A train adorned with festive decorations, Christmas music and a scent of panettone — it sounds like a scene from a film, yet Italy’s state railway company has made it real. The Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) is launching a special holiday night service that will carry passengers from Rome to the most famous Christmas markets in northern Italy, Austria and Munich.
Following the success of this year’s Oktoberfest Express, FS is now promoting its seasonal follow-up: the “Espresso Monaco – Christmas Markets Edition.” The train will run on the second and third Advent weekends, giving travellers the chance to visit multiple festive destinations in one trip.
The journey is part of the experience
Despite the name, the “Express” is not about speed. The idea is to enjoy the journey itself. Departing Roma Termini at 8 p.m. on Friday, the train reaches Munich Hauptbahnhof around 1:30 p.m. the following day. Along the way, it stops in Verona, Bolzano and Innsbruck, all home to renowned Christmas markets of their own.
The timetable is deliberately relaxed. FS says the slower pace ensures passengers arrive at “pleasant times” without early-morning wake-ups. The route through the Alps, illuminated by winter scenery, is meant to be part of the adventure rather than a mere transfer between cities.
Music, decorations and a festive menu on board
The train’s carriages will be decorated with seasonal ornaments, soft lighting and Christmas tunes to create a joyful atmosphere — ideal for families and children. In the dining car, passengers can look forward to a special holiday menu, crowned with traditional Italian desserts Pandoro and Panettone.
While the railway has not revealed the full menu, officials promise an “authentic Italian Christmas experience” complete with local wines and warm dishes reflecting regional cuisine along the route.
Return from Munich and flexible travel options
After a night’s stay in Munich — perfect for exploring the Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt or enjoying Bavarian specialties — the Espresso Monaco returns to Rome on Sunday afternoon, arriving early Monday morning.
For those wishing to extend their stay, FS allows flexible rebooking for the return trip, giving travellers the freedom to linger a bit longer in Bavaria’s festive atmosphere.
Treni Turistici Italiani: reviving the romance of train travel
The Espresso Monaco is part of a broader tourism initiative by Treni Turistici Italiani, a new FS division dedicated to reviving scenic and nostalgic rail journeys. Its mission is to blend sustainable mobility with unique travel experiences — where the route itself becomes the destination.
Upcoming plans include new routes across the Alps and within Italy, such as Cuneo–Ventimiglia, a spectacular line through mountain valleys, and Florence–Orcia Valley, which passes Tuscany’s cinematic landscapes.
By combining heritage trains, comfortable cabins and themed trips, the company hopes to make rail travel fashionable again — just in time for the holidays.
