Rome to Assisi

Although a car can be an affordable way to travel for three people together, a one-day rental is usually not cheap (when booked in advance) and navigating in and out of the two big cities is more hassle than anybody needs in one day. Trains from Rome to Assisi take two hours and a few of them are direct, no connection. Same deal from Assisi to Florence; check out the best schedules in advance through DB.

I was planning to use the car also going out of Florence for the day. And would it not be cumbersome to take our luggage tho we pack light . We are in Italy for 9 days and the first few days are in Rome without laundry facility.

I haven't done that, but in general to maximize sightseeing time, it's best to get an early start. I'd rent the car late in the day, then either stay overnight in Rome and start out very early in the morning for Assisi, or drive to Assisi in the evening and stay the night there (leave the luggage in the car - just pack an overnight bag to take to the hotel). I think a car rental is a good idea if Assisi is a priority, because going by train uses up way too many hours.

Here's a vote for going by train. I don't think going by car saves you any time. You can see from the website below that they estimate the train would take 2:41, and driving would take 2:53. If you're driving you have to worry about speed cameras, tolls, screwy GPS, other drivers, where to stop for the restroom, the danger of nodding off, and more. None of those concerns apply to taking the train. The train allows you to have conversations, read, take a nap, enjoy the scenery, etc.

Rome to Assisi

You don't mention when you're traveling, but add to the comments above, I think the train ride from Assisi to Rome is very pretty.

From the train station in Assisi (you can leave your bags there), you have to take the bus up to town and back, which also means waiting for the bus. Or take taxis, using some of the money you save by not renting a car. There are trains from Assisi to Florence every hour, at about a quarter past 5, 6 and 7. The train takes 2.5 hours. There's an 8 am train from Rome to Assisi, takes 2.2 hours, no train change. The next train is at 9.30, takes about 2.5 hours with one train change. I agree that after looking at driving times on google, it may not save time. If you take the 8 a.m. train, you should be in Assisi's historic center easily by 11 a.m. which gives you several hours to sightsee before heading back down to the train station for the 6 or 7 p.m. train to Florence.

At the train station in Assisi, there's a small shop that sells train tickets. The sign said there's left luggage there too. I went past that on the left (with your back to the trains) to a visitor's center, and left my luggage there. The man who runs it on a volunteer basis, is an American expat and was very happy to give advice and directions.

To maximize your time, hire a driver. I've used Concezio Monti Autoservizi mailto:[email protected] (recommended by Rick) to take us from Rome to Assisi and then Perugia.

It is wonderful not to have to worry about driving out of Rome, finding the route, where to stop for lunch, where to leave the car when you stop, etc, etc. Even if you don't have him take you all the way to Florence, get to Assisi and then take the train the rest of the way.

Seriously-if you want to maximize your time, get a driver.