Travel between Rome and Florence for only 12 Euros: now that's an eye catcher! But it's absolutely true: for less than the cost of a taxi ride in central Rome, you can travel all the way from Rome to Florence by Trenitalia Intercity (IC) train. In fact, the 12-Euro advance purchase "MINI" fare in second class is even lower than the undiscountable (except for children) fare for the unreserved "regionale" train (17.15 Euros in second class). The 12-Euro "MINI" fare on the IC train represents a 60% discount over the regular, undiscounted fare of 30 Euros in second class.
Most of the IC trains between Rome and Florence pull into the Firenze Rifredi Station (where you must connect to a "regionale" train for the short hop to the main SMN Station). However, there is one IC train in each direction which departs from and arrives at Firenze SMN: it's the 18:20 IC from Rome Termini (arrives Firenze SMN at 20:58), and the 5:50 a.m. IC from Firenze SMN (arrives Roma Termini at 8:30). This particular train does not run seven days per week in each direction, so look up the schedules for your expected travel date.
Schedules for the IC trains not convenient? No problem: find a "MINI" fare on the ultrafast Frecciarossa or Frecciargento train between Rome and Florence for as little as 19 Euros (second class), and you'll arrive (nonstop) in merely 95 minutes using the new high-speed rail line. But, to get this low fare, you'll likely need to book well in advance, because the "MINI" fares are capacity-controlled, and consequently the lowest fares sell out quickly, especially on trains departing during high-demand timeframes during the day. The Frecciarossa/Frecciargento trains between Rome and Florence run every 30 minutes or less throughout the day.
Finally, there is always the tried-and-true unreserved "regionale" train, which costs (only) 17.15 Euros at any time, but takes four hours to reach its final destination! Unfortunately, there are fewer of them these days between Rome and Florence.
If travelling with children under 12, also consider the "Familia" fare or (if not available) simply the 50% discount for children between the ages of 4 and 12. (There is no special "MINI" fare for children, and children pay the same "MINI" fare as adults. Naturally, if the "MINI" discount is less than 50%, the child's fare should be selected since it's more advantageous).
Children under 4 always travel free without a guaranteed seat: you do NOT count them when booking seats.
Finally, don't forget to read the rules and strict restrictions of the "MINI" fare before selecting it ... or you might be sorry!
(The author of this post has no relationship with Trenitalia).
www.fsitaliane.it
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=38a304ae4f9ec210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Rome to Florence by train for only 12 Euros
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Thanks, GAC!
Quick question - I understand that we should not include our son when we book train tickets (he will be 19 months when we travel) and that he will not have a guaranteed seat. If there is a seat available, I presume it is ok if he sits in it? Also, would it be ok to pay a regular children's fare for him if we want to guarantee he has a seat?
Thank you so much GAC for this information.
I will be traveling in May 2012 from Rome to Florence and then a few days later from Florence to Venice.
I will be interested in the express trains in first class. When should I start looking for the mini fares?
thanks for any help you can give.
TexasAggie: your answers to your own questions above are both correct. Just remember that NOBODY has a guaranteed seat on the UNRESERVED "regionale" trains: consequently, there is little reason to purchase a ticket for a toddler under 4 when travelling on these commuter trains.
dac: you'll be able to book the "MINI" fares up to FOUR MONTHS in advance: in your case, beginning some time in January 2012 (depending on your actual travel date). Also, there will be a general schedule change in mid-December of this year, and no trains can be booked past then UNTIL the new schedules come on line (which should occur in stages starting in November). Remember that there are no "MINI" fares for the unreserved "regionale" trains.
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Thank you very much GAC. I will start looking in January as we need the train on May 6 Rome to Florence
I am only interested in the ES trains(faster trains?)
dac
GAC - The above paragraph is appearing on lots of threads.
Guess we probably don't want to know the details, but what sort of thing was it? A spammer or the like?
Peter
dac: The Frecciarossa and Frecciargento trains between Rome and Florence are now officially referred to as "AV" trains ("Alta Velocita"). The trains which Trenitalia classifies as "ES" are the older-model Eurostar railcars which are now relegated to a few less prestigious routes (and do not run on the "high speed" rail line). Nevertheless, some people continue to refer to all these trains under the catch-all name of "Eurostar" or "ES".
kybourbon: sometimes (as in this case), I post very similar articles on more than one travel website (but not "lots of threads"), if I believe that the contents might benefit the attention of more readers. Usually, the postings are not 100% identical, as I edit them each time. Of course, I have no idea if a third party, without authorization, copies anybody's posts elsewhere. Hopefully not!
