Livorno to Florence and Civitavecchia to Rome by train.

[duck60d]

We are taking a cruise out of Barcelona on the Canival Breeze in two weeks. It looks like we have decided to take the train into Florence and Rome vs paying a taxi or tour bus. Should I buy the tickets online at www.trenitalia.com ahead of time or should I just buy the tickets when I arrive at the train station. Can the trains get sold out? Any tips will help out.

[kuldalai]

In the case of both Livorno to Firenze SMN and Civitavecchia to Roma Termini the majority of services are local trains with no seat reservations. So just bowl up at both Livorno and Civitavecchia stations and buy your tickets.

 

Be sure to validate your ticket at the platform entry in the yellow validation machines before undertaking each train trip. Failure to validate incurs a hefty on the spot fine.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

There are two websites that you can use to buy your tickets. Trenitalia or Rail Europe. Sometimes one is cheaper than the other.

 

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD

 

http://www.raileurope.com/index.html

 

For Rome you have the option of the regional train or here is a cruise train that you have to book online in advance. The cruise train is a non-stop to the Vatican and back.

 

http://www.smartcruisetours.com/index.php/faqs

[euro cruiser]

In Civitavecchia the ticket you want is called a BIRG; it is a regional transportation ticket that covers both the train and public transit in Rome. This ticket is not available online, it can only be purchased in person. You can buy one at newsstands in Civitavecchia or at the train station (I found the newsstand in the train station to be the fastest purchase, no line).