Without spending a euro, travellers can leave Rome and reach Tuscia or southern Lazio on selected dates. The timetable running until 10 December 2026 includes 18 free tourist trains on the Rome–Viterbo and Rome–Cassino routes, designed around the region’s major walking routes.
The Viterbo line also includes dedicated buses for Civita di Bagnoregio, Bolsena and the Mandela area. Seats must be booked in advance through Trenitalia channels, and the travel ticket, with a reserved seat, is issued free of charge.
The initiative is part of the Antichi Cammini d’Italia project, funded by the European Union through NextGenerationEU and the PNRR (Caput Mundi) programme. It is run by the Ministry of Tourism and operated by FS Treni Turistici Italiani, in collaboration with Fondazione FS Italiane.
How it works
The free tourist trains connect Rome with areas crossed by the Via Francigena, Via Francigena del Sud, Cammino di San Francesco, Romea Strata, Romea Germanica and Cammino di San Benedetto.
Booking is compulsory but free. It includes a same-day return journey and, on the Tuscia route, last-mile bus connections as well. On board, there is a welcome and assistance service, information about the walking routes, a Box del Pellegrino or Pilgrim’s Box, and catering facilities.
Rome–Viterbo: timetable and dates for discovering Tuscia
The first route travels between Rome Termini and Viterbo, stopping at useful points for joining the walking routes and bus connections.
The outbound service leaves Rome Termini at 8:15 am. It calls at Monterotondo at 8:49 am, Montefiascone at 10:12 am, Viterbo Porta Fiorentina at 10:27 am and Viterbo Porta Romana at 10:35 am.
The return train leaves Viterbo Porta Romana at 3:09 pm and arrives at Rome Termini at 5:30 pm, without intermediate stops. Seven travel dates are scheduled, covering the autumn until late November.
These are the planned dates for the Rome–Viterbo service. Each is a day trip with limited capacity, so advance booking is recommended.
- 27 September 2026
- 4 October 2026
- 11 October 2026
- 18 October 2026
- 1 November 2026
- 15 November 2026
- 22 November 2026
Included buses for Civita di Bagnoregio and Bolsena
One of the key points is the train-and-bus integration on the Tuscia route. Passengers getting off at Montefiascone can use the buses included with their ticket for Civita di Bagnoregio and Bolsena, reaching destinations without a railway station that are linked to the Via Francigena.
For Civita di Bagnoregio, the bus is expected to leave Montefiascone at 10:45 am and arrive at around 11:45 am. The return service leaves Civita at 2 pm and reaches Viterbo Porta Romana in time for the return train.
The connection to Bolsena also leaves Montefiascone and is intended for stages around the lake, which are likewise linked to the Via Francigena route.
Monterotondo to Mandela: towards the Cammino di San Benedetto
The same day-trip service also provides an option for the Mandela and Vicovaro area, useful for reaching the Cammino di San Benedetto, or St Benedict’s Way.
The train arrives in Monterotondo at 8:49 am, where a dedicated bus leaves at approximately 9:20 am. In this case, the return trip to Rome is by bus directly from Mandela in the afternoon, following the practical information provided on board and by the welcome staff.
This option gives travellers another way to spend the day on a section of the Benedictine routes without complicated connections.
Rome–Cassino: along the Via Francigena del Sud
The second route heads towards southern Lazio and the Via Francigena del Sud, the itinerary that continues south from Rome towards Apulia’s historic ports for the Holy Land.
The train leaves Rome Tiburtina at 7:43 am and arrives in Cassino at 9:57 am. The return journey is scheduled for 4:32 pm, arriving back in the capital at 6:51 pm.
There are 11 dates in the timetable, ending with the final service on 10 December 2026. The number of journeys is fixed, and places on public holidays or nearby dates may be taken up quickly.
- 29 September 2026
- 20 October 2026
- 5 November 2026
- 12 November 2026
- 19 November 2026
- 24 November 2026
- 26 November 2026
- 1 December 2026
- 3 December 2026
- 8 December 2026
- 10 December 2026
Montecassino without a dedicated shuttle
There is no last-mile bus service on the Rome–Cassino route. Cassino station is considered a direct access point for the town and the Via Francigena del Sud routes, according to Fondazione FS.
The Abbey of Montecassino, founded by St Benedict in the 6th century and a symbol of Western monasticism, can still be reached locally. However, no specific shuttle is included in the free tourist-train programme. A visit to the abbey therefore needs to be arranged independently after arriving in Cassino.
What is included with the €0 ticket
The free ticket is issued in the passenger’s name, includes a reserved seat and a same-day return journey. On the Rome–Viterbo route, it also includes the dedicated buses for Civita di Bagnoregio, Bolsena and the Mandela area, according to the programme.
On board, passengers receive a welcome and assistance service, route information, the Box del Pellegrino and catering facilities. Boarding without a booking is not permitted, as seats are checked in the same way as on any service requiring compulsory reservations.
Article first seen on The Wom Travel: Biglietti a 0 euro per fuggire da Roma: arrivano i nuovi treni gratis verso questi borghi da sogno da prenotare subito
Source: https://www.idealista.it/