Train from Rome to Florence
 

We'll be going by train from Rome to Florence in October. Does anyone know how long the ride it? If we leave in the morning, do we have time for lunch at a great stop in between? Where do you recommend?

Hi Lady,

Train schedules are at www.trenitalia.com/en

There is no stop in between.

Bummer. I sounded like such a good idea. But thanks.

Lady,

Not a bummer.

It's only a 2-hr trip.

On the ES* trains they give you drinks and snacks.

If you take an ES train, it is 1 hour 35 minutes from Rome to Florence, non-stop. Very quick.

If you are really looking for a place to stop (and it sounds as if you are), take an IC train. It makes a few stops but takes about an hour longer than the ES. (It's also a bit cheaper than ES.) You could break your trip at Orvieto, a lovely hilltown. The train station is at the bottom of the hill. You take a funicular from there to the hilltop. Search here for threads on Orvieto--it would make a charming stop.

While your ES ticket comes with a seat reservation, your IC ticket does not. You would buy a Rome to Florence IC ticket (I recommend first class on IC) and get off in Orvieto. I believe you then have 6 hours to get back on another IC train going to Florence. (If you want to avoid searching for seats, you could purchase reservations at additional cost on the two IC trains if you knew your desired train times.)

Hi again Lady,

ellenem has a good idea.

Orvieto is a lovely town to visit, and I Sette Consoli Pzza Sant?Angelo 1A phone/fax 011 39 0763 343911
is one of the best restaurants in Italy.

You can buy a Rome/Orvieto ticket and an Orvieto/Florence ticket for the same price as Rome/Florence.

See www.trenitalia.com/en for schedules and fares.