If my original posting is indeed appearing on lots of threads, it must mean that some people are really paying attention (and perhaps Trenitalia will even be seeing more purchases of its "MINI" fare electronic tickets from overseas customers). Might this be a way to help them fill their 5:50 a.m. IC train from Florence to Rome?
GAC - I was talking about the post by someone else (now removed), but while I was typing, someone else made a post. I reported them as they were posting the exact same paragraph (word for word) on multiple threads asking to be e-mailed and including an e-mail address. They were topping lots of threads. It had nothing to do with your posts or trains.
dac - As GAC posted, you can't book more than four months in advance on Trenitalia. It seems each year when Trenitalia updates their schedules, their fare offers change. Mini fares may or may not exist next May, but there is typically some type of discount fare. If you want to search the fast trains only (this will include AV, ES, ESCity and IC), use the Le Frecce link on Trenitalia as it doesn't show the slow trains. You must use the Italian spelling for train stations as it won't accept the English spelling(when you start typing, it will start to autofill and then you can select the station you want). It lets you see which car you will be booking and can click on the actual seat you want.
http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=1d85c6b9455c2210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
On the AV and ES trains, many of the seats have tables (denoted in the diagrams by a gray oblong), but some of the seats at the ends of cars only have drop down trays (like on an airplane). You can do a walkthru on the link I gave. Select a train and then be sure to click "select seat" and then "buy without registration". If you make any changes at all, it will deselect the "select seat" and you will have to enter everything again.
Good info !!
Here are some notes on the LOWEST "MINI" fares currently available on popular tourist routes within Italy.
Remember that actual "MINI" fares are subject to capacity controls, and consequently vary according to travel date, selection of train, and class of service. The "MINI" discounts range from as low as 10% to as high as 60% (70% between Milan and Venice).
There is no special "MINI" fare for children, BUT travellers under the age of 12 ALWAYS get a standard, unrestricted discount of 50% (so the "MINI" fare for a child should be selected ONLY if the discount is 60%).
Toddlers under the age of four (4) ALWAYS travel FREE, without a ticket, without a guaranteed seat, and are NOT counted when buying tickets. Parents wanting to assure a seat for their toddler should purchase a Child's ticket with a 50% discount.
Remember that the "MINI" fares are subject to strict deadlines, rules and conditions concerning purchase, changes, and refunds. Read these rules before purchasing.
Remember too that there are no "MINI" fares for the unreserved "regionale" trains (but children still get the standard 50% discount, and toddlers still travel free).
Sometimes, low "MINI" fares are easier to find on the Intercity trains or on trains departing outside of peak travel hours.
Sometimes, very attractive "MINI" fares can be found in first class where second class on the same train is not much lower.
The lowest "MINI" fares are often found by booking as far out in advance as possible (but never more than four months). "MINI" fares only go up with the passage of time.
Here are the lowest "MINI" fares currently offered on selected routes:
Rome/Florence: 19 Euros on Frecciarossa; 12 Euros on Intercity
Rome/Venice: 29 Euros on Frecciargento; 18 Euros on Intercity
Rome/Naples: 19 Euros on Frecciarossa; 9 Euros on Intercity
Rome/Milan: 49 Euros on Frecciarossa; 20 Euros on Intercity
Rome/Genoa: 19 Euros on Frecciabianca; 17 Euros on Intercity
Florence/Venice: 17 Euros on Frecciargento; 10 Euros on Intercity
Florence/Naples: 29 Euros on Frecciarossa; 18 Euros on Intercity
Florence/Salerno: 29 Euros on Frecciarossa; 18 Euros on Intercity
Florence/Milan: 19 Euros on Frecciarossa; 12 Euros on Intercity
Rome/Palermo: 26 Euros on Intercity
Rome/Siracusa: 25 Euros on Intercity
Naples/Palermo: 22 Euros on Intercity
Naples/Siracusa: 21 Euros on Intercity
Milan/Venice: 9 Euros on Frecciabianca
UPDATE: Effective October 9, Trenitalia is restoring full "regionale" train service between Rome and Florence (roughly every two hours), which had been significantly reduced following the big fire at Roma Tiburtina station.
Will those Rome to Florence regional trains offer the 2 euros per hour fares I keep reading about here on fodors?
There is no such thing as a "2 euros per hour" fare. A total fiction!
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