Train vs. Drive

You are correct on the approximate fare, Roma Termini to Florence. I am unclear on your plan: do you intend to stay in Rome first for a few days and them go to Florence, or go right to Florence the day you arrive at FCO, wiht a stop in Rome or Tivoli? I am assuming the latter in my remarks below. A cab is fixed, I think, at 50 euros, FCO to Rome City Center. You probably do not want a car in Rome if you are sightseeing for the day, although you can scope out parking on Ron in Rome's excellent website. Park it and take public transportation while you tour. If you are going to Tivoli (Hadrian's Villa) a car is the only way to do this and get to Florence efficiently. You can take a train to Tivoli, but you'd have to backtrack to Rome to get a train to Florence and that would take a lot of time. Cost-wise, you may find train versus car is a breakeven for this one day FCO-Rome-Florence trek.

I think I'd agree with Laurel; taking a sidetrip to Villa Hadriana on your way to Florence is quite out-of-the-way. About 45-60 minutes in the wrong direction... then you'd have to come come back towards Rome to catch the autostrada. In addition, driving to the Villa, seeing the Villa for any length of time, and then driving to Florence would fill your day. The COTRAL bus each way toward the Villa from Rome is only €2 each way per person. Getting a car for a one-way, one-day trip to Florence seems like a huge hassle. If you're going to tour the countryside on your way to Florence, that's a different story - but if you're just looking to drive from Rome to Florence, then you'd be better off on a train. There are so many additonal expenses for a car: the rental fee, the insurance, the autostrada tolls, the gasoline, your International Driving Permit fees, Parking fees in Rome, and of course, the dreaded ZTL's if you go the worng way in Florence or Rome. Then you have to pick-up the car, gas up the car, and drop off the car... and you have to get from the pick-up/drop-up locations to your hotels... so this can get quite expensive. Then, there's the train. Take a bus or metro to Roma Termini - you can buy a train ticket in advance online - and walk directly to your train. Get on... Get off in downtown Florence, probably within walking distance of your hotel. I'd save Villa Hadriana for a separate day - or another trip. There's plenty to see if you want to drive the backroads (SS2 and SS222) to Florence from Rome. For a one-day trip, the train is far more the optimum experience. If you're going to tour in Lazio, Umbria, and Tuscany on your way to Florence, then the car becomes an asset.

If your hotel is inside the Aurelian walls, then the airport fixed rate (See: The Fixed Taxi Rate Zone) is still €40. The taxi union hopes to see an increase implemented in September, but who knows. They've been trying to get the fees raised for more than 2.5 years! If they are successful, most peoplel believe the FCO rate will be about €48 - Ouch!

For what you are suggestion a car makes little sense. First, the taxi ride in from the airport is fixed at 40E to Termini. The L Express is 30 mins and 28E for the two of you. Can be quicker than the taxi depending on the waiting time in the airport. But you are inside Termini where you arrive and closer to your train. A car would only be useful it stopping along the way. Once in Florence is a huge liability. Florence is notorious for the TLZs which results in 100+E traffic ticket showing up about a year later to remind you of your trip to Florence. You are lucky if you only get one. You can check the exact train fare at trenitalia.com. There are discount tickets available if purchased in advance. And don't forget the gas for the car.

FWIW, the Palatine Hill in Rome has a similar flavor to Hadrian's Villa, albeit smaller. But boy is it more convenient!! Rick's guide to the Palatine is very well done.