Two adults will be ending our fixed Italian itinerary this April in Florence after arriving in Rome. Flight times leaving from Florence to Rome would necessitate a 7AM flight from Florence with a 4 hour layover in Rome before a connecting flight to the US and another domestic. Trying to minimize the hours of travel, does it make sense to take a train from Florence to Rome and then the "Leonardo" to the airport which would cut the total travel time by several hours?
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I think a fast train to Roma would definitely shorten the travel time. There may be a fast train from Firenze SM Novella to FCO without changing at Roma Termini, check Trenitalia.com for schedules.
Posted by
3247 posts
You could take a train from Florence to Rome on the day of your departure, but if I were you, I would take a train to Rome the day before and spend the last night in Rome instead of Florence. Your flight is leaving late enough that you don't need to stay near the airport. You could enjoy your final evening in Rome and make your way to FCO with a lot less stress.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15585 posts
Trenitalia shows the first train out of Firenze SMN (15 minutes to change at Termini) at 6.50, arriving at 9.22 and the next one at 7.38 direct to FCO arriving at 9.52.
What time is your FCO departure? Maybe someone with more experience at FCO can say how much time you need to allow there for check-in, security, etc. Will you be able to do online check-in in advance? Will you have checked bags?
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1532 posts
I would spend the night in Rome. Said that, trains are usually more reliable than flying - as the Florence airport has so short a runway, just a little fog or rain or wind can shut up the airport all the day long. - But, thinking again, if you have an air ticket from Florence and the first flight does not leave, it is up to the air company to find a substitution for the second segment; if you are on a train and there is any problem (say, a long delay), you are in trouble and on your own. - This is why I would spend the night in Rome, but now you can make your informed guess.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15192 posts
Who are you flying with and where?
Only Alitalia flies from FLR to FCO and those flights are to connect to Alitalia intercontinental flights out of FCO.
I have taken those sometimes when I flew Alitalia back to the US, as the train usually gets me to Rome too late for many US bound flights, while if I fly with one ticket with Alitalia I am protected in case I miss the connection in Rome.
If you fly with a non Alitalia flight, having separate tickets doesn't help, so you should spend the night in Rome, IMAO. One should always end a trip itinerary in the city where departing from.
Are you still on time to move Florence visit earlier in the trip and leave Rome for last?