Rome to Florence

If both of your flights can be booked as one journey, then you should be protected in case your first flight is delayed. If you have to book them separately, you'd be taking a very big risk. The chances are significant of your 8 AM arrival being delayed, and/or a big crowd of incoming passengers ahead of you at passport control, or some other obstacle that would make you miss the 10 AM departure for Florence.

Why not take the train?

Thanks, I guess I will have to wait for the train schedule. Yes I feel like trying to get on the 10AM flight is pushing it. Unfortunately booking will be separate as I have already booked the flight from US.

There are frequent trains at all ti,es of the year. Once you clear passport control, just see what the next train option is. There some direct for FCO without need to change trains, or you can take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini and change to a high speed train there. Very easy even when jet lagged.

I made the mistake once and never again. The train is way better.
In the 1990s I flew to Florence Via Rome with one ticket (a combo Continental/Alitalia then partners).
Got to Rome at around 7am to find out the airport in Florence was closed and flights diverted to Pisa. So they flew me to Pisa instead. Once arrived in Pisa I proceed to the train station (then inside the Pisa Airport) to catch a train to Florence, but only to discover on that day there was a train strike only for regional trains in the Tuscany region department. So I took the bus and finally made it home at my parents’ at about 5pm,about 10 hours after landing. After that day, no more flying from Rome to Florence for me. There is a train option every 20 minutes and they get you to Florence in 2h15 to 2h25 from the airport station. Forget the plane.

Thank you everyone! This is very helpful & sounds like I don’t even have to book my train in advance.

MAK,

"This is very helpful & sounds like I don’t even have to book my train in advance."

Most of us here do not recommend advance booking express trains to connect with a flight arrival. The express trains have compulsory seat reservations which are specific to train, date and departure time. If you miss the train you've booked because the flight was late, it took longer than expected to get through Passport control or whatever, your pre-purchased ticket is useless and you'll have to buy another. If you board an express train without having reservations for that specific train, you'll be subject to hefty fines which will be collected on the spot.

There's a rail station right at the airport, so the best policy is simply to buy a ticket for the next train to Florence although the cost will be higher than for an advance purchase ticket. Several types of trains stop at the airport so there are a few caveats to be aware of. If you need further info on that, post another note.

It could take about 1.5 hours from flight arrival to get to the airport rail station. The easiest and simplest solution would be to head for the airport rail station, buy tickets and wait for the 11:08 departure via direct Freccia high speed train (no changes). It arrives at Firenze S.M. Novella at 13:22 (time 2H:14M). That's a good time to arrive, as hotel rooms should have been serviced by then so you should be able to check in right away.

Awesome! You’ve nailed all my concerns & questions. I will do as advised. Great weekend to everyone.