Need quick answer re: FCO airport and train to Florence

Hi KRS,

It's reasonable. Book it. What time is your flight arriving in Rome ? Book your train tickets in advance from Rome to Florence to save.

I'll land at 1:45pm. It's a 9 hour flight.

a train to Florence from Rome is easy and fast. There are two trains a day directly from the FCO airport to Florence with no changes. Otherwise, you change once at either Termini or Tiburtina in Rome, and you can do that all day long at least once/hour. Book the flight, then come back and search or ask for train details if you need help. People have asked this quite often, so you can probably find what you need without much trouble, but don't hesitate to ask.

ETA: Well, the last direct train leaves the airport at 1:53 daily, so you'll need to do the one-change option. Not hard at all unless you have too much luggage to manage.

Book a train from Rome airport to Florence around 4pm time slot and after. Since you land at 1:45pm, that will give you plenty of time to clear customs and walking to the train with your luggage.

Be sure to allow enough time
I wouldn't book a train in advance for any less than 4 hours from arrival time

I was mistaken. 1:45 is when I’ll be back in the states. My flight at FCO in Rome lands at 8:10am. Someone else said not to pre-book the train in case my flight is delayed, but since I’m landing so early, I’ll have time to get a ticket, right? I would think there are multiple trains throughout the day?

Okay, the flights are booked. Thank you for the quick responses. Now I guess I’ll head back to my other topic/post to start working out hotel recommendations, etc.. Thanks, this is a huge step for me. My first solo trip to Europe!

I'd guess that 1:53 direct train from FCO to Firenze would work if you don't mind a bit of a wait. Allow time to get off the plane, get thru passport control, collect your bags, grab a bite to eat?

Purchasing in advance gives you a decent savings
Otherwise- take the Leonardo Express to Termini and catch train to Firenze there. (I didn't look at those schedules).

The other direct is at 10:53- too risky

KRS - There are 39 trains from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Florence every day. So you can definitely get a ticket when you land. After landing at 8:10am at FCO then picking up your luggage and clearing customs, You might be able to get on a train to Florence around 10am and after.

I’ll be landing in Rome April 1 and leaving April 9. Turns out that’s Holy Week, so now I’m worried about getting hotels etc. I started a new topic about that, and I started one a few days ago about general info.

I think my nervousness is getting the best of me. I should probably stick with the other topic/post threads now, but if anyone has input, I’m open to as much help as I can get!

KRS,

As you noted, it's not a good idea to buy advance purchase train tickets to connect with an incoming flight. If there are any delays at all and you miss the train you've booked, the ticket is worthless and you'll have to buy another at full price (Base fare). Even with one change at Termini or Tiburtina, it's not a difficult trip. There are both Kiosks and ticket offices at FCO airport.

If your trip requires a train change, the first segment will be either on the Leonardo Express or FL1 regional trains, and then from Rome to Florence via high speed Freccia (only a 90 minute trip). You'll likely receive two separate tickets, one for each train. NOTE that tickets for the L.E. or FL1 MUST be validated prior to boarding the train, or you may face hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!

Note that your destination station will be Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

Go to trenitalia.com to see train schedules from FCO to Florence. Your departing station will be "Fiumicino" and your arrival station will be "Firenze SML". It will show you the combinations of trains leaving FCO (all of those Leonardo Express trains - and the other trains - that leave FCO approx. every 30") and their connections to the Freccia (fast) Trenitalia trains leaving Roma Termini, and also will show you other connections through Roma Tiburtina station. Do make sure that you give yourself at least a 15" connection at Termini, as the LE sometimes pulls into a platform a good 10" walk from other platforms. On the LE you'll take any available seat and DO have to validate your ticket in a little green box on the train platform, before boarding. On a Freccia train, you'll choose your seat when you purchase your ticket, and won't need to validate your ticket before boarding. Note: When I took the LE from FCO to Roma Termini a couple of weeks ago, only one of four of the green validation machines on the train platforms was working! NOTE: I got through immigration and customs at FCO in about 30" recently (with just carry-on bags); the train station is only about a 5-8 minute walk from your exit from baggage claim area into the main terminal, but there's no telling how long it will take you. You may well make that 10:53 direct train to Firenze SML, but I wouldn't pre-purchase your ticket.