There are two options for taking a train from Florence/Firenze to Genoa/Genova:
1: Taking the direct trains, though they depart early in the morning and late in the evening, and don't leave from the main city centre station.
2. Taking a train to Pisa and making a connection there for Genova, is more frequent and usually cheaper too.
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.
2hr 27 min
Daily
1 or 2 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:
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
If you take the first train of the day your efforts at making an early start will be rewarded by some fabulous sea views between La Spezia and Genova, if your assigned seat is on the left side of the train.
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.
3hr 5min - 3hr 45min approx
Daily
10 optimum x connections per day
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:
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.
Final Destination: Livorno or La Spezia or Grosseto or Pisa
The frequent train service between Firenze/Florence and Pisa comprises slightly faster RGV (Regionale Veloce) trains and slightly slower REG (Regionale) trains.
As the time journey time difference is fairly marginal and there is little variations in the trains used take which ever train has good connections in Pisa, the type of train won't affect the ticket price and seats can't be reserved on either of these trains services.
Final Destination: Genova. P.P or Milano or Torino
The express train service from Pisa to Genova is split between faster Frecciabianca services and slower Intercity services
However, when connecting into these trains in Pisa, it doesn't particularly matter which of these servcies to travel by on to Genova, the Intercity trains depart in the hours when no Frecciabianca train is due to depart, and vice versa.
Though if you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can save €10 if you look up the journey and target the connections which involve taking an Intercity train on from Pisa.
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.
There are some fabulous sea views between La Spezia and Genova if your assigned seat is on the left side of the 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
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.
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