Train ticket from Rome to Florence?

August 5, 2019 12:45 PM

My girlfriend and I are vacationing in Italy in a couple of weeks. We live in the U.S. and we're experienced travelers. We land in Rome on the morning of 8/17, then intend to take the train to Florence. My question: Is it better to book my train tickets now (via web or phone app)? Or fine to buy at the train station in Rome? Thinking back to Zurich in December, it was simple to just buy the train tickets at the airport via ATM/kiosk. Not sure if they have a similar setup in Rome, though. (Yes, I know we'll have to take a train from the airport to the main train station first.)
posted by jdroth to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

Best answer: Having done this a few times, just buy at the train station.
posted by mss at 12:50 PM on August 5, 2019 [1 favorite]

I can’t remember the details but I seem to remember that train prices go up closer to the date. Also a lot of Europe is on vacation in August so it may be a good idea to buy ahead so you don’t end up standing the whole time.
posted by raccoon409 at 12:57 PM on August 5, 2019 [4 favorites]

Best answer: So you are going directly to Florence? Wait and buy the ticket when you get there in case your flight is delayed; your route has frequent departures.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:02 PM on August 5, 2019 [3 favorites]

Best answer: As long as your holiday wouldn't be ruined by having to get a different train I think you are fine buying at the station. I nearly missed a flight in Italy last year as five of the six trains I could possibly have got to the airport were full when I tried to buy tickets on the day.
posted by kadia_a at 1:18 PM on August 5, 2019

Best answer: Nthing just getting it there...also, when taking the train in from the airport be sure to look out...it passes by the backyards of small family farms that pretty much all have a heap of ancient Roman ruins in the back corner (cleared for farming I assume) and over roads that have culverts underneath topped with lion heads from centuries ago.
posted by sexyrobot at 1:37 PM on August 5, 2019 [4 favorites]

Best answer: So, searching on trainline (an awesome app to use if you're going to be taking trains around Europe), same day tickets from Rome airport to Florence are about €50-60. Tickets 2 weeks from now are about €30-40.

I just took a bunch of trains around Italy and France, I bought some tickets online, some at the train station ticket machines, and some on the trainline app. I like the app the best because you have the ticket on your phone and you can compare prices, but I like the flexibility of buying at the station, they have no sympathy if you miss your train for whatever reason.

So, you can save some € if you buy in advance but the convenience of buying at the station comes at a not- terrible premium.
posted by pazazygeek at 2:42 PM on August 5, 2019 [4 favorites]

Best answer: You could factor in a time cushion for delays if you decide to book online but I’d prefer not to have to wait an extra hr or two after a long haul flight if everything is on time. So I’d buy at the station.
posted by koahiatamadl at 3:27 PM on August 5, 2019

Response by poster: Yep, I'm a huge fan of the Trainline app, but the feedback here is great. You're all right that it's impossible to account for delays. Since buying at the train station isn't a hassle, I'll just do it there. Thanks!
posted by jdroth at 3:44 PM on August 5, 2019

In case you don’t know it, The Man In Seat 61 is the go-to for European train info. Rome to Florence etc.

FWIW, I always avoid the Trainline as I understand it charges more than other services, adding a fee on top.
posted by fabius at 7:49 PM on August 5, 2019 [4 favorites]

The Trainline adds a fee of 80 euro cents, but it offers cheaper future tickets which does still make it cheaper overall if you’re booking at least one day earlier than travelling.
posted by ellieBOA at 10:36 PM on August 5, 2019

The weekend immediately after Ferragosto (aug. 15, a national holiday) will be quite crowded, I suggest you book and reserve your seats in advance which will also make for somewhat cheaper tickets.

Keep in mind there are two train companies connecting Rome to Florence with high speed trains: state-owned Trenitalia with Frecciarossa trains and privately-owned Italo, both have ticket vending machines and ticket offices at the station (I think in Termini they are in the main concourse).

Anyway, there's a ton of high speed trains between Rome and Florence, about every 15' from 6am to 9pm-ish, so either way you should be just fine.
posted by _dario at 10:47 AM on August 9, 2019