First Trip to Italy

There are some big train stations (like Termini) in Rome proper. But there's also a little train station right at the Fiumicino (FCO) airport that will take you there. You walk from baggage claim at the airport to the train.

Only a few trains a day go directly from Rome's airport to Florence. Otherwise, you'll need to take the airport train to one of the Rome train stations and change there.

Sounds like you need to pick up a Rick Steves Italy guidebook to read about what to see and where to stay - that's what I always do.

Why would you divide your time in Rome? It would be most efficient to take a train to Florence the day you arrive and then spend time in Rome.

You need guidebook and a list of your interests/things you like. DK's Top Ten are a good way to prioritize. RS is good as well.

4 days = 5 nights. Is that what you have? Depending on arrival time in Rome, you could book it to Florence if that day is shot anyway. If not maybe you do Rome, then Florence, and then back.

Rome: Ancient, Medieval, Modern, and Christian is one way to divide the sites/sights. Most concentrate on Ancient (Romans) and Christian (Vatican). Good day trips are Ostia Antica, Hadrian's Villa, and Tivoli

Florence: It is all about art and architecture and the Renaissance. Good day trips by train are Lucca and Pisa, a bit further, you can to 5 Terre from there but it makes for a very long day. Siena would be on my list as well.

Have a great trip.

It sounds to me like the OP intends to go directly to Florence and not divide her time in Rome. And that is definitely the best plan. In addition to the train, there's a direct bus to Florence from the Rome airport (FiumicinoExpress.com). That might end up being easier, then train back from Florence for your time in Rome.

The plan is to go directly from the airport in Rome to Florence and stay there for 4 days and then go back to Rome for 4 days and fly out of Rome. I would love to take some time to see some hilltop towns in Tuscany. Best tours? I am traveling solo.

Two things to keep in mind in your itinerary is what time of day your flights will be arriving/leaving, and the fact that you will be jet-lagged and weary after a full-day of air travel. Depending on what time of day you arrive, you may want to consider starting your trip in Rome rather than extending your arrival by another couple of hours to get to Florence. The regional train from FCO to Roma Termini is a half-hour ride, so would be able to get to your hotel, settle in and start unwinding/exploring fairly quickly after dealing with flying, customs, etc. Likewise, if your departure flight is in the morning or early afternoon, then it makes sense to visit Florence second, since the last day will be lost to travel anyway

However, if you do decide to go directly to Florence, their are two direct trains from FCO to Florence, which leave at 11am & 3pm. More info here:

https://www.italiarail.com/pages/routes/rome-fiumicino-airport-to-florence

You can also take the regional train from the airport to Termini or Tiburtina stations in Rome, then transfer to a high-speed train to Florence. This is more of a hassle but gives you more flexibility with travel times.

As for the cities themselves, Florence is a very walkable city, so anywhere in the central area between Santa Maria Novella, Sant Ambroggio, and the Arno River is great. For a bit less crowds, check out Oltrarno (south side of the Arno). As far as day trips go, it depends on what you are seeking. If you are into wine tasting, there are plenty of Chianti day trips that travel to a winery or two and one of the towns in the Chianti region such as Greve. If you just want a solid day trip, I would recommend the Walkabout "Best of Tuscany" Tour, which takes you to Siena, then to an organic farm in the countryside for lunch, then to San Gimignano (a scenic hilltown famous for its many towers), and finishes off at the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa (aka home of the Leaning Tower). My wife and I did that during my 4-day stay in Florence a few years ago and we had a great time.

Rome: Since you have a relatively short stay you will want to be in the middle of the action. Booking anywhere near Campo de Fiori, Piazza Navona, or Pantheon would put you in the heart of the old city. Trastevere is another great neighborhood w/ good nightlife. My favorite stay was just off the Campo de Fiori, which is a cool little piazza which hosts a farmers market every morning. You may want to check Airbnb as there's lots of apartments for relatively cheap, especially since you are traveling solo. As for sights, what's must-do depends on where your interests lie. The most famous sights (Coliseum/Forum, Pantheon, Vatican, etc.) are all "can't miss" in my opinion, but my favorite part of Rome is just exploring the city center, as it is a messy, wonderful, vibrant maze to get lost in. Check out Rick Steves' "Heart of Rome" walk for a more structured version of this:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwiOg979-uHeAhXpjlQKHeLuAo4QFjAAegQIExAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ricksteves.com%2Fwatch-read-listen%2Faudio%2Faudio-tours%2Fheart-of-rome-walk-map-1.pdf&usg=AOvVaw2F_nzksX__ufKOFxsigtkH

Day tours out of Florence: a second vote for Walkabout "Best of Tuscany" Tour. I did that tour less than a year ago and it was great. There were, however, about 20-24 people in our group, but the pace was good and the guide smart and engaging. Another great day tour is anything with Tours by Roberto. Look on his website for day tours. They will usually pick up in both Florence and Siena. These are smaller tours, max 8-10 people. The first people to book on any given day choose which tour (of about 4 possibilities) will go that day, and then others can sign on to join it. And do pick up a copy of RS's Italy 2019, if you haven't already. He gives a good list of best places to visit in each city, with quick descriptions, then longer descriptions elsewhere in each chapter. This might help you discern your priorities in each city. The book will also help you know where you want to make timed-entry reservations (ex: Florence: Accademia [David] & Uffizi; Rome: Vatican Museums, Borghese Gallery, Coliseum) and how to make them. Finally: When I travel solo, I prefer to use hotels with a 24-hour desk person, so that someone sees me coming and going. I just feel safer that way.

Some of us sound like broken records, but you really need to check out a guidebook or two to see what you want to do and how to do it. The Rick Steves 2019 Italy guidebook is on sale on this website, and can get you pointed in the right direction. Trying to "wing it" with input from people who may not have a clue about your likes or dislikes is a good way to spend a lot of money while trying to shoehorn your vacation into someone else's desires.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. They are much appreciated and give me a starting point. I have also purchased RS guide book.
Again, thanks so much.

I like your idea of going straight to Florence from the Rome airport.

I stayed at Hotel Davanzati in Florence and would recommend it. It has a nice central location and was less expensive than many other hotel options in the area. Family owned. Laundry service, if needed. Good breakfast. I think it's a recommended hotel in Rick's guide (though I found it through other means).

A place in Florence that I like that is not in the tour guides is Biblioteca delle Oblate, a public library that is a block or two from the Duomo and has excellent views of it, particularly from it's cafe, which has cheap (but good) food/coffee.

Happy travels!

In Rome we always stay at Hotel Aberdeen. Wonderful staff, very good breakfast, clean rooms. It is located a couple of blocks from the train station and near the Piazza Repubblica metro stop, although we find walking in Rome preferable to public transportation. As far as what to see in Rome, it depends on what you like. In such a short stay, the ancient sites (Colosseum, the Forum, Palatine Hill) and the Pantheon would be at the top of my list. I'd take an evening stroll to the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and Campo d'Fiore. A visit to the Borghese Gallery would be good if you enjoy wonderful art. There are so many places to see and things to do in Rome, as the saying goes "Una vita non è basta per Roma." Buon Viaggio!