How take a rail journey from Florence/Firenze to Genoa/Genova

Departing from Firenze/Florence:

These are the only direct trains from Firenze/Florence to Genova/Genoa, but they don't depart from the main city centre station - Firenze S.M.Novella.

Instead they depart from Firenze Campo di Marte station, which is some distance from the city centre, at 07:54 daily and at 21:54 not on Saturdays.

The easiest public transport access from the city centre to Camp di Marte, is to take a local train on a one station hop from S.M.Novella station.
A train which should depart from S.M.Novella station at 07:25 on Mon-Sat (heading to Chiusi-Chianciano Terme) and 07:18 on Sunday (heading to Arrezo), connects into the 07:54 departure.

A train which should depart from S.M.Novella station on Monday to Friday and Sunday at 21:22 (heading to Arezzo) connects into the 21:54 departure.

Arriving in Genova:

These trains will call at two stations in Genova, they call first at Genova Brignole station, before going on to call at Genova Piazza Principe station.

So it's worth confirming which of these stations will suit you best before booking tickets and boarding the train.

Though if you're heading to Genoa/Genova city centre, the quickest option will be to leave the train at Genova Brignole - and then transfer to the Genoa Metro for a one station hop on to De Ferrari station in the heart of the city

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date

These trains are usually scheduled to depart from Firenze Campo Di Marte station daily at 07:54 and at 21:54 on every day except Saturdays, but that isn't the main city centre station in Firenze/Florence.

So select 'Firenze Campo Di Marte'  as the 'Departure' station when looking up this journey on Trenitalia, though you'll need to make your way to Campo di Marte station in order to board the train.
A train from S.M.Novella is the easiest public transport option, buy you'll need to buy a ticket for the journey to Campo di Marte, or book a through ticket from S.M.Novella.

Your seat(s) will automatically be reserved on these trains when booking tickets, but rail pass users can save €10 by avoiding these trains and taking a combination of R/RV and IC trains instead.

There are only up to two direct trains from Firenze/Florence to Genova/Genoa per day, one of which departs early in the morning and the other departs late in the evening, and neither of them leaves from the main city centre station, S.M.Novella.

So another option to take a train from S.M.Novella and connect in Pisa for a train on to Genova.

ShowMeTheJourney has honed in the connections which involve taking an express train on from Pisa and not a Regionale Veloce train service.

There are three reasons why this is a better option if you'll be purchasing tickets in advance of your travel date.
(1) The end-to-end journey will be more than an hour faster.
(2) It won't be comparatively expensive.
(3) You can travel from Pisa on to Genova in a reserved seat(s) on an air-conditioned train.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

If you select the main city centre station, Firenze S.M.Novella as your departure station when looking up this journey to Genova, the vast majority of the journey options you will see on the booking websites involve

• taking a train to Pisa, and
• connecting there into a train on to Genova.

That's because there are only 1 or 2x direct trains per day from Firenze/Florence to Genova, neither of which depart from S.M.Novella station.