Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Itinerary Advice - trains to CT and Rome in the evening?

Posted by on

Hello fellow travelers.

I'm looking for advice regarding spending an additional night in Florence (Day 4)? Currently, I have the schedule so that we are getting a train to CT in the evening.....but it seems like I have quite a few days in Rome. So, the question is.....do I shift the schedule so that I take the morning train on Day 5 to Monterosso, and then take the train to Rome. Also, how difficult is it to navigate the train stations in the evening? (I was thinking it would be a good use of our time...to slump in a train seat after a day of sight seeing). Thoughts?

Day 1 (Sat in late Sept). Arrive Rome 7am. Take high speed train directly to Florence. Hotel in Florence.

Day 2(Sun) Florence - Uffizi Gallery, Accademia

Day 3(Mon) - take all day Tuscan Day trip: Siena, San Gimignano, Lunch at winery. (organized tour)

Day 4 (Tues) - Florence and Medici Chapels ,etc. At 4pm, take train to Monterosso al Mare (7pm arrival). Apt in Monterosso.

Day 5(Wed) - short hike in CT, shop, beach, sunset boat ride

Day 6(Thurs) - do whatever in CT, then at 4pm take high speed train from CT back to ROME. Hotel in Rome.

Day 7(Friday)) - do all things Vatican.

Day 8(Sat) - Collosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine hill

Day 9 (Sun) - church at St. Peter's Basilica. Not sure what else to do??

Day 10)Monday) fly from Rome airport to US.

Posted by
559 posts

Are you aware that the trains servicing CT are regional trains? Which means you'll be changing trains at LaSpezia from Firenze.

Returning to Rome, you're probably best leaving Monterosso in the AM, change trains in LaSpezia to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, then either change trains to a high-speed or, remain on the same train to Rome.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you.

I was trying to make the best use of our time, so considering going back to Rome in the evening (and grab a taxi from train station to the hotel).

Is it complicated to switch trains? From Florenze to LaSpienza, then to Monterroso...is it complicated to switch trains?

Posted by
23642 posts

It is not complicated to change trains. Sometimes you may have to go to a different platform and sometimes you walk to the other side of your current platform. And I have had several times where I exited the train, my train left and a new one pulled in behind and I got on the new train. The thing that is critical is to know your next train number, go the head of the platform till you can see the departure board, check for platform number. However, platform numbers can change as late as 15 to 20 prior to departure -- rare but can happen -- so stay within sight of a departure board till about ten minutes before and then go to the correct platform.

Posted by
559 posts

Is it complicated to switch trains? From Florenze to LaSpienza, then to Monterroso...is it complicated to switch trains?

Not at all, just maintain some awareness of the train number, which track that train will be arriving at and departure times. There may be delays with the trains for a variety of reasons so, be prepared for that and not cut your schedule so close that you have little margin for the unexpected, hence why departing in the AM on Day-7 may be a more prudent option.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.