We are planning on flying from Rome to Barcelona on Liberation Day next year. Will the holiday create any travel issues that we need to be prepared for and/or alter schedule for?
Thanks as always for the great help we get from this website and its fans and supporters!
Mike
DC
I don't know anything about that holiday, but after my experience in Nice, France, on May 1 this year, I can tell you a question you need to ask: What form(s) of public transportation will be available that day from the airport to the city? In Nice, the answer was "None", and it had not occurred to me to ask the question.
We dealt with massive crowds of Italians on their holiday off from work on April 25 in Venice one time. It was also the Feast of San Marco though, so a double whammy. Check transportation, or better yet, have your hotel book you a private car to FCO.
This far out with flexibility on your side, I would plan to travel on a different day
Airport trains run 365 days a year, even during strikes. So if you are staying close to Termini station and you are leaving from FCO, you have nothing to worry about: pay 14 € and get on the Leonardo Express .
The FL1 train to FCO that serves only secondary stations like Tiburtina and Trastevere will make only a few runs on April 25, you'd better check while you're there.
If you are departing from Ciampino you'll have to take either a cab (there is an "all included" fixed fare from central Rome) or a bus, but bear in mind that buses will run on the reduced Sunday schedule.
I can't see a single reason to waste money on a private transfer, but of course do what makes you travel in a better mood.
