FCO to Fast Train and Best way to travel back from Naples to Rome
 

1. Is it very easy to find a taxi at FCO going to the fast train station? If so, can you tell me which station I should ask the taxi driver to take us to if I want to get on the Eurostar AV going to Naples??

2. Can you also please tell me the Best way to travel back from Naples to Rome at approximately 11:00 am in June?

Many thanks!!
Starr

Termini - the main station in Rome where most high-speed trains depart from - from FCO you can also take the non-stop direct Leonardo Express train that goes right into Termini station - could well be faster and a taxi and more convenient as well.

www.trenitalia.com is the official site of the Italian State Railways - there are up to three-four trains an hour between Rome and Naples Centrale - the main station there - if you want to lock yourself into a hard to change non-refundable train weeks in advanced (to get the limited in number discounted tickets) you can book up to 90 days or so in advance - but when coming by air you never know when you will be able to catch a certain train so if going the oiscounted ticket route leave lots of fudge time in between - or bite the bullet and just buy a full fare ticket once at Termini - these trains rarely sell out and rarely would all of them - it may cost you $25 or so more for full fare but if coming by plane that may be well worth it as you then just take the next train once in Termini - buying a ticket for the next train.

For lots of great stuff on Italian trains I always spotlight these IMNO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

I just want to stress that since you are going straight to a train after landing at FCO, it is not really practical to get a taxi to Termini.

There is a train right inside the airport that will take you to Termini.

I know this was said immediately above, but it's important to know.

The best way to travel from Naples to Rome at 11 am in June is probably by train. You will go city center to city center, which I presume is what you want.

But if they are going to Amalfi, the town, it may be just as good to take a train to Salerno then a boat or bus to Amalfi - some find Naples Centrale station to be a big daunting - a huge hectic station compared to the more somnolent Slaerno station which also has direct high-speed trains from Rome Termini.

There is a train right inside the airport that will take you to Termini.>

right inside but still quite a hike if I recall rightly but still the way to go - do not even consider a taxi.

If you're travelling on a budget, there are also cheap airport BUSES from FCO to Roma Termini Station (costing as little as 4 Euros, versus 14 Euros for the faster Trenitalia airport train):

www.sitbusshuttle.it
www.terravision.eu
www.atral-lazio.com

Why shouldn't someone consider a taxi to Termini?

It can be a positive advantage depending on how many people are traveling, where they are coming from, how much luggage they are carrying and if they have in their pocket discount fast train tickets purchased in advance (there are no discounts for the Leonardo Express). It also matters how long a wait they have in Termini before the next train departs to Naples.

There are lots of advantages to taking the Leonardo Express under certain circumstances, but in other circumstances -- including a traveler who says they want the comfort of a limo after a long plane flight.

starr,

It is usually not at all hard to find a taxi at FCO unless you are a large group, in which case you might want to reserve with a car service in advance. There are lots of options of getting to Termini from the airport, so providing more information about your travel particulars means people can probably help you figure out what you need. What time of day are you arriving? Have you looked at the schedule for when trains depart from Rome Termini to Naples? The airport shuttle train is a good option for many people, but I know plenty of people who routinely take the bus and others who want the simplicity of a taxi, especially those who have already purchased their train tickets.

Likewise, are you traveling from a hotel in Naples to a hotel in Rome? Or are you going to the Rome airport?

You all are so gracious to share your wisdom with me!! It is so appreciated! I will be traveling with my daughter, and we are both in good shape and should be able to handle our luggage. I do have a couple more questions please:

1. I did not see that it was available, however, I may be missing it - can you tell me if there is also a fast train from Rome to Salerno?

2. Most important! Where in FCO will I find the train to Termini? Do I just look for signs for Leodardo Express and then signs for Termini? Also, once at Termini, will it be easy to find signs for FRECCIAROSSA to Naples?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

There are several fast trains per day between Rome and Salerno - some of which are direct (i.e. don't stop in Naples). The schedule is on the trenitalia website.

If your daughter is UNDER the age of 12 years, 1 day, she rides FREE on the Leonardo da Vinci airport train between FCO airport and Roma Termini Station.

If your daughter is UNDER the age of 15 years, 1 day, she gets a 50% discount on the Frecciarossa/Frecciargento train fare between Roma Termini and Naples or Salerno.

