Rome to Florence via Train

It’s probably best not to book your trains in advance, because of possible flight delays. You can just buy your train tickets when you get there - there are many, many trains per day on that route. Are you using the Trenitalia.com website?

I am traveling to Italy for the first time also, and am planning on taking the train from FCO to Florence upon landing.
I was under the impression that there were high speed trains that go directly from FCO to Florence with no need to switch trains (or by tickets) at Rome Termini.

Am I mistaken?

Agreed, no reason to book ahead.

The only reason to book ahead is to get a discount, but if you miss your train you will either be out the ticket or embroiled in trying to get it changed. You will need to take the Leonardo Express from FCO to Roma Termini and then book the next fast train that works for you.
https://www.italiarail.com/leonardo-express-roma-termini

Both Trenitalia and .Italo run fast trains on this route and have apps that allow you to book tickets.
https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html (use Italian city names - Roma, Firenze - for best results)
https://www.italotreno.com/en

If you know of trips you will be taking later in your trip on fats trains you can book them ahead of time exchanging flexibility for price if you want.

Hope that helps,
=Tod

I was under the impression that there were high speed trains that go directly from FCO to Florence with no need to switch trains (or by tickets) at Rome Termini.
Am I mistaken?

I believe there are 2 per day but if they don't work with your schedule you'll need to go to Termini first.

Hi Alan -
At most, there are only 1 or two direct trains a day from Fiumicino to Firenze SM Novella. Right now (random date in March) I'm only seeing one at 13:53.

Hello @alans75, and welcome to the forum,

There is one afternoon direct train a day or so from FCO to Firenze SMN. Unless it is coincidentally the time that works for you the vast majority of connections are FCO > Roma > Firenze SMN (via either fast train company)

To follow board etiquette and get the best results you should start your own new thread and not post different or follow up questions in other people's threads.

Hope that helps,
=Tod

At some times there could be a couple direct trains per day from FCO to Florence, but do not count on it. For example I am now looking for connections on the Trenitalia web site with a sample date (Jan. 8th) and I can't see any.

The way tracks are laid at Roma Termini, a direct train has to cross from the northernmost track to the southernmost or vv. entering or exiting the station, effectively blocking the traffic to/from all destinations for a couple of minutes. You can have it once or twice but not two times per hour during all the day. This is why a steady direct service is not planned, only occasional trains.

I am now looking for connections on the Trenitalia web site with a
sample date (Jan. 8th) and I can't see any.

I checked some random Jan, dates too, lachera, and got the same result you did: no direct trains. Could be they add those one or two routes closer to high season, or there's something else getting in the way? Just guessing.

And yes. as hiredman politely suggested, it's always best to start a new thread about your own trip versus piggyback on someone else's. :O)

I suspect the reason is the technical one I already explained: if there is dense train traffic at Termini, there is no space/time for direct services FCO to Florence and vv. You would have to route trains through Tiburtina and bypass Termini.

Terminal stations slow down railway traffic; not only because trains have to reverse direction (10 minutes stop instead of 2-3), but because often entry/exit itineraries are conflicting and you can't move too many trains at the same time.

The same problem is at Firenze SMN; trains to/from Bologna interfere with trains to/from Rome and vv. - in Florence they are building an underground railway bypass with a brand new high speed trains station to bypass SMN.

Mike -- let's see if we can answer your questions since alans75 sided tracked everyone

1. I assume you are coming from the US and need to go through immigration -- passport control -- and customs. Plan at least two hours. You might get through in an hour if there are not a lot of other arrivals but it has taken us as much as 3 hrs on a Sat morning with two officers on duty and four plane loads. Train station in the airport is easy to get to -- short walk from luggage pick up.

2. I would take an hour or maybe 90 minutes. Since you coming off of an overnight flight you may need some extra time in the restroom and may want to have breakfast or buy some "take away" for breakfast on the train. Why rush it?

3. The ONLY reason to buy tickets in advance is to get the discount. Buying discount tickets on arrival carries some risk and variables you cannot control. So buy them at the ticket office in the airport. Our experience is they speak good English and are helpful.

4. There are a couple of direct train (no change in Termini but stops there.) that might fit you schedule. But you will know that when you hit the ticket office in airport.

You be fine. Train travel in Italy is cheap, easy, and convenient.

Thank you, everyone. All very helpful. Happy Travels!

We have done this several times. We buy the train to Florence at the FCO train station when we buy the ticket to Rome on the Termini Express. That way there is no concern about late arrival (which has happened to use many times on flights to Italy although flights in the last 10 years or so have tended to be on time). and also if the plane lands early we can take advantage of that. Also immigration can be fast or slow; luggage can be fast or slow.

That way you don't the discounts available for early booking but you don't run the risk of losing the ticket due ot lateness. By buying the ticket at the airport they will sell you the next train you can reasonably catch - from FCO or from Termini. Unless you are lucky, probably you are looking at a train from Termini. Note that the distance from the Termini Express station at Termini to the platforms for most trains is a fairly stiff hike. If there is a train from FCO, you can get that but those are few.

If you take a train from Rome Termini, look carefully at the number for the train. There are multiple trains leaving for florence at about the same time and we almost got on the wrong train.