kdd

We are thinking of flying into Rome and driving to Florence from Rome airport. How may hours is this drive? We have a small baby with us, so too long a drive may not be a good idea. Also, is 'Prestige' category of cars mentioned in rental companies too big for small country roads?

bobthenavigator

The drive is almost 4 hours, but why drive? You do not want car in Florence.
Get a compact if you need one. It would be Ford Focus size.

rex

It's generally under three hours, though a lot depends on how long it takes you to get out of Rome (i.e., quicker coming from the airport than from some places in the city). The train is half the time (95 minutes), but you have to get from the airport TO the train station.

For this and the driving information you need for any driving trip in Italy (or elsewhere in Europe), you owe it to yourself to become familiar with viamichelin.com or mappy.com or both.

Trucks drive on the smallest of country roads. There is no car "too big" for "roads" - - though there are drivers who get uncomfortable putting a 68 inch car through a 71 inch alley.

Best wishes,

Rex

kdd

Thanks for the info. Think we will train it from Rome to Florence.

dickv2

Good evening, Kdd Just out of FCO
you get on the autostrada ring heading
north to the A1 and up to Florence.
There is no city driving until you hit
Florence and this can be done easily in 3 to 4 hrs...We did exactly this a year ago November. The only problem
is the car in Florence. You can easily
turn in the car into the Florence Airport, just NW of Florence off the
autostrada and then take a cab to your
hotel about 6 km. Richard of LaGrange Park, Il.. If you have not been to Florence previously, don't try to get into the city following driving destinations and it would take two
co pilots to keep you the pilot on the proper flite path... Richard of La
Grange Park, Il..

rex

<<too big for small country roads>>

I assumed that you wanted to have once you arived in Florence because you planned to use Florence as a "base" for exploring the "small country roads" - - i.e., the Tuscan countryside surrounding Florence. Whether this is true or not, taking the train is the usual choice to travel from Rome to Florence. But if you plan to rent the car once you get to Florence anyway (and considering tat you have a bavby) - - then I think that drivng from Rome to Florence provides a minuscule cost savings (gas and tolls are alost as much as the train fare), but a moderate flexibility advantage.

ira

topping

rex

Geez - - my bad typing!

But I am adding to this thread with a puzzling question - - especially in light of your comment yesterday, ira, that you considered it "depressing" that your name is on over ten thousand threads in the past two years. Why did you top this? Is it a form of "endorsement" of my last post? The OP, kdd, has shown that finding the thread is not a problem. And doesn't appear even to be seeking additional input anyway (which brings up the question: why did I post again? - -trying to clarify what appeared to me to be a confusing element between the original question and the follow-up comment on taking the train)

It's not a problem to top a thread, but I am not sure what is your objective? Because you, too are interested in getting the additional clarification?

kdd

Rex, your assumption is correct. We plan to first spend a few days in Florence, then rent a car and explore the Tuscan countryside.

rex

Okay - - if you are staying put in Florence for the first 48 hours - - then take the train - - you will pay two days rental and parking, essentially for nought. The train cost will be less than this "wasted" expense - - the "hassle" of traveling by train with your baby is really minimal.

LoveItaly

kdd, I have to agree with Rex. First of all (assuming you are arriving from the US), getting off the plane, through immigration and customs and then getting the rental car and driving to Florence is not something I would want to do.

If you take the train to Florence you can get your rental car after you have gotten over jetlag and are ready to explore Tuscany. IMHO this would be more prudent, a money saver and certainly more relaxing.

Do have a beautiful trip.

zizi

After arriving in Rome where do you have to go to get the train to Florence? Is the station at the airport or do you need to get another form of transportation to get to the train station? I have never used the rail system in Italy but would like to use this form in April.

ira

Hi zizi,
> After arriving in Rome where do you have to go to get the train to Florence? <

After passing through the "Nothing to Declare" gate at Customs at FCO, follow the crowds and the signs to the Leonardo da Vinci Express shuttle.

You can buy your ticket to Florence when you buy your ticket to Roma TE. Do not take the train to Rome Tiburtina.

Upon arrival in Rome, exit the train and walk in the same direction as the train was moving to the head of the tracks.

A large signboard will tell you when and from which track your train will leave.

zizi

Thank you very much ira, you've given me the specifics that I was looking for. Which way to turn and walk (seriously) are the things I need to know! Thanks again.