katie1050

We are planning a trip to Tuscany for a week and then to the Amalfi Coast. We are trying to figure out the best routing. Is it better to fly in/out of Rome and take a train to Florence, pick up a car, and then when done, take a train to Naples and have our friend pick us up. (We don't want the car on the Amalfi coast) or should we fly through Brussels (only other option with our mileage) and deal with a 7 hour delay until our flight from Brussels to Florence? Any other quick ways to get from Brussels to Florence. The only train I could find went through Paris and took 11+ hours.

Mlgostyla

Not sure about Brussels to Florence. Two years ago we took train from Rome to Florence; very easy and convenient. We spent several days in Florence and then rented a car for Tuscany. We used Sienna as a central point in Tuscany and did day trips. Worked out very well.
But if goal the first day is Florence; almost feels like waitng the 7 hours but flying directly in would be better. Why not take some sort of tour of Brussels while waiting?

katie1050

Thanks for the response. Actually, the first day we just want to get to our destination which is in Tuscany between Florence and Sienna. So, I'm trying to figure out if it is less of a hassle to fly to Rome and take a train to Florence and then get my car or fly to Brussels, wait 7 hours (maybe go tour for a few hours?? but have a young child who may be wiped out) and then fly to Florence and then rent my car.

How far is the train station from the Rome airport?

Steve_James

Hi Katie - There is a railway station at Rome FCO airport with a regular half-hourly service to Roma Termini (- journey time: 30 mins).

For details/timetables of Rome-Florence services see:
http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

Typical journey time from Rome FCO airport to Florence via Roma Termini is 2.5 hrs.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

caroline_edinburgh

We would pick up the car at Fiumcino (one way hire, i.e. to drop off in Tuscany) & drive - once you get off the Rome ring road & on to the A1 it's a fast & easy drive. But will you have had an overnight flight & be jetlagged ? If so, get the train to the most convenient town in Tuscany for you to pick up a car.

BarbaraJ

We're doing something similar in October and my first response would be to fly into Rome and take the train to Florence. It's not difficult and if you search the threads here, some kind people have posted step by step directions for taking the train from FCO. If your flight to Rome is non-stop, than definately go there. Also, if you're coming from the US and changing flights in Europe, the baggage restrictions change.