Travel advice for the funeral of Pope Francis

Last updated: Wednesday 23rd April 2025

Travelling to the ceremonial events

Rome is expected to be extremely busy over the coming days. Travellers are advised to plan their journey well in advance and check for any updates before they travel.

Find detailed travel information below

The funeral of Pope Francis

Lying in state

  • Wednesday 23rd April from 11:00 to midnight
  • Thursday 24th April from 07:00 to midnight
  • Friday 25th April from 07:00 to 19:00

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

For three days, starting from Wednesday 23rd April, St. Peter's Basilica will remain open to those wish to visit the body of the Pontiff. 

The funeral

Saturday 26th April

St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

The funeral of Pope Francis will take place on Saturday 26th April 2025 at 10:00, outdoors in front of St Peter's Basilica, on the first day of the Novendiali, as foreseen by the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis.

Large screens will be set up along Via della Conciliazione, Piazza Pia and Piazza Risorgimento.

After the funeral, you may want to consider the timing of your onwards journeys, as Rome will be very busy.

Burial

Saturday 26th April

Following the funeral, the coffin will be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica and from there taken to Santa Maria Maggiore for burial. The coffin will be buried in a simple tomb between the Cappella Paolina and the Cappella Sforza, as per the Pope's wishes.

Travelling to Rome

Flying to Rome

Rome has two airports: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, better known as Fiumicino Airport, and Ciampino Airport, which is mainly served by low-cost airline companies.

Fiumicino Airport

Fiumicino Airport is located 30 km away from Rome’s city centre. You can easily travel into Rome by both train (Leonardo Express and regional train services) and bus (Terravision, Autostradale and Fiumicino Express).

Ciampino Airport

Ciampino Airport is located in South-Eastern Rome, 16 km away from the city centre. To travel into Rome, hop on one of the Cotral/Schiaffini buses and then take a regional train to Ciampino train station.

 

Trains to Rome

Travelling to Rome by train is very simple, thanks to the good rail network and low-cost train tickets in Italy. Roma Termini is the main station of the capital, providing regional, national and international connections. Trenitalia and Italo provide high-speed services direct into the city from major destinations across Italy.

Popular train routes to Rome

  • Naples to Rome - fastest journey time is 45 minutes with direct trains available
  • Florance to Rome - fastest journey time is 1 hour and 16 minutes with direct trains available
  • Venice to Rome - fastest journey time is 3 hours and 15 minutes with direct trains available
  • London to Rome - fastest journey time is 14 hours and 24 minutes with 2 changes along the way

 

 

 

Increased rail services to and from Rome

Trenitalia has announced an increase in long-distance rail connections to and from airports, in order to ensure frequent connections to and from Rome.

Trenitalia discount for those travelling to attend the funeral

Trenitalia has made available a travel discount dedicated to those traveling to Rome to attend the Pope's funeral.

  • Promo code: ROME
  • 40% discount on Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Intercity and Intercity Notte trains.
  • Valid for travel to/from Rome between 23rd and 27th April 2025.
  • The discount applies to all available offers.

If you book using Trainline on the app, the discount will be applied automatically at the time of booking, without having to enter it manually. If you book via the web, you'll need to add the code via the 'Add discount code' button during your search.

Offer information

  • Promo code: ROME
  • Adds an extra 40% discount on all existing offers
  • Valid for travel on Frecce and Intercity services from 23/04/25 to 27/04/25

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are trains running on the day of the Pope’s funeral?

Yes, trains to and from Rome will be running regularly on the day of Pope Francis' funeral. However, a high influx of travellers is expected, so it's advised to plan your journey well in advance and check for any updates before you travel.

What are the recommended stations to travel to?

The recommended train stations are Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina for high-speed travellers and Roma San Pietro and Valle Aurelia for those travelling on regional trains.

Are train ticket discounts available?

Yes, Trenitalia has offered a 40% discount for those travelling for the Pope's funeral using the code ROMA. You can book directly on Trainline via our app and website.

 

Find & book tickets