Fiumicino to Florence
Sep 3rd, 2016, 01:05 PM
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Fiumicino to Florence
I have found a number of suggestions of getting from Fiumicino to Florence by train - but they seem to change by when they are posted. So I thought I'd try again.
We arrive at Fiumicino at 12:40PM on 10/19/16. Here are some questions:
1) Is there a train from Fiumicino to Termini in Rome - to catch the fast train to Florence? If so, where can we get it? Does a cab to Termini make more sense?
2) Should we wait to buy our tickets for the fast train until we get to Italy? If so, where should we buy it, i.e., at the airport or at Termini in Rome?
3) It appears that there are 2 companies that have a fast train. Is one recommended over the other?
Thank so much for any assistance you can offer.
We arrive at Fiumicino at 12:40PM on 10/19/16. Here are some questions:
1) Is there a train from Fiumicino to Termini in Rome - to catch the fast train to Florence? If so, where can we get it? Does a cab to Termini make more sense?
2) Should we wait to buy our tickets for the fast train until we get to Italy? If so, where should we buy it, i.e., at the airport or at Termini in Rome?
3) It appears that there are 2 companies that have a fast train. Is one recommended over the other?
Thank so much for any assistance you can offer.
Sep 3rd, 2016, 01:52 PM
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1. Yes...Leonardo express to Termini:
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Se...micino-Airport
2. You can get great prices by buying early online, but, if your plane is delayed, you're out of luck, since the cheapest tickets do not allow changes.
If you give yourself a lot of time,...say buy a 5pm ticket, it might be worth the gamble. 19.90€ is the price on Trenitalia with no changes allowed. A safer bet is the 34.90€ ticket that allows a change if you are late (for about 9€ if I am reading that right).
When you buy online, you get a PDF file sent to you with a scanable symbol and unique 6-character code (similar to a boarding pass on a plan) that you show the conductor on the train when he shows up for your ticket. It's very simple.
3. I've used both, and they're fine. Italo's cheapest fares are sold out for that day, but you can get a ticket for 32.90€ that has a 20% (6.58€) surcharge to change your time, if you're late. As you can see, Italo is a little cheaper.
ssander
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Se...micino-Airport
2. You can get great prices by buying early online, but, if your plane is delayed, you're out of luck, since the cheapest tickets do not allow changes.
If you give yourself a lot of time,...say buy a 5pm ticket, it might be worth the gamble. 19.90€ is the price on Trenitalia with no changes allowed. A safer bet is the 34.90€ ticket that allows a change if you are late (for about 9€ if I am reading that right).
When you buy online, you get a PDF file sent to you with a scanable symbol and unique 6-character code (similar to a boarding pass on a plan) that you show the conductor on the train when he shows up for your ticket. It's very simple.
3. I've used both, and they're fine. Italo's cheapest fares are sold out for that day, but you can get a ticket for 32.90€ that has a 20% (6.58€) surcharge to change your time, if you're late. As you can see, Italo is a little cheaper.
ssander
Sep 3rd, 2016, 03:10 PM
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Another idea...
Buy the 19.90€ Trenitalia ticket for around 6-7pm. (They run spproximately every half-hour.) It takes an hour and a half, so you'll be in Florence in time for dinner.
If your plane gets in on time or early, and you reach Termini around 2 or 3 pm (best case scenario), check your luggage at the station and see a little of Rome.
The Baths of Diocetian (National Roman Museum) is right across the street from Termini. Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore is four blocks away, and another further is Santa Prasseda, a phenomenal little church with fantastic mosaics. (I'm not sure of the opening hours of any of those, but they're were researching.)
This greatly reduces the risk of having to buy a new ticket with a nice bonus if you're in early or on time.
ssander
Buy the 19.90€ Trenitalia ticket for around 6-7pm. (They run spproximately every half-hour.) It takes an hour and a half, so you'll be in Florence in time for dinner.
If your plane gets in on time or early, and you reach Termini around 2 or 3 pm (best case scenario), check your luggage at the station and see a little of Rome.
The Baths of Diocetian (National Roman Museum) is right across the street from Termini. Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore is four blocks away, and another further is Santa Prasseda, a phenomenal little church with fantastic mosaics. (I'm not sure of the opening hours of any of those, but they're were researching.)
This greatly reduces the risk of having to buy a new ticket with a nice bonus if you're in early or on time.
ssander
Sep 3rd, 2016, 11:42 PM
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There are now a few direct trains from Fiumicino airport to Florence.
At 15.08 there is a Frecciargento arriving at Florence SMN (the main station) at 17.22 At the moment you can find a supereconomy ticket at €24.90 and a first class ticket at €54.90
You can book here - http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en Tick the box "Frecce" to filter the direct trains.
At 15.08 there is a Frecciargento arriving at Florence SMN (the main station) at 17.22 At the moment you can find a supereconomy ticket at €24.90 and a first class ticket at €54.90
You can book here - http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en Tick the box "Frecce" to filter the direct trains.
Sep 4th, 2016, 10:08 AM
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I always book my train tickets when I get to the airport train station. I hate waiting several hours for a train after an overnight flight, which is what you have to do 90% of the time if you give yourself an hours-long cushion to allow for late flights, lost luggage, etc. I pay more if I buy on the day of travel, but I get on the first train I can possibly catch.
By the way, the discounted tickets can't be changed at all on the day of travel. The full-price tickets can be exchanged for an hour after the scheduled departure time, so if you miss it by more than about 45 minutes, or even less, allowing for time to make the change, it's worthless.
