Train timing from FCO to Florence SMN

It's best to wait.
Flight delays happen
If you purchase in advance you can get great discounts but if you miss that train- you lose.

You don't go thru customs in Rome- that will occur when you return to US.
You will go thru passport control- can be quick, can be slow.

Download the apps- both Trenitlia and ItaloTreno apps are easy to use.
Once you have cleared passport control buy your tix on the app.

Thank you! I appreciate your reply. I have both those apps so I think I should be good! And I should probably know it is not customs by now`-haha! This is our 4th trip to Italy but have never had this situation come up before as the direct flight to Rome is a new option for us!

When you exit the security area at FCO, you will come out into a large hall with lots of people. Head to the right and eventually there will be a train ticket booth on your left. There are two daily direct trains from FCO to Florence, but it's likely that you will get to Florence faster if you go ahead and take the train that runs every 20 minutes from FCO to Roma Termini (the main station in Rome). That train takes approx 40". You can purchase tickets to Termini and from Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella at that ticket booth on your left OR from the machine next to the ticket booth (it's very easy to use; info in English); OR from your downloaded Trenitalia app.

Tough call - when do you need to be in Florence? If you have some flexibility in the schedule buying ahead could be better, just give yourself a reasonably attainable departure time from Rome, keeping in mind that you need to get the train from FCO to Termini first. With more time you can mitigate the risk of missing your train to Florence.

But if you need to be there ASAP I would lean towards same day, buying tickets online after clearing passport control or at the FCO station (ticket machines or the ticket office). You could catch an earlier train than you thought which could be valuable time in Florence.

It took us almost an hour to clear passport control in FCO in April, but that was at night, not sure whether the morning is better.

One other thing is that the Leonardo Express train arrives Termini station at one end, and at least our Frecciarossa train to Florence departed from almost the complete other end of the station, so it takes some time to get over there with the crowds. Make sure you have enough time to connect, I wouldn’t do it with less than 15 minutes and more if you don’t want to stress.

Thank you all for your replies. All very helpful information. Unfortunately we do need to get there right away as her graduation is the next day. Good to know that the train leaving to Florence may be at the opposite end of the station as we will have my parents with us, so we will leave extra time.

You don't go thru customs in Rome- that will occur when you return to US.

Yes, you do go through customs in Rome. Its just that 99% of the time, that is simply a matter of walking out the "Nothing to Declare" door after you collect your luggage.