Rome to Palermo Overnight Train
 

The best overnight train service between Rome (Termini Station) and Palermo, Sicily is the Intercity Night (ICN) train no. 793 "Conca d'Oro" which departs daily at 22:50 and arrives Palermo (Centrale Station) the next morning at 10:45. The cost of a reserved seat in first class is Euro 66.29.

This same train DIVIDES in Messina. Half proceeds westbound to Milazzo, Cefalu, points in-between, and teminates in Palermo. The other half proceeds southbound to Taormina, Catania and terminates in Siracusa. There are dedicated rail cars for both the run to Palermo and the run to Siracusa, so you need to verify (once on the train) that your reserved seat is in a railcar bound for your destination. Sleeping compartments can also be reserved at a supplemental cost.

For full schedules are fares, consult:
www.trenitalia.com

I am planning to travel round trip, with my 18 yr old daughter from Rome to Catania and then Palermo to Rome this month. Would you recommend this train as best option? I am choosing between (1) air, (2)train to Naples + overnight ferry and (3)this train. I am leaning away from (cheap) airfare (19 euro OW) because I think two trans- atlantic flights in two weeks might be plenty of airport experience. Is it possible to actually get some sleep on overnight train? Lastly, do you know how far ahead it is necessary to book this train with sleeping accomodations in Feb?
Thanks, Susan

In my opinion the train from Rome to Palermo is not the best option. It takes more than 12 hours (if you are lucky, otherwise, it takes even longer), on week ends it tends to be full, sometimes people just sit down along the corridors, it can be noisy etc. So, unless you take the wagon lits (single, double or triple, which are cleaner than the 4 ot 6 sleeperettes (which I DONT recommend) ), the train trip is too much of a hassle. But should you choose this option, I advise you to book in advance, for it tends to be quickly booked by people who work in north italy and who come back to see their families for the week end and so on. Consider that there is Alitalia which connects Rome to Palermo and also Meridiana and Airone, which have pretty good fares. The wagon lits tend to be pretty expensive (train ticket fare plus wagon lit supplement) and therefore if you get a good fare with one of the 3 airlines, you should consider this solution (also because it takes about 1 hour to connect Rome to Palermo). There are good one way or return fares with these companies. Check them out!

I agree with Batuffolina (strange, since I made the original posting!). The train is not the BEST option, unless you have a fear of flying and an aversion to sea travel.

In your case, Susan, I would suggest flying from Rome to Catania. There are plenty of cheap flights on Volareweb, Meridiana, Air One, and sometimes even on Alitalia.

On the return from Palermo, I would also suggest flying. As an alternative, you could take the overnight car ferry to Naples (9.5 hours), and then the train to Rome (2 hrs.), although this approach is not as efficient, and will end up costing you more (cabin on ship; taxi in Naples). Also, there could be rough seas during the month of February.

FYI, there is a daylight train to Rome from both Palermo and Catania. It's the Intercity train "Peloritano" which takes 10.5 hrs. from Palermo (lv. 7:45) to Rome (ar. 18:16). Part of the journey is scenic. Once again, it's a very long ride and flying can actually be cheaper. First class costs Euro 73.65, plus 3.00 for a seat reservation.

According to Trenitalia, there are brand new carriages on this IC train (similar to those on Eurostar trains, with totally open seating, and TOTALLY non-smoking in all carriages). The seat fabrics and new and clean, and even the restrooms are state-of-the-art.

I agree with Batuffolina (strange, since I made the original posting!). The train is not the BEST option, unless you have a fear of flying and an aversion to sea travel.

In your case, Susan, I would suggest flying from Rome to Catania. There are plenty of cheap flights on Volareweb, Meridiana, Air One, and sometimes even on Alitalia.

On the return from Palermo, I would also suggest flying. As an alternative, you could take the overnight car ferry to Naples (9.5 hours), and then the train to Rome (2 hrs.), although this approach is not as efficient, and will end up costing you more (cabin on ship; taxi in Naples). Also, there could be rough seas during the month of February.

FYI, there is a daylight train to Rome from both Palermo and Catania. It's the Intercity train "Peloritano" which takes 10.5 hrs. from Palermo (lv. 7:45) to Rome (ar. 18:16). Part of the journey is scenic. Once again, it's a very long ride and flying can actually be cheaper. First class costs Euro 73.65, plus 3.00 for a seat reservation.

According to Trenitalia, there are brand new carriages on this IC train (similar to those on Eurostar trains, with totally open seating, and TOTALLY non-smoking in all carriages). The seat fabrics are new and clean, and even the restrooms are state-of-the-art.

If I wanted to travel overnight to Palermo, I'd go by sea. There are ships from both Civitavecchia and Napoli and cabins with bathrooms which are much more comfortable than any sleeping compartment on a train (www.gnv.it, www.tirrenia.it, www.snav.it). The train stops at lots of intermediate stations, so may be more convenient if you're heading somewhere along the rail route, but I wouldn't consider a seat for an overnight journey; even a cheap couchette will allow you to sleep much better than any seat.

