Florence for a long weekend
 

My husband and I are planning to fly into Rome and immediately take the train to Florence for a long weekend. Is this do-able? Based on my limited research thus far, it looks as though we can save time by getting our train tix at the Rome airport. Any thoughts or advice? thanks

Sure, it is.

Yes, you can buy whatever train tickets you need at the airport, but, if your weekend is in summer, don't arrive in Florence without a lodging reservation.

Have you booked your air tickets? If not, it is simpler to just fly to Florence on a single ticket than schepping luggage into town to take the train. You should be able to do carryon for a weekend, so no risk of lost luggage.

Long time travelers to Italy are glued to the idea you should take the train, but the air connections are quite simple and real time-savers.

Well, do look into flying into Florence, but depending on where you're starting from it's not always faster. If eastern U.S., you'll lose time making a connection somewhere, and with two flights there is double the opportunity for delays or cancellations that could just about wipe out a long weekend. Of course, trains aren't without potential problems either, but in the worst case you could spend the weekend in/near Rome if you at least got that far.

I was thinking of flights where you make a flight connection through Rome's FCO to Florence. Jean is right: I would not book a flight to Florence with a connection though a city outside Italy unless I could live with the possibility of spending a weekend there.

You should also check out flights to Pisa, some of which are direct from the US. Likewise Milan.

Great suggestions - thank you all. If we do decide to take the train from Rome, any suggestions or advice as to regular vs
express, 1st class vs. 2nd, etc?
thanks

You definitely want express, and I prefer first class for roominess, and usually it is quieter.

Are we better off getting train tickets when we arrive in Rome or shall I book ahead online from the States? If ahead, which website? Thank you in advance.

The official website does not often allow U.S. credit card holders make purchases. I would not want to book ahead in case the plane arrived late or my luggage was delayed.

There are frequent departures between Roma Termini and Florence. When you arrive at the FCO (Rome airport) train station, you will know for sure what train you can make, so buy the ticket then. (Leonardo Express train from FCO to Roma Termini takes 30 minutes; allow 15 minutes to walk through Roma Termini to your departure platform.)

By the way, Italian train schedules and tickets:

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html

Also, be aware that many museums are closed on Mondays. So that long weekend may be cut short for museum-visiting. However, if you can plan around that, you'll be OK.