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flying into Milan versus Rome to go to Assisi

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I am planning to start in Assisi next May moving to Venice, Verona, and Lake Como. We have previously been to Rome, Florence, and Sienna. I plan to depart out of Milan but am still figuring out the best arrival airport. I can fly direct to and from Milan reasonably (from Miami) but a multi city itinerary flying into Rome and out of Milan requires two flights and several of these that are reasonably priced (American, Tap Portugal) have tight connections. (like just over an hour in Lisbon and Madrid) So I have been going back and forth on wisdom of flying to Milan directly and taking the train to Assisi versus flying to Rome with a connection and taking train to Assisi.

There is a train to Assisi from Milan that takes 4.5 hours every two hours with one connection. This routing has a 13 minute connection in Florence. Is this doable? I think the train from Florence to Assisi is a regional train so if we missed it, we could take a later train. But of course, that means it will take longer to get to Assisi.

I have flown into Milan three times previously and it was very efficient except for luggage. I don't plan to check luggage this time. I was thinking 3 hours from arrival time to get though airport to Milan station to get a train. Does that seem reasonable? I know the advice is to not prepurchase train tickets for day of arrival but I am trying to figure out likely scenarios, since the routing of 4.5 hours is only available every 2 hours.

Trip from Rome airport to Assisi is short of 3 hours with one connection. Like from Milan, there are longer routes with more connections which I of course do not prefer.

Time wise, I don't think there is much difference between flying directly to Milan, taking train to Milan Centrale, and then train to Assisi via Florence and taking flight to Rome with a connection and then taking train to Assisi via Rome Tirbutina. Money wise it is cheaper to fly round trip into Milan and take the train but the difference is not huge by the time you consider that the train to Assisi is more expensive than that from Rome.

Thoughts?

Posted by
8219 posts

I would fly into Florence if the price was reasonable or go with an airfare that I could comfortably pay for.

Posted by
16895 posts

I would choose the direct flight to Milan, since the trains are pretty similar, more of them to choose between, and less hassle if a connection is missed (versus flight connection). Yes, you can take a later connecting train from Florence to Assissi, if necessary. Both Milano Centrale and Firenze SMN are dead-end stations, so you don't have to go up and down stairs to change platforms, just walk to the front of the train.

Posted by
7737 posts

Have you thought about spending a night or two in Bologna on your way to Assisi? It's got a lot going for it, including the best food in the country.

Posted by
339 posts

I've never flown into/out of Milan (I will in 4 weeks)... But in 2017, we were talking to a couple from New Jersey who have an apartment in Assisi. They go there a couple times each year. They said that they always prefer using Milan versus Rome, because it is so much easier. The subject came up in the Rome airport after our flight to Newark was canceled. I'm not sure why they were in the Rome airport for this trip, but they said "never again"!!!

Posted by
2863 posts

This is so helpful! Thank you! I will nix flying into Rome. The Milan preference from the couple who travels regularly to Assisi is invaluable. I know Milan is easy but have never flown into Rome.

I had never considered flying into Florence but will look into it.

We aren’t big foodies so Bologna doesn’t hold the attraction for us as some others.

Posted by
1608 posts

We have flown into and out of Milan, Rome, Venice, and Florence airports and would prefer Florence every time --- such a nice little airport and so close to the city and its train station!

Posted by
16183 posts

Rome is closer, but if Milan has a non stop and is more reasonably priced, you can probably deal with the longer train journey.

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