BoulderCO

Our flight arrives in Fiumicino at 3:35 PM. We are hoping to catch the 5:45 Eurostar to Naples. In order to do so we would need to get the 4:37 Leonardo Express, the 5:07 would be cutting it too close. I think it is doubtful that we could make it from plane landing to getting on the express train in 62 minutes. Do you think a private car could get us to the Termini in time for the 5:45 train assuming it takes us between 1.25 to 1.5 hours to land, clear immigration, and pick up our luggage?

martytravels

Are you arriving directly from the U.S. or via a European hub? If you're going thru a Euro hub (Heathrow, De Gaulle, Schiphol), you'll clear immigration there and your flight down to Rome will essentially be a domestic flight.

SalB

We're arriving the same time you are but fortunately only have to get to a hotel. Is there a rush hour in Rome? Is it around 4:30 to 6:30 like it is here? If so, you would have better luck on the train than by any kind of car. Perhaps someone who is in Rome regularly can help you. This post will top your question.

Best of luck.

NYCFoodSnob

I've clocked numerous trips to Piazza Farnese at exactly 1.5 hours after landing, all by car. I always log the time soon after I walk in the door to my apartment. I arrive in the morning (6:30 - 9:00), during rush hour.

Businesses re-open at 3 PM (on business days) so evening rush doesn't really begin until after 7 PM. I think you'll have plenty of time if you make this transfer by car. Italians like to drive fast so mention your schedule to your driver. He'll take great pride in getting you there quickly and safely. Tip generously if he achieves your goal.

BoulderCO

Thanks for the advice. I forgot that we are arriving from Frankfurt so we won't have to go through immigration. Maybe then we will have time to catch the 4:37 Leonardo Express. It is important that we catch the 5:45 train to Naples as we will have a driver waiting for us there to take us to Sorrento. I guess we could try to make the Express train and if looks like we can't make it we can grab a car or taxi. I have heard that taxis are more expensive than pre-arranged private cars from the airport to central Rome. Is this true?

ira

Hi Boulder,

Your driver in Naples will surely meet the 6:45 train from Rome. Why knock yourself out trying to get the 5:45?

Our flight last Sept was scheduled to arrive at 8:04. The plane was slightly late. We arrived at Rome TE at 11:30.

The wait for the luggage is what slows you down.

BoulderCO

Good point, Ira. We were hoping to get into Sorrento by 9:00 pm but , you are right, it really isn't worth stressing out over one hour difference.

Marilyn

Did I miss something or is my memory faulty? If you have a US passport and you fly from Frankfurt to Rome, don't you still have to go through Italian immigration?

yk

Marilyn-

Exactly what I was thinking too! When BoulderCO gets into Frankfurt airport, since he is just transitting, he won't go thru passport control.

Either way, last time I was at FCO, it didn't take long at all to get thru immigration.

BoulderCO

Last year we flew Denver to Frankfurt, and then a connecting flight to Milan. We went through immigration upon arrival in Frankfurt but did not in Milan. I found it surprising at the time. It wasn't until I was outside Malpensa airport that I realized no one check our passports. Must be because we were arriving from another EU country there was no need to check?

ira

Hi NYCFS,
>I've clocked numerous trips to Piazza Farnese at exactly 1.5 hours after landing, all by car.<

They like you more than they like me. On our trip we touched down 20 min late. We docked 15 min later. It took over 1 1/2 hr to get our luggage.

NYCFoodSnob

There's very little consistency in travel, let alone life. However, I can't recall the last time my flight to Rome was delayed. Lately, we've been landing early.

Also, I don't ever recall waiting long for luggage. It just hasn't happened to me. I also find the passport lines to go rather quickly.

taylor_made

1 1/2 hour wait for luggage?

I, too, don't seem to recall EVER waiting that long for luggages, anywhere. During all my trips to Europe, it seems that I never had to wait more than 45 minutes (I've never clocked it) to get our luggages.

Sorry, Ira, but they must like us, too.

NYCFoodSnob

I should add that I (almost) ALWAYS depart on a Mon/Tue/Wed and, for the last ten years, I return on a Tue, sometimes Wed. I favor one of the late flights out of JFK which gets in around 6:30-7:00 AM. Since I'm self-employed, I set the schedule. Experience has taught me these travel times are the most stress free (avoiding all holidays).