The train station is attached to Terminal 3, the international arrivals terminal. Turn to your right as you exit the arrivals hall, and follow the signs.
There is a travel agent across from ths ticket office, who sells tickets to anywhere in Italy. For some time now, the ticket office only sells tickets into Rome, but it would be very inconvenient to have to buy the second ticket there. The travel agent doesn't tack any commission onto the ticket price.
Another thing you should know is that Tiburtina station, not Termini, is usually the best station for making a connection to Florence. The travel agent can sell you the appropriate tickets for the next available train. If you're changing at Tiburtina, you don't take the Leonardo Express, but the other train, the FL1. This train costs €8, €6 less than the overpriced Leonardo Express. It takes 45 minutes to get to Tiburtina, but Tiburtina is also that much closer to Florence.
It would be great to get the direct train and avoid changing trains anywhere, but usually I just want the train that will get me to my destination as quickly as possible.
By the way, the discounted tickets can't be changed at all on the day of travel. The full-price tickets can be exchanged for an hour after the scheduled departure time, so if you miss it by more than about 45 minutes, or even less, allowing for time to make the change, it's worthless.
The train station is attached to Terminal 3, the international arrivals terminal. Turn to your right as you exit the arrivals hall, and follow the signs.
There is a travel agent across from ths ticket office, who sells tickets to anywhere in Italy. For some time now, the ticket office only sells tickets into Rome, but it would be very inconvenient to have to buy the second ticket there. The travel agent doesn't tack any commission onto the ticket price.
Another thing you should know is that Tiburtina station, not Termini, is usually the best station for making a connection to Florence. The travel agent can sell you the appropriate tickets for the next available train. If you're changing at Tiburtina, you don't take the Leonardo Express, but the other train, the FL1. This train costs €8, €6 less than the overpriced Leonardo Express. It takes 45 minutes to get to Tiburtina, but Tiburtina is also that much closer to Florence.
It would be great to get the direct train and avoid changing trains anywhere, but usually I just want the train that will get me to my destination as quickly as possible.
Sep 13th, 2016, 06:19 PM
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Thank you all so much. The Frecciargento from Fiumicino sounds like a great option and even though we may have to wait a little while to catch it at 3:08PM, we can just relax and enjoy the ride. Thank you again -
Sep 13th, 2016, 06:39 PM
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I just went from Florence to Fumicino on September 10th, so I did what you wanted to do in reverse.
I took a taxi to the Florence train station. I had purchased my ticket a few days ahead in the train station in Florence.
When I got to Roma Termini, I took the bus to the airport. I was told that the train involved more walking and the bus left you in a more convenient location at the airport. The bus does leave from Roma Termini to Fumicino. It is 6 euros and cheaper than the train--which was 15 (I was told but did not personally check). I was dealing with a suitcase where the pull out handle was broken, so I took the bus. I have never taken the train to Fumicino, so I can't personally verify the information about walking and price.
The bus left me off just to the right of Terminal 3 where I was catching my plane (the right if you put your back to the terminal). You would catch a bus to Termini in the same place. All the buses stop in the same series of bus bays. I would have had a longer walk to the terminal to goet to Terminal 5--the terminal where the direct flights to the US generally are situated. There are luggage carts, so the extra walking should not be a problem. I returned to the US via Istanbul to save a lot of money (not everyone's cup of tea but the price was very good). That is why I was leaving from Terminal 3. Odds on that, if you are coming in from the US, you will arrive at Terminal 5 though.
The only problem with the bus is that there are a lot of bus companies--which I had not been informed. I would just board whatever bus is leaving next and pay on the bus. I bought a ticket at a tobbaconist and then had to search for the correct bus because I didn't know about the multiple bus companies.
The bus really was not a problem. I have no idea if the train would have been a better choice for me.
Insofar as your train ticket to Florence, I would just purchase it when you get there. Trying to save a few bucks and then getting stuck waiting for a particular train is a pain.
I took a taxi to the Florence train station. I had purchased my ticket a few days ahead in the train station in Florence.
When I got to Roma Termini, I took the bus to the airport. I was told that the train involved more walking and the bus left you in a more convenient location at the airport. The bus does leave from Roma Termini to Fumicino. It is 6 euros and cheaper than the train--which was 15 (I was told but did not personally check). I was dealing with a suitcase where the pull out handle was broken, so I took the bus. I have never taken the train to Fumicino, so I can't personally verify the information about walking and price.
The bus left me off just to the right of Terminal 3 where I was catching my plane (the right if you put your back to the terminal). You would catch a bus to Termini in the same place. All the buses stop in the same series of bus bays. I would have had a longer walk to the terminal to goet to Terminal 5--the terminal where the direct flights to the US generally are situated. There are luggage carts, so the extra walking should not be a problem. I returned to the US via Istanbul to save a lot of money (not everyone's cup of tea but the price was very good). That is why I was leaving from Terminal 3. Odds on that, if you are coming in from the US, you will arrive at Terminal 5 though.
The only problem with the bus is that there are a lot of bus companies--which I had not been informed. I would just board whatever bus is leaving next and pay on the bus. I bought a ticket at a tobbaconist and then had to search for the correct bus because I didn't know about the multiple bus companies.
The bus really was not a problem. I have no idea if the train would have been a better choice for me.
Insofar as your train ticket to Florence, I would just purchase it when you get there. Trying to save a few bucks and then getting stuck waiting for a particular train is a pain.
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