- Bolzano/Bozen
- Innsbruck — Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof
- Munich — München Hauptbahnhof
This signifies that not solely does it bridge Italy and Germany, however it additionally strings collectively an entire bunch of Italian heavy hitters that may rival Rome in magnificence, earlier than slicing via a 3rd nation: the alpine, impossibly polished wonderland that’s Austria.
Looking for an epic first cease alongside the best way?
How about Florence, often ranked among the many best city destinations in Italy, dominated by Brunelleschi’s hovering, terracotta-red dome and extensively thought to be the birthplace of the Renaissance?
Then there’s Verona, the place you’ll discover a miniature Colosseum that also hosts operas and full-blown concert events each summer time, so the timing for 2027 couldn’t be higher.
Remember Lizzie McGuire’s Colosseum efficiency, full with the clenched-fist choreography and that aggressively blonde wig?
Yeah, that’s not one thing you possibly can actually recreate contained in the precise Colosseum right this moment—a lot of its historic enviornment flooring is lacking, exposing the hypogeum under—however you possibly can watch your favourite Italian pop artist carry out contained in the practically 2,000-year-old, remarkably preserved Arena di Verona subsequent yr.
Oh, and naturally, Verona is the fictional hometown of Romeo and Juliet!
Check out the final word luxurious escape in Verona’s historic coronary heart here
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Explore A Gorgeous City In Austria On The Way
Looking so as to add a 3rd nation to your multi-country European jaunt?
Then Innsbruck, Austria, is the proper midpoint between Rome’s Mediterranean heat and Munich’s Bavarian appeal.
A small riverside city tucked into the guts of the Tyrolean Alps, it’s dotted with colourful, gabled homes, onion-domed belfries, and pastel façades framed by snow-capped peaks.
And let me let you know, in case you suppose Rome’s spaghetti carbonara is the very best meals you’ll have on this south-to-north journey, wait till you’ve tried schlutzkrapfen, Tyrol’s half-moon ravioli historically filled with spinach and curd cheese.
Before you go gallivanting round and crossing all these European borders prefer it’s no massive deal, be sure you have your documentation so as and familiarize your self with the Schengen Area’s journey guidelines.
Americans can usually keep for under 90 days inside any rolling 180-day interval throughout all the Schengen Area, and that features Italy, Austria, and Germany, normally with out getting checked at each border.
However, Schengen international locations can temporarily reintroduce internal checks, and police could often board worldwide trains to examine identification, so maintain your passport useful.
Unsure what to carry alongside for the experience? Use the Entry Requirement Checker to double-check what applies to you.
More On The Train Itself
There is initially anticipated to be one Rome–Munich prepare in every course each day, alongside a separate each day Milan–Munich round-trip.
If you’re questioning about seat configuration and all that, that is an eight-car, absolutely electrical Frecciarossa 1000 able to working at as much as 186 mph.
The normal Italian configuration provides 457 passenger locations, together with two wheelchair areas, throughout 4 consolation ranges: Standard, Premium, Business, Executive.
Route Information
- Route: Rome, Italy, to Munich, Germany, through Austria
- Expected terminals: Roma Termini and München Hauptbahnhof
- Launch: Summer 2027, pending ultimate certification
- Frequency: One prepare in every course each day is deliberate
- Journey time: Approximately 8 hours and half-hour
- Main stops: Florence, Bologna, Verona, Rovereto, Trento, Bolzano, and Innsbruck
- Departure and arrival instances: Not but introduced
As for ticket costs? At this level, no official charges have been introduced, because it’s nonetheless far too early within the planning and certification course of.
Based on current long-distance Frecciarossa companies comparable to Paris–Milan, present Rome–Bolzano costs, and daytime Rome–Munich itineraries already on sale, my finest working estimate could be round $70–110 one-way for a Standard ticket booked properly upfront.
A tad pricier than a $30 easyJet flight, but nonetheless, eight and a half hours straight via Florence, Verona, and the Tyrolean Alps, with no airport safety line, baggage carousel, or mad sprint to make a connection?
The Red Arrow seems like a proper belter.
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