Food on train from Rome airport to Florence

The train departs at 11:08 and gets to Firenze SMN at about 1pm, which is just about the time Italians have lunch (1pm to 2:30pm) typically. Just have breakfast at the hotel in the morning (although an Italian breakfast, if you want to call it that, consists just of a cappuccino and a pastry) and lunch when you get to Florence.

We just stayed at the Rome Airport Hilton. If you have access to the Executive Lounge they do have lots of variety for breakfast, not just coffee and pastries. . There is also a giant buffett breakfast downstairs. If you are Hilton Gold or Diamond, both are free. I think they both open for breakfast as early as 6am. So you could also just have a later breakfast, just before you leave.

As for lunch or snacks, maybe the easiest thing would be to pick something up the night you arrive at the airport, before you make your way to the hotel. To get to the hotel, you are going to be waking through the airport- and probably taking the walkway to the hotel. You might want to buy some snacks a long the way to save for your trip.

As for takeaway options at the hotel, I'm sure you could also find something in one of the restaurants. You could call the hotel in advance and ask them. Otherwise, pick something up on the way back through the airport to the train.

Lastly, depending on what class of service you have to Florence, you might get a free drink and snack (it's not really free because it's a more expensive tickets). However, the trains usually have options to buy food or drink.

Thanks. We have limited time in Florence so we have already booked a museum that afternoon. I'd rather have lunch on the train. (Bad, bad things happen if I skip meals.). We can definitely pick up snacks on our way through the airport. I would guess that the hotel might be able to do take away sandwiches for us? But if there is edible food on the train, that might be the simplest option.

Thank you!

I'd suggest packing some granola bars, small trail mix packs or something like Belvita packs in your carry-on. Take some out of the box and bring them with you. They take up little space. I'm sure you'll find food, but I like to always have something on me just in case.

We're always prepared for picnics, if needed, on trains. I too have to eat on a strict time schedule.

There will either be a food/snack car on the train or push cart in the aisle. It will be so so but ok if it needed. However, service in the snack car can be very slow. Have cash.

crl,

The high speed trains usually have a dining car, and the food is not too bad. I've found the Panini are often pre-packaged but fresh that day. I don't tend to use the dining car that often, as I travel solo so that means hauling all my luggage with me as it could "disappear" during my absence. There are usually food carts that travel through the train, and you can get a coffee or whatever from those.

If you want to dine on the train, given your circumstances I'd get the hotel to prepare a couple of sandwiches or whatever, and then you'll be all set when you depart from the FCO station. Perhaps they could also supply a small bottle of wine.

Thanks everyone!

There are fresh options at the train station, too, including sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, salads.

I was wondering about the train stations as well. Zoe indicated they have food stock. Some of the best run and go meals I have had came out of train stations and airports in Hamburg and Munich - as many here may echo. Grocery stores with hot and cold food as well - no idea if the FCO airport has a supermarket? Would be nice to know.

If I'm reading the post correctly, the OP will be spending one night at the Rome Airport Hilton, and then taking a direct high speed train from the airport to Florence the next morning.

My memory is a bit foggy on this, but I don't recall too many food joints at the platforms at FCO rail station (which is a short walk from the Hilton via a covered walkway). To find more food vendors it would probably be necessary to go deeper into the airport, and that's not something I'd want to do when catching a train that has compulsory seat reservations. Under the circumstances, the best options for food would be.....

• Ask the hotel to put a bag lunch together, perhaps a Panini, a beverage and some fruit.
• Buy lunch from the restaurant car on the train.

While that particular train makes a 10 minute stop at Roma Termini and an 8 minute stop at Roma Tiburtina, that won't (IMO) be enough time to get off the train, buy a meal at one of the food joints and get back before the train departs.

The hotel has 3 different dining options and one of them is a bar offering sandwiches, snacks and desserts: open 8:00 AM. I'm sure they could wrap something up for you on the morning of your departure to take to the train but do give them plenty of time to get it together. Same with checkout at the reception desk: I'm seeing some comments about slow service at both. Also, your bill for a bag lunch shouldn't be exorbitant but neither would I expect it to be inexpensive at a Hilton.

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/italy/hilton-rome-airport-ROMAPTW/dining/index.html

Yes, it is a direct train. And no I would not risk getting off at any stops to grab something. Sounds like the Hilton should be able to provide sandwiches and if that doesn't work out for some reason we should be able to buy something on the train. I feel better prepared now. Thank you!

I’ve taken the direct train from the airport multiple times, and that train does have a restaurant car. Although I’ve not used it and cannot attest to the quality, the prices seem reasonable. Alternatively, you can go to the arrival concourse of Terminal 3 and buy a sandwich or other takeaway lunch item there, then take the underpass to the train departure platform. There are at least 2 places along the concourse that sell a nice selection of sandwiches, and they’re better quality than the ones available at the café at the train departure platform.