Main train stations | Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Firenze Campo di Marte, Firenze Rifredi |
Train companies | Trenitalia, Frecciarossa, Italo |
Airports | Florence Airport, Pisa Airport |
Public transport | Trams and public buses |
Cheap train tickets | Cheap train tickets in Italy |
The cradle of the Renaissance and one of Italy's most visited cities, Florence (or Firenze) is packed with must-see landmarks and magnificent monuments which underpin its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The capital of Tuscany is bursting at the seams with palaces, churches and art galleries, ensuring there's no shortage of things to see for those visiting the city on a cultural getaway. Bought a ticket and now catching the train to Florence? Here’s all you need to know to make your trip unforgettable, including train tickets, airport transfers and travel tips.
Florence’s main train station is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, which is located right in the heart of the city centre and offers plenty of connections to destinations across both Tuscany and the rest of the country. Thanks to Le Frecce and Italo high-speed trains, you can reach Bologna in just 35m, Pisa in 1h 07m, Rome in 1h 20m, Milan in 1h 40m and Venice in 2h 22m.
The other two major stations in the city are Firenze Campo di Marte, which is served by trains covering the route from Florence to Rome, and Firenze Rifredi, where trains travelling from Florence to Bologna stop.
If you travel with Trenitalia’s high-speed or regional trains, you can choose between the following ticket fares:
If you travel with Italo to Florence, you can buy one of the following tickets:
Discover popular routes to Florence, train types on those routes and journey times in the table below:
Route | Fastest journey time | Train |
---|---|---|
Venice to Florence | 1h 53m | Italo, Frecciarossa & Frecciargento |
Rome to Florence | 1h 12m | Italo, Frecciarossa & Frecciargento |
La Spezia to Florence | 1h 49m | Frecciargento & Frecciabianca |
Livorno to Florence | 1h 08m | Fast regional trains |
Arezzo to Florence | 30m | Frecciarossa, Frecciargento & Intercity |
Pisa to Florence | 48m | Frecciargento & Frecciabianca |
Trenitalia provides two types of high-speed trains for the route from Rome to Florence – Frecciarossa and Frecciargento. Reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, Frecciarossa trains can take you from the Eternal City to the heart of the Renaissance in under 2 hours.
Frecciarossa trains have 4 classes you can choose from – Standard, Premium, Business and Executive. The Standard Class offers basic services that are typical of a normal Standard Class, while the Executive Class is Frecciarossa’s First Class and provides top-quality services to give you a unique travel experience. Frecciargento trains, meanwhile, travel at the speed of 250 km/h and offer First and Second Classes.
The fastest journey from Venice to Florence lasts about 2 hours, which is perfect if you want to go on a day trip. This route is also served by Frecciarossa and Frecciargento high-speed trains.
Want to travel in style and comfort? Choose Frecciarossa Executive Class and you’ll enjoy dedicated catering service at your seat, wide ergonomic reclining leather armchairs and free access to the FRECCE media portal.
If you travel in Frecciargento’s First Class, you’ll get power sockets, table and reading lights at your seat, a welcome service with snacks and drinks and a free newspaper of your choice.
You can get from Florence Airport to Florence train station by bus only – the Volainbus shuttle service runs every 30 minutes, 7 days a week, and doesn’t make any stops, so your journey will last about 20 minutes. The bus departs from the Departures side of the airport and arrives at Firenze Santa Maria Novella.
From Firenze Santa Maria Novella, you can easily reach the city’s main attractions on foot. If you want to go outside of the city centre, you can take the tram or one of the local buses operated by ATAF – tickets can be purchased either onboard or from the ATAF ticket office at the station. If you buy the Firenze Card, you can even get unlimited travel on ATAF buses and trams!
You can also take one of the taxis from the square opposite the train station or use the bike-sharing service provided by Mobike.
As soon as you get off the train at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, head to Piazza del Duomo. This historic cathedral square is just a 10-minute walk from the train station, so you can immediately take in some of the most mesmerising sights the city has to offer. There's plenty of architectural delights to enjoy here, including the iconic Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Begun in 1296, the green, white and pink marble used for its construction makes it a work of art in itself. Trivia lovers will also note that it’s got the largest brick dome in the world. Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Battistero di San Giovanni are two other must-visit landmarks in the area.
After enjoying these sights, take a short seven-minute walk south to Piazza della Signoria – the city's social hub – which boasts yet more incredible buildings. Marvel at the town hall with its characteristic tower before grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many bistros in the area. At this point, Galleria degli Uffizi is just a stone's throw away – don’t miss your chance to enjoy the largest collection of Italian art in the world, with masterpieces from the likes of Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
Heading east from here for around seven minutes, you’ll arrive at the Basilica di Santa Croce, one of the finest examples of Italian Gothic architecture in Italy. This breath-taking building is a treasure trove of Italian heritage – well worth a visit. Finally, cross the river and settle at Ponte Vecchio for a first-rate vantage point to watch a spectacular sunset over the city.
Want to learn more about travelling in Florence? Check out our travel guides: 3 days in Florence – a culture lover’s guide and The ultimate guide to the best weekend break in Florence.