Looking for guidance on quickest way from Philly to Florence; expense also considered but want to minimize travel time and number of transfers. Suggestions? London and fly? Rome and train? Venice? We plan to go at Christmas and also wondering if there are reduced numbers of options due to off season. Any input welcome -- thank you!
Posted by
Green Bay
21384 posts
US Air has nonstop to Rome. You can get to Florence in 2 1/2 hours using the express train to Termini and change to a Feccia train to Florence. There are more flights in the summer, US Air also flies to Venice in the summer, and there are nonstops JFK to Pisa, but prices are higher anyway. Flying into Florence can be done using Lufthansa through Frankfurt for the same price, but total travel time would be longer due to layovers.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16240 posts
Non stop US Airways to FCO then train to Florence.
If you want to fly to FLR from PHL the options are:
Lufthansa via FRA
Delta/AirFrance via CDG
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks very much Sam and Roberto - very helpful!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
Are you looking at flying into Florence (FLR) and flying out of another airport such as Rome-FCO. Easy to do by selecting Multi-City on your flight planning. With advance planning, you can get similar fares to a round-trip fare to just one airport. Note that Florence is a smaller airport and there are not many direct flights in from the USA or out to the USA. We have flown in from California on Lufthansa via Frankfurt. There are some during the summer such as US Airways and Delta from certain airports in the USA. I'm not sure about the winter.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1075 posts
If you are flying USAir - look at their nonstop to Venice from Philly (I take it every June). It actually is a couple of hundred dollars cheaper. Frequently I fly back from Rome - and still save a bit. Train from Mestre (don't go all the way into Venice if you don't want to) is quite easy - the bus lets you off right at the front of the terminal now.
Posted by
Green Bay
21384 posts
@ Robert. Unfortunately US Air is only doing Venice now in the summer months. Hurray for airline mergers!
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Second-class train tickets from Milan airport to Florence cost about $80 or Rome Airport to Florence cost about $70 to buy on the spot (instead of an advance discount that locks in date and time). When comparing these airports against flights to Florence, you'd want to save at least $100 each way.