Geoff reminds me that there is a new and excellent overnight car ferry service between Palermo and Civitavecchia which you could consider as an alternative to the Palermo to Naples run. It is operated by Grandi Navi Veloci, which is more upscale than the Tirrenia service to Naples. The crossing takes 12 hours (versus 9.5 hours to Naples). From Civitavecchia to Rome is 1.25 hours by frequent train. Going to Rome via Naples, however, is still faster by about two hours.

www.gnv.it

Flying remains the option of choice, in my opinion.

I just wish you guys could come up with an agreement about the "best" part!!!

This Intercity Night (ICN) train qualifies for the superdiscounted one-way promotional Trenitalia fare of 12 Euros, first or second class, any day of the week, inclusive of seat reservation, so long as purchased no later than 24 hours prior to train departure, and so long as limited seats at that fare are available on any given day. When seats at the 12 Euro fare are sold out, more seats at the 24 Euro fare become available. Superdiscounted seats are capacity-controlled. The fare excludes extras such as a couchette or a sleeping compartment.

This 12 Euro fare is ABSOLUTELY THE LOWEST FARE IN EXISTENCE for public transportation between Rome and Sicily (normal ICN fare is 66.29 Euros in first class to Palermo). As they say, "there ain't nothing lower", unless you swim.

For details, consult
www.trenitalia.com OR
www.trenitalia.it

I agree with the others that flying would be the best option. Some additional comments:
If you are renting a car, I hope you are a very intrepid driver. Palermo is VERY CHALLENGING. Also, Palermo is the hub of all roads, it is difficult to go anywhere on the west island without going through it. Otherwise it is a circuitous ride through the mountains. Another hint about car rental, try to get to land in Sicily as early in the day as possible so that you can rent the smallest car possible. We got there late in the day. They gave us a larger car. We asked to be switched to something smaller. Even that car was too wide for most of the streets(one way!!!) in Cefalu and other cities. Since we couldn't back up (other cars were behind us) we ended up getting the car stuck between two stone walls and getting the side crunched. It was a brand new car too. Horrors! We were there in the summer so maybe you would have a totally different experience. Good luck on your trip!

Sorry! I just read the date on this message. It was 04! Hope they had a good time!!!!

With the advent of low cost airlines, it is now possible to fly between Rome and Palermo (or Catania) for about the same price as taking the train or the overnight ferry (from Naples or Civitavecchia). In some cases, if you book well in advance and travel in low season, the cost of the flight can even be less.

Always check out the fares for these airlines, in addition to researching the train and the ferry options:

www.alitalia.it
www.volawindjet.it
www.blu-express.com

www.ferroviedellostato.it (train)

www.tirrenia.it (ferry between Naples and Palermo)
www.snav.it (ferry between Naples and Palermo)
www.snav.it (ferry between Civitavecchia and Palermo)
www.gnv.it (ferry between Civitavecchia and Palermo)
www.tttlines.it (ferry between Naples and Catania)
www.carontetourist.it (ferry between Salerno and Messina)

Here's updated information on the Rome to Palermo daily overnight train:

The name of the train is "Il Gattopardo" and it is an Intercity Night (ICN) train. The train is "all reserved", non-smoking and air-conditioned.

Departs Roma Termini at 20:30.
Arrives Palermo Centrale the next morning at 8:50.

Has carriages with second class seats (no first class seats), C4 quad couchettes, single, twin and triple sleeping compartments, and the special "Excelsior class" luxury sleepers with private facilities. Fares, per person including reservation:

Second class seat: 50 Euros
Couchette in quad compartment: 71.30 Euros
Twin sleeper: 95.30 Euros
Excelsior class twin sleeper: 125 Euros

These fares (except the Excelsior class) can be discounted 20% by purchasing the "AMICA" advance purchase fare.

There are also two daylight direct fast Intercity (IC) trains: the Peloritano, departing Roma Termini at 7:37; and the Archimede, departing Roma Termini at 11:28. Arrival in Palermo is 11 hours later. These too are all-reserved, non-smoking and air-conditioned trains. A second-class seat on this train costs 58 Euros to Palermo (20% less with the "AMICA" fare). These two trains divide in half at Messina, with half of the carriages proceeding to Taormina, Catania and Siracusa.

There is also an overnight ICN train from Roma Termini to Siracusa, the "Bellini", departing Roma Termini at 21:26, arriving in Siracusa at 10:00 the next morning. This train has the same types of accommodation as the ICN train "Il Gattopardo" to Palermo.

www.ferroviedellostato.it

Snav overnight ferry is only 76E (single) for a cabin (without any Happy fare special) Civitavecchia - Palermo. I think the ferry would be much more comfortable.

unless the seas are rough, of course. We were set to sail from Dubrovnik to Bari last year and the boat was scrubbed and we were left at the dock.