How to take the rail journey from Florence / Flirenze / Florenz to Zurich by train

Final Destination: Zurich HB

This train is typically scheduled to depart at 07:50 and arrive into Zurich before 15:30 - in time for connections on to swathe of destinations including Koln/Cologne, St Gallen, Stuttgart

The train also calls at*

Como-San Giovanni, Lugano, Bellinzona, Arth-Goldau and Zug.
Connect in Arth-Goldau for Luzern and Basel

When looking up journeys on Trenitalia enter Zuerich (city) as the Arrival station.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: Up to 180 days / 6 months ahead of the travel date - though booking periods will be shorter when travelling after the second Sunday in December.

Three types of ticket will typically be made available, Standard, Saver Flex and Saver - all types of ticket are only valid on the specific departure selected when booking.

The very cheapest type of ticket, Saver tickets, are taken off sale 7 days prior to departure.

The mid-price type of ticket, Saver Flex, are taken off sale 3 days prior to departure.

Exchanges

• Up until departure, the most expensive type of ticket, Standard tickets, can be for exchanged for another day of travel or travel time on the exact same route without paying any additional fees.
• Up until departure, the mid priced type of ticket, Saver Flex tickets, can be for exchanged for another day of travel or travel time on the exact same route, but the price difference with Standard tickets, at the time of exchange, will need to be paid.
• The cheapest type of tickets, Saver tickets, cannot be exchanged.

Additional information is available on the SBB website.

Refunds

• Up until departure, the most expensive type of ticket, Standard tickets, tickets can be returned and purchasers will receive 80% of the price paid.
• The mid priced type of ticket, Saver Flex tickets, cannot be refunded.
• The cheapest type of tickets, Saver tickets, cannot be refunded.

Seat reservations

Reservations are mandatory on the Italian section of the journey, so seats are assigned when booking all types of tickets.

Rail pass users

If you will be travelling with valid Eurail or Interrail passes, you will need to pay a rail pass reservation fee when boarding these direct trains for a journey to Italy.
Though avoid paying for these reservation fees at a station in Switzerland, because if you do so you, will also have to pay a 11CHF booking fee.
The fees can be avoided when taking journey options 2 and 3!

Travelling with Children

Limited numbers of Bimbi-Gratis tickets are available on the EC trains between Switzerland and Italy, so it can pay off to book ahead - They become available 180 days before departure and include the mandatory seat reservations.

They can be used when a group of up to 5 people includes at least one Adult and one child under the age of 15.
So it applies to groups of:

• 1 Adult + up to 4 children
• 1 or 2 Adults + up to 3 children
• Up to 3 Adults + 1 or 2 children
• 4 Adults + 1 child

The ticket is a significant money saver as Adults receive a 40% discount on the normal fare and there is no charge for the children!

The ticket is only valid for the booked day and train, but exchange for another day or time possible free of charge, subject to availability.
Refund possible before departure for a fee. No refund after departure.

Bike tickets

When travelling with a non-folding bike, spaces must be reserved, but you need to make a simultaneous purchase of your travel ticket + the bike reservation on the Trenitalia website.

Dog tickets

Dog tickets seemingly aren't available for this end-to-end international journey, a dog pass will need to be purchased for the Swiss part of the trip and a dog ticket is required for the Italian section of the journey, see the dogs on trains guide.