2 Stops to Florence or Direct to Rome and Train

Oh ABSOLUTELY fly direct to Rome, then you can get started on your vacation! You can take the frequent trains to Florence right away (you can buy the tickets upon arrival into the main station at the airport on your phone or via the machines, whichever is easiest). It beats waiting around for a plane to take off.

Easy choice for me - Munich, as it's one of the easier transfer airports in Europe. We've done it many times and it was always easy and as a bonus your luggage will be checked through to Florence.

Having connected in Germany and onward to Florence with no problems perhaps eight times over the years….I would pick that way every time.
If you pick Rome, you’ll be on your own getting the train etc.
Munich is super efficient.

If you start your vacation in Florence and end it in Rome, you should fly into Florence and fly back from Rome. That of course assumes the flight prices to Florence via Munich are not hugely more expensive than flying directly to Rome.

By flying to Florence first you will ultimately save time (and time is money), because if you fly to Rome and take the train to Florence it will take you at least 4 hours after landing before you arrive in Florence (the train journey itself is about 2.5 hours, not including waiting time for the next available train). Taking the train also requires a train change at Roma Termini station where you will need to schlep your luggage on and off train, as well as walk to the platform to the train to Florence. On trains nobody handles your luggage for you. You must load it and unload it on the overhead compartment yourself, and unless you travel with carry on only, that could be a pain.

Moreover you will save substantial train money as well as the train ticket from Rome Fiumicino airport to Florence costs 64€ ($75) per person one way, so for your family of 4 it would be an additional $300.

I’ve flown from San Francisco to Florence (my birthplace) via Munich more times than I can remember over the almost 40 years since I moved to California (I go to Florence at least once a year, sometimes 3 times a year) and there is no airport in Europe where the connection to Florence is easier than in Munich. I guarantee it.

Roberto, you (and Mike and SJ) made some excellent points. All of those considered, I'm dumping the previous vote for Rome+ train.

Hey, a gal can change her mind, right?

Just be prepared to the extreme landing at FLR airport, one of the shortest runways in Europe.

Given the short length of the runway (5000 ft only) as soon as the jet touches the ground the pilot will engage the reverse thrust at full force, and will slam on the breaks in a way that you probably have not experienced in any flight. So fasten your belts tight and place your arms on the back of the seat in front of you, otherwise you might hit your nose against the seat in front.

Some people get scared and after that experience swear they'll never land at Florence again, but don't worry, pilots flying to Florence must receive a special certification and Airbus has installed a special break kit for the planes flying to Florence, which is aptly called "the Florence break kit". Here is an example (Florence will be on your right, as you land. You will be flying an Embraer 195 (a slightly smaller regional jet) from MUC to FLR, instead of an Airbus 319/320 which is heavier, so the experience will not be as scary as with the Airbus.

I would take the two flights. After the transatlantic flight, it's much easier and less stressful to wait at another airport gate rather than navigate the train systems. Plus, you'll probably get to Florence faster by air than by train.

Thank you all and a very interesting points! In terms of price, the prices obviously can change this far out, but the itinerary with the flight direct to Rome is a $100-$200 cheaper. We will be returning to the states through Milan so it would not be a round trip flight.

My one thought for the train was that we have experienced our baggage being lost (we have always taken 2 carry-ons with a days clothes for all of our family since that experience early in our traveling adventures) and we will probably just check 2 medium suitcases. Otherwise, the typical flight cancelations and delays which could impact our connection. I just really hate the idea of losing a day because of a missed connection - with a direct flight, if we land, we have everything and are ready to go... Obviously, low risk of flight delays/cancelations and lost baggage, but present.... The other thing that was appealing is just getting the energy from landing in Italy and navigating the trains. My children will be in their early 20s, so luggage moving will be fine. My research has the train to Termini about 30 minutes and the fast train to Florence at 1.5 hours. Sure, timing still puts that at probably 3-4 hours with walking, buying tickets, etc. The other cool thing is our lodging is only about a 15 minute walk from Santa Maria Novella, and again the energy from arriving to your destination may keep us awake so that we can try to make it without napping. I would anticipate an early afternoon arrival.

