Going to Florence with a side trip to Pisa and Lucca. Also going to Rome with a side trip to Pompeii. Won't be renting a car, so only using train and city transportation. Flying into Rome, train to Florence and train back to Rome aside from the side trips. Plan to go to several museums and sites in both cities. Is it worth it to get a rail pass, Firenze card and/or a Roma Pass?
There are so many options and some say not worth it. It is all a bit confusing. Don't want to waist money. Any insight would be helpful in our decision process.
Posted by
Chicago
8234 posts
No need for a rail pass in Italy. By the way you have described your itinerary the earlier you buy train tickets Rome to Florence roundtrip the cheaper the price. The train side trips the prices will stay the same except Rome to Pompeii.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
Check at the website of the Italian railways the prices of your intended journeys. An advance-bought ticket from Rome to Florence on the high-speed train can be as cheap as EUR 19,90. A mere EUR 7,60 brings you from Florence to Lucca.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32398 posts
A Railpass is rarely a cost effective option for Italy, and especially not with the few journeys you'll be making. For the trips from Rome to Florence and then back to Rome, you'll be travelling on the high speed trains, and you can save some money with advance purchase tickets on those routes. However, it's not recommended by buy advance tickets for the day of arrival, in case your flight is delayed. If you miss the train you've booked, the ticket is worthless and you'll have to buy another at full price anyway.
For the side trips to Pisa and Lucca, those will most likely be Regionale trains and tickets for those are cheap and there are no discounts for advance purchase. For the side trip to Pompeii, you'll use the high speed train from Rome to Naples (you could buy advance tickets for that) and then the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Pompeii and back. You'll buy tickets for that when you arrive at the Naples station (that train leaves from Napoli Garibaldi, which is downstairs from Napoli Centrale.