Just follow the signs to the airport train station at FCO. Once at Roma Termini, walk towards the head of the tracks and look at the overhead monitors to identify the departure track of your Freccia train to Naples/Salerno.

There is good information on taking trains in Italy, especially Rome, on the site roninrome.com.

I like lots of reassurance so I tend to study any maps or plans of airports or rail stations that I need.

Also, I have used trains to and from Salerno and agree that it is a bit easier and more relaxing to deal with a much smaller station.

If you are going to Amalfi or Capri, Salerno is a good departure point. Or so I was told and found to be true.

there seem to be about hourly or so direct trains from Termini to Salerno that take as little as 2 hours (actually 1:59) - and at least I if going to Amalfi or Ravello would rather change once - in a smaller Salerno station to a bus out front or take a boat to Amalfi or Ravello - otherwise you have to change at Naples Centrale to the dumpy IME CircumVesuviana commuter train that takes forever - about 75 minutes to trundle to its terminus at Sorrento and then take a bus ride about as long as the one from Salerno I believe (not sure - check bus schedules) - anyway all in all much easier if not quicker, which it could be. Positano is much closer to Sorrento so not sure about that destination but Amalfi and Ravello, my two favorite places on the fabled Amalfi Coast are somewhat in between Sorrento and Salerno I believe.

In any case book your Naples or Salerno train tickets at the airport train station if you did not book already - one route could also have more discounted tickets than the other so price could be a factor as well- keep in mind discounted tickets are train-specific and non-changeable, at least at the same discounted price.

Maybe for variety go one way (Naples) and return the other (via Salerno) - then if going by bus or boat you will have seen the whole Amalfi Coast

Grazie!! Everyone is so very kind! I have another question please. Can you tell me approximately how much time I should allow while at the airport, to get to the Leonardo Express - board and travel to Termini? I am looking at the Termini train schedules to Naples and Salerno, but need to have an idea of how much time I should allow to get to the Termini station from FCO. Also, how frequently does the Leodardo Express run to Termini?
Thank you!!
Starr

The trains run frequently enough but your real fudge factor time will be due to airlines running late and delays on retrieving luggage - finding the train will take a walk of about 15 mins or so - trains run at least hourly but I think more than that.

From FCO, Leonardo Express leaves at :05 and :35 past the hour. The journey takes 30 minutes.

Below are two links that provide detailed info about taking Leonardo Express from FCO:

1) http://europeforvisitors.com/rome/tr...do-express.htm
and
2) http://www.roninrome.com/transportat...-fiumicino-fco

Upon arrival at the airport, you may also be delayed at immigration. It's best not to buy a Rome-Naples/Salerno ticket ahead of time. Just buy the Leonardo ticket and the Rome-to-wherever ticket at the airport ticket office. Or, if you want to buy a ticket ahead of time, allow a lot of time, say a minimum of 3 hours, from the time the plane is supposed to land.

>>>Also, how frequently does the Leodardo Express run to Termini?<<<

The Leonardo runs every thirty minutes and travel time will take about 30 minutes. Depending on which track it drops you at in Termini, you might have a trek to get to your next train. Sometimes they use a satellite track which would be about a 10 minute walk to your train.

>>>Can you tell me approximately how much time I should allow while at the airport,<<<

Will you have to retrieve luggage? Timing depends on how many flights are arriving, etc.

It's often faster and cheaper to get the ordinary train (same station at FCO as the Leonardo Dawdler, but every 15 minutes) to Rome's Tiburtina station, then get the Italotreno (www.italotreno.it) high speed train to Naples.

Tiburtina's a much less horrid place to change trains than Termini station (the one used by the government-run high speed railway) and trains to it from FCO are more frequent and slightly cheaper than trains to Termini.

Rome-Naples journey times are roughly identical, and Italotreno rolling stock generally a tad funkier, but comparing prices - especially in advance - between Trenitalia and Italotreno really is essential for getting the best value.

As in any free market, it's not possible to predict which will offer the better prices for a specific time and day, though more often than not Italotreno will have slightly better advance deals.

But it's out and out dishonest for self-appointed railway "experts" to pretend there's no alternative to Trenitalia's strike-happy mercies.