Seems like I have some food for thought. Thank you all for your input. It is pleasing to know that Munich is really an easy transition airport!

I think you need to share your exact itinerary. If your intention is to start in Florence and end in Milan, then I don’t understand the need to fly to Rome if you don’t intend to see Rome. If Rome is part of the itinerary to visit, then it makes sense to fly to Rome, then after visiting Rome go north to Florence and after Florence head further north to Milan.

Milan is in the north, Rome is in the center of Italy, and Florence is exactly half way between Rome and Milan.

So tell us what you intend to visit, then we can advise.

Thank you Roberto for your inquiry -- The topic was more academic in that I have two relatively convenient ways to arrive to my Italian destination - by plane vs train. My family and I have already visited Rome so we will visit Florence, Siena, Tuscany, Cinque Terre and then end our trip with several days with our family friends near Brescia. Milan is the most direct connection for us near their home.

I can arrive directly to Italy via Rome or connect to Italy via Munich - just trying to take a poll if given the option, would you trust the airlines or venture out for public transport? As my investigation goes, the arrival time in Florence will be essentially the same. I think that really boils down the decision - trust airport systems to transfer our bags and get us on time to make our Munich flight or arrive to Italy boots on the ground and take our final arrival destination upon us and public transport. I know money will come to play, but I'm operating as that variable is essentially negligible between the options.

Just trying to gauge the well traveled opinion. For more flight details, via Munich is Luftansa-Air Dolomiti; Rome is direct American Airlines.

Thanks!

If you are worried about your bags getting lost, then you could pack carry-on only. My husband and I are able to pack for a 2 and a half week European trip with two carry-on sized bags and two backpacks. We even bring a laptop for remote work. We divide our clothes between the two carry-on bags just in case they get gate checked, and we put extra clothes in our backpacks.

I'm not sure how long your trip will be, but you can always clean your clothes halfway through the trip. Staying at a place with a washer is the easiest. The next best thing is Zote laundry soap. Just take a portion of a bar and keep in in a bar soap holder. You can handwash clothes in your bathroom. During the first night at a new destination, my husband will take clothes into the shower and wash them with the Zote. This gives the clothes a couple days to dry out before they have to packed again.

As you can tell, my vote is still for the flights only option :-)

Air Dolomiti is part of Lufthansa. Never had a problem with bag transfers at Munich, but whenever I had bag transfer issues in my life, it was always because of extremely close connections due to flight delays (and once at CDG because of baggage theft, since Air France never found the luggage).

In your shoes I would opt for the MUC-FLR flight, since for your trip, Rome would be an unnecessary detour since you don't intend to visit Rome. I'd consider it only if the flight savings were substantial over flying to Florence, because landing in Rome means $75 more in train fare, plus extra time to reach Florence. The airplane transfer of luggage is always preferable to schlepping luggage on and off trains, especially because you don't need to retrieve the luggage in MUC and recheck it to FLR, the luggage goes straight to FLR where you get it at the bag claim.

Rome could be an option if your traveling route includes renting a car and visiting the southern area of Tuscany. In that case you would land, rent a car at FCO, and drive up north to southern Tuscany first, then return the car in Siena or Florence, then finally by train to Cinque Terre and eventually Milan.

Bags rarely get really totally lost, but they do get temporarily mislayed, and I would rather be staying in the city whose airport I am flying into rather than in a city a long train ride away. My bag had never been mislayed in many decades of travel until this past year when it went astray twice --- both times it was lost in my home airport (no idea why!), so it wasn't a big deal and I got it back.

Florence is a nice small airport and close to the historic center --- after a long flight and because I am very familiar with Florence's big busy train station, I'd probably want to take a taxi from the airport to my accommodation. Especially with four people, a taxi makes sense.

Also, assuming jetlag, I'd rather transfer from one plane to another in Munich without luggage to deal with, than to have to collect my bags, train into Rome, get another train to Florence (dealing with my bag the whole time), and walk from the train station to hotel or apartment. It is of course possible and we have done it several times in Italy, but really not what I would call fun. Although if you can pack as lightly as, say, Jean from Idaho, that would make a difference.