train from rome to florence

Dani,

What time is your flight scheduled to arrive?

You could take a gamble and book discounted (nonrefundable) tickets at least 3 hours after arrival time, or just wait to book your tickets once you arrive.

There are multiple trains traveling from Rome to Florence, and at least one direct train from the airport (Fiumicino Aeroporto) to Florence (Firenze S. M. Novella)- meaning you board it at the airport and don’t need to change trains at Roma Termini.

Trains seldom sell out, so I wouldn’t worry about that.

You may check & book train tickets here: Trenitalia.com

Dani,

In the same situation, I'd just buy rail tickets at the airport when you arrive. They will be more expensive than discounted advance purchase tickets, but you'll be able to travel as soon as you're ready rather than waiting for a pre-booked train several hours away. I'm usually fairly tired when I arrive after a long flight and don't want to waste time getting to my final destination. Tickets for the fast Freccia trains (ie: Rome to Florence) are specific to train, date and departure time, and can only be used on the one train listed on the ticket. If you board any other train, you'll be subject to hefty fines, usually collected on the spot! The ticket will specify the car no. and seat number where you must sit.

Depending on what time you arrive, you may have to take the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. You can buy tickets for that at the airport also, but don't forget to validate before you board the train or more fines collected on the spot.

You could also take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini and then connect with Italo Treno, which also runs high speed trains to Florence (and many other places). Whichever timing works best for you.

There are two airport trains , the Leo Ex to Roma Termini that costs 14 € pp and makes no stops. The FL1 that costs € 8 pp and goes to Roma Tiburtina, stopping at other secondary stations around Rome. None of them has reserved seats, so none can sell out.
Most trains from Roma Termini to Florence stop at Roma Tiburtina after Termini, sometimes taking the FL1 can be both cheaper and time-saving.

No ticket purchased on-line must be time-stamped before getting on. There is free wifi at FCO.

There is one direct high speed train from FCO station to Florence.

If high speed trains from Rome to Florence (and to Bologna, Milan etc. i.e. trains running on the main railway backbone) would routinely sold out, both competing companies would add either more cars or more trains. Why loosing money where there is a demand to meet?

Anyway, as I always say annoyingly: put today as day of travel and check by yourself how many trains going from Rome to Florence are sold out. I have just done the same, it's 11:59 AM in Rome and there are seats on all Trenitalia trains departing from 12:10 on

Also consider the Italo trains in your planning, although none of those depart from FCO: https://www.italotreno.it/en

This happened to me! I decided it was not worth the stress of worrying if I would catch my train. So, I waited and there was no problem buying a ticket.

The other thing is... there is also a regional (sloooow) train to Florence that can't sell out. I really wanted to be in Florence right away so I kept that in my back pocket just in case.

thank you all for the responses! so helpful.

So what I'm gathering is that only Trenitalia frecciarosa has the direct fast train from Fiumicino Aeroporto to SMV, whereas italo does not have a direct train. The tickets rarely sell out on the day off, whether it's italo or trenitalia?

So what I'm gathering is that only Trenitalia frecciarosa has the
direct fast train from Fiumicino Aeroporto to SMV, whereas italo does
not have a direct train.

That's right. There is only one train daily that you can take from the airport that goes directly to Firenze SM Novella without any changes. It is the Frecciarossa 9423 that departs at 13;53, and takes 2 hours and 18 minutes. Italo doesn't service Fiumicino airport.

If you're willing to take one of the Regional trains from FCO to Roma Termini, you'll have your choice of lots of direct high speed trains to Florence, either via Trenitalia or Italo. That method shouldn't add much to your overall travel time, and it will provide more flexibility in timing.