We're traveling towards the end of August and are planning a train from the airport to Florence and will stay there a few days. We land at 1330 and will have luggage. Has anyone done this? Advice appreciated.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18246 posts
Sure, lots of forum posters have. You asked this same question back in February and received some helpful replies so did you forget about that thread, didn't know where to find it, or have additional questions people can help you with?
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/trains-from-rome-airport-fco
Posted by
110 posts
After collecting your luggage, follow the "Train" signs to the airport railway station.
At the counter ask for a through ticket to Firenze SM Novella station.
FCO is served by two lines: the fast train goes direct to Roma Termini station, the slow one goes to the smaller Roma Tiburtina. All high speed trains from Rome to Florence stop at both stations. It makes no difference.
Don't get these train tickets in advance, flights can be delayed and discounted tickets can't be changed.
Posted by
OP
Idaho
3 posts
Interesting comments on trains. I've bee reading a few different forums and it's about a 50/50 split between don't buy tickets in advance in case flights are delayed and buy tickets in advance because the high speed trains fill up.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9413 posts
buy tickets in advance because the high speed trains fill up.
Is this in reference to Italy or to other countries?
There are multiple trains from Termini to Florence every hour-and from 2 train companies
Seriously doubt any or all will fill up. (discounted fares might be gone but not Base rate)
Your question is asked here very very often- here are all the threads addressing this issue for the past 2 years
https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=FCO+to+Florence
Posted by
319 posts
Here is a real life experience from our six friends (a family of 4 and an additional married couple) in Italy last fall. They were insistent on buying their tickets early to save money for the fast train from Roma Termini to Bologna. As frequently stated, their flight was late taking off, consequently late landing, then late through immigration; yes they missed their train. They had cheaper tickets which were no good and then had to buy new tickets to get to Bologna. When flying internationally to arrive in Europe, we always purchase train tickets on arrival (and advised them to do the same, which they will. Next trip). .
Posted by
110 posts
buy tickets in advance because the high speed trains fill up.
Could you link any source? I wonder if people explain the difference between seats and discounted tickets. Only the latter are capacity controlled and not available on the day of travel.
Anyway, why should you trust me or anyone else? Go on trenitalia.com/en.html , put today as day of travel, pick a time of departure in 40 minutes and see how many trains are sold out. Not rocket science.
Posted by
Wengen
3981 posts
It is rare for all trains to be sold out on a busy route like Rome to Firenze. But on some routes, it does happen. And looking right now I see that for example on the next four trains from Rome to Firenze there is only one that still has standard tickets available. For the others you will need to go up in class, even to executive class in some cases. And there are actually a few trains that are indeed completely booked out.
What I suggest to do is the following: Buy a "base" (flexible) fare ticket for a train that you are confident you can get. Eg. 6 hours after you land. If you end up at Roma Termini earlier you just get out your phone, and move your reservation to the next available train. If you happen to land on a day that everyone in Italy is on the move, and trains actually did all sell out (happens a few times a year) then you still have your fall back position.
And if you end up having a substantial delay (eg. a missed connection, or you are moved to a flight a day later) you will probably have a chance to actually move your ticket to a later train. A base ticket can be changed up to one hour after the train has departed.
Posted by
110 posts
Sorry WengenK, but the Base is the walk-up fare. Why running a risk, even if a small one, to save no money?
https://i.postimg.cc/Nj38pH7z/Immagine-2026-05-28-110406.jpg : there is only one sold-out train in the next four hours. It's The 12:36 one, whereas there are seats on the trains departing at 13:10 and at 13:35. And there is only one train where standard Base tickets are sold out.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
17923 posts
There are like 2 to 5 trains every hour between Roma Termini and Florence. I've never experienced sold out seats. At most they ran out of the standard class seats in the very next departure. In those circumstances I either purchased the next level class (premium or business) or simply went with the next train maybe 20 min later.
You can buy tickets in advance at a discounted fare (SuperEconomy or Economy) but it's risky due to the unpredictability of intercontinental flights. If you decide to do so, make sure you have a few hours of buffer to mitigate the risk to lose your entire investment.