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How to travel by train from Bologna to Florence
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Bologna to Firenze / Florence by train
There are two routes used by trains from Bologna to Firenze/Florence
- The newer high speed line on which high speed Frecce and Italo trains rush between the two cities at more than 250 km/h.
- The older improved 'classic' route through the Apennine Tunnel taken by the therefore slower, but typically much cheaper, InterCity trains.
Routes you can take to go from Bologna to Firenze / Florence
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.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: taking the high speed Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
35 - 37 min (Frecce trains)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
2 - 3 x trains per hour
Purchase Tickets
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.
Trainline Guide
Other Ticket Providers
Trenitalia Guide
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:
- Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
- Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
- The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Italia Rail Guide
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.
Omio Guide
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
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
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.
Save A Train Guide
Travel Information
Final Destination: Roma or Napoli or Salerno or Reggio di Calabria
The service of AV (high speed) trains is split between these Frecce trains operated by Treniatalia and alternative Italo trains, operated by NTV; though these Frecce trains provide by far the most frequent rail service between the two cities.
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.
A mix of Frecce trains operate on this route between Bologna and Firenze/Florence, though it doesn't particularly matter, which type of Frecce train you travel on for this comparatively short journey; and it makes no difference to the ticket price.
Take any of these high speed services and you can make substantial savings if you book in advance, though you will be tied to taking the specific departure you choose when making a booking.
Though if you buy tickets last minute at the station, these Frecce trains and the Italo trains are typically around €15 more expensive than taking the IC trains.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Nearly all of these Frecce trains to Firenze/Florence depart from the AV station, binari (platforms/tracks) 16-19, at Bologna Centrale.
For 90% of this journey the trains rush through a series of tunnels
Tickets
*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 faster (AV) train services between and The AV train service between Bologna and Florence/Firenze is provided by:
(1) these Frecce trains operated by Trenitalia and
(2) alternative Italo trains
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed 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.
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.
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 with Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Considering the journey time, tickets for any high speed (AV) train journey between Bologna and Firenze can seem expensive, but the many, many kilometers of tunnel, which the trains travel through, came at a high cost.
Route Information
Option 2: taking the high speed Italo trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
35 - 38 min (Italo trains)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 - 2 x trains per hour
Purchase Tickets
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.
Trainline Guide
Other Ticket Providers
Italo Guide
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.
Omio Guide
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
- it offers prices in multiple currencies
- it usually offers price comparison with other modes of travel including flights and buses
- when visiting Europe, you can book journeys in multiple countries in one transaction.
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.
Happy rail Guide
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.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Roma or Napoli
Italo trains, operated by NTV, compete with the Frecce trains, operated by Trenitalia, on the high speed line between these cities.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
These Italo trains to Firenze/Florence all depart from the AV station at Bologna Centrale, binari (platforms/tracks) 16-19.
These Italo trains take the same route as the Frecce trains
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
Tickets for the Trenitalia Frecce trains are placed on sale 6 months in advance, but the Italo train tickets are made available 3 to 4 months ahead.
Trenitalia does not sell tickets for these Italo trains; and Italo does not sell tickets for the Trenitalia trains.
Complimentary seat reservations are included when booking tickets for either of these train services.
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 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.
Route Information
Option 3: to the main station in Florence by IC train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
1hr 21min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x train per day
(Departs in the evening)
Purchase Tickets
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.
Trainline Guide
Other Ticket Providers
Trenitalia Guide
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:
- Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
- Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
- The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Terni
This train also calls at: Prato
Taking an Intercity train from Bologna to Firenze/Florence is cheaper than taking either of the high speed services, you can save more than €10.
Though the journey will be around twice as long, because the Intercity trains don't take the high speed line.
However, most of the Intercity trains arrive at Firenze Rifredi station and not the main city centre station, Firenze S.M. Novella.
This info is for the only direct Intercity train from Bologna to Firenze S.M. Novella, it usually departs from Bologna daily at 20:04 so it isn't an option for a daytime train journey between the two cities.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: around 3 months ahead of the travel date
This train is the the only direct city centre (Bologna Centrale) to (Firenze S.M. Novella) city centre train, that is NOT a high speed train.
It is usually scheduled to depart from Bologna Centrale at around 20:04, so target that time when looking up this journey, if you want to travel by it.
If you have a rail pass and don't mind an evening arrival, you can save up to €10 by taking this train instead of the high speed Frecce trains.
Route Information
Option 4: taking IC trains to an alternative station in Florence
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
1hr 4min (to Firenze Rifredi))
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
Monday to Friday: 4 x trains per day
Saturday: 5 x trains
Sunday: 4 x trains
Purchase Tickets
Italia Rail Guide
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.
Trenitalia Guide
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:
- Group Offers, provides for a discount of up to 50% when 3-5 Adults travel together.
- Family Offer for when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 11 and under.
- The Children Free Offer is available for journeys by Frecce trains, when groups of 2 - 5 people are travelling together and at least one of the party is a aged 15 and under.
Those aged 15 and under travel for free, but the Adults will need to purchase full price 'Base' tickets.
Save A Train Guide
Travel Information
Final Destination: Napoli or Roma
These trains also call at: Prato
Note that these Intercity trains arrive at Firenze Rifredi station and not the main city centre station, Firenze S.M. Novella.
You'll need to take a connecting train to Firenze S.M. Novella in from Firenze Rifredi in order to reach Firenze/Florence city centre.
The 1hr 4min journey time is to Rifredi station, it doesn't include the time required to change trains and to travel on to S.M.Novella station.
There are usually a minimum of 3 x trains per hour from Rifredi to S.M. Novella.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
So why take these Intercity trains from Bologna to Florence/Firenze, if they don't arrive at the main station in the city?
Well if you'll be travelling during the day and booking tickets last minute at the station, you'll save around €14 by taking these trains and not the high speed trains; which do arrive at Firenze S.M. Novella.
If you will be a using a rail pass, you'll save €10.
(There are no direct Regionale trains from Bologna to Florence/Firenze, but if the timings of these IC trains don't suit rail pass users can avoid having to reserve on the Frecce trains by taking a Regionale train from Bologna to Prato and connecting there for another Regionale train on to Firenze S.M.Novella station).
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
You canter Firenze Rifredi as the 'Arrival' station when looking up this journey by IC train on Trenitalia.
Though if you book tickets to Firenze S.M. Novella, you won't need to purchase a ticket at Firenze Rifredi in order to complete the journey.
If you have a rail pass you can save up to €10 by taking these trains compared to the Frecce high speed trains, but you will have to take a connecting train on to Firenze S.M.Novella station, in order to reach the city centre.
It's not worth bothering to arrange the optional £3 rail pass reservation fee for this particular journey.
Book a ticket(s) and a complimentary seat reservation will automatically be included.
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