The Frecciarossa and Frecciarossa 1000 trains operated by Trenitalia share Italy's fastest railway, the high-speed line between Milano and Firenze, with Italo trains.
They have similar speeds, so the differences between them are to do with the on-board experiences, check out the 'Trains' guides below. and the fact that tickets for the Italo trains and Frecce trains can be purchased from different online booking agents - it's a route on which you can save by booking in advance.
In addition to those trains which rush down the high speed line, there are handful of InterCity trains which still travel along the older 'classic' route from Milano to Firenze.
So they're much slower and most of them also don't arrive at the main station in Florence; the fabulously located Firenze S.M. Novella, instead they call at a more distant station - Firenze Rifredi.
But if you want to save when booking tickets, particularly at the last minute, they'll be much cheaper; and Eurail and InterRail pass users can use them and avoid the rail pass reservation fees payable on the Frecce trains.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
1hr 39min (Frecce trains)
Daily
14 - 15 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.
The Early Bird service
Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Roma or Napoli or Salerno or Reggio de Calabria (and others)
All trains also call at: Bologna
Most of these trains also call at Milano Rogoredo and depending on where you'll be setting off from in Milano, taking the trains from this station can be time saver.
Milano Centrale is on the northern edge of the city centre, so these trains initially head north and then make their way around the city, so that they can take the route south towards Firenze.
Local trains head to Milano Rogoredo from multiple stations in the city centre, including Milano Porta Venezia and Milano Porta Vittoria.
Milano Rogoredo is also on line M3 of the Milan Metro, but this line also serves Milano Centrale.
This journey showcases the best of Italian train travel, you'll be on board trains with a wow factor and rushing along Italy's fastest high speed line, for virtually the entire trip!
Though don't expect eye-catching scenery, there's nothing of note to see as the train speeds towards Bologna at more than 280 km/h; and then between Bologna and Firenze, virtually the entire part of this journey is in a series of tunnels.
The majority of these Frecce trains complete the journey in around 1hr 40mins.
Most of these departures will be by Frecciarossa 500 trains, but the different Frecciarossa 1000 trains, will also be used for some departures.
Save by booking in advance: Yes, for more details on how to obtain the cheapest prices for Frecce trains see the guide to Italian rail tickets.
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December.
The high speed (AV) train service between Milano Centrale* and Firenze/Florence is provided by
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale up to 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are typically made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
So, if you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
*Some Frecce and Italo trains depart from stations in Milano other Milano Centrale.
If you will be travelling from Milano Centrale then use this specific station when looking up tickets and prices.
Rail Pass Users:
If you will be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you will need to reserve prior to boarding these trains, either at the station (using a Trenitalia ticket machine or ticket desk) OR by booking them online.
How to book the rail pass reservations online is included on our guide to using rail passes in Italy.
1hr 50 min
Daily
15 - 16 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Italo trains compete with the Frecce services, provided by the national rail operator, Trenitalia, on the high speed routes which link major cities in Italy.
The Italo booking site only sells tickets for journeys by its trains.
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Omio is an online ticket agency which offers tickets for rail journeys in France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain.
The three key advantages of using Omio are
The disadvantage of booking with Omio is that it often adds a booking fee to the final price; therefore when it does so without offering a price advantage, SMTJ doesn't tend to offer Omio as a booking option.
Final Destination: Roma or Napoli or Salerno or Reggio di Calabria
All trains also call at: Bologna
Most of these trains also call at Milano Rogoredo
In common with the more frequent, Frecce trains these Italo trains also use Italy's fastest high speed line between Milano and Firenze/Florence.
Don't expect eye-catching scenery, there's nothing of note to see as the train speeds towards Bologna at more than 280 km/h; and then between Bologna and Firenze, virtually the entire part of this journey is in a series of tunnels.
Book early and save: Yes
**Online bookings open: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
The high speed (AV) train service between Milano Centrale* and Firenze is provided by:
(1) these Italo trains
(2) alternative Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale around 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available around 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for the Italo trains - and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
If you're booking no more than 4 months ahead and have no particular preference for the train that you will be taking, the price and departure times of the Frecce and Italo trains can be directly compared on with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Eurail and InterRail passes can't be used on Italo trains.
3hr 27min (approx)
Daily
up to 2 x trains per day - to Firenze Rifredi
1 x train per day - to Firenze S.M. Novella
Trenitlalia is the national rail operator in Italy and in addition to its cheaper types of ticket; it also typically offers other discounts available to non-Italians, which include:
Italiarail lives up to its name by selling tickets for rail journeys within Italy and the core feature of its service is that it is primarily designed to be used by international visitors to Italy.
So the English translations of place names are used when looking up journeys and the terms and conditions for using each type of ticket are clearly explained.
It also clearly points out the additional costs of upgrading to other classes and types of tickets while spelling out the additional benefits of doing so.
Though Italiarail will charge a booking fee, typically of around €3.
The Early Bird service
Italiarail has launched an 'early bird' pre-booking service for journeys by Frecce trains.
Tickets can be booked up to a year ahead of travel at a flat-rate price per route, before the tickets have been released for sale by Trenitalia.
If when they are placed on sale, the price is cheaper than what you have already paid to Italiarail, it will automatically refund the price difference.
Conversely, if the price is more expensive, you won't be charged the price difference.
You can also have the peace of mind of securing your seat(s) on the Frecce train(s) when you are first planning a trip.
If before the tickets are placed on sale, you decide to change your plans, you can request a refund; but once the tickets are released for sale, you will then be bound by the terms and conditions of the ticket(s) you have booked.
Firenze Rifredi station is some distance from the city centre.
Take these trains from Milano that call there and you'll need to take a connecting train on from Firenze Rifredi to Firenze S.M.Novella.
No other suitable public transport options are available at Firenze Rifredi and the station does not have a taxi rank.
These trains to Rifredi are usually scheduled to depart from Milano Centrale daily at 06:05 not Sunday; and around 13:45 not Saturday.
So why take these Intercity trains instead of the much faster high speed trains?
Because they're cheaper and if you have a Eurail or InterRail pass, you can avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fees by not taking those high speed Frecce trains.
The one Intercity of the train from Milano, which ford arrive at Firenze S.M.Novella is the evening departure; which usually leaves at 17:40.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
Take these Intercity trains from Milano to Firenze/Florence and you can save more than €20 in comparison to taking the faster Frecce trains.
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