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How to take a rail journey from Rome to Florence/Firenze
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Roma / Rome to Firenze / Florence by train
The 'Frecce' trains operated by Trenitalia share the high-speed route between Roma and Firenze/Florence, 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.
However, some trains from Roma to Firenze/Florence, the IC and RV trains, still take the older 'classic' route, so they're slower, because they don't travel at high speed and also make more station calls
If ticket price and not speed is your key criteria, you can usually save money by taking these trains and they're a cheaper option for rail pass users, but they are not as frequent as the high speed services.
Routes you can take to go from Roma / Rome 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)
1hr 31min
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
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.
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
The Frecce trains from Milano to Firenze/Florence head on to a swathe of other cities including Milano, Venezia, Torino, Verona, Bolzano and Bergamo
Most of these trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
The high speed line between Rome and Florence is more scenic than most high speed routes, it's not a beautiful journey, but there is a wow factor of travelling across the rolling landscape at more than 240 km/h.
The direttissima between Rome and Florence was the first high speed railway line to be built in Italy, so it has a slower maximum speed than the other Italian high speed lines.
This video, taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction, gives an idea of the journey experience.
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 high speed train (AV) service between Roma and Firenze 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.
Alternative money saving options:
You can usually save money by avoiding the high speed trains when travelling from Rome to Florence/Firenze.
When the cheapest 'Super Economy' tickets are still available on the alternative Intercity (IC) trains those trains are usually the cheapest option of all.
However, those IC trains don't arrive at Santa Maria Novella station in Florence/Firenze city centre.
Though if you want to compare the price of the Intercity trains with both these Frecce trains AND the Italo trains, you will need to look up the journey on Omio or Trainline.
When the cheapest discounted tickets for the Intercity trains have sold out, the even slower Regionale Veloce (RV) become the cheaper option for a journey by train from Rome to Florence/Firenze.
If you will be buying tickets last minute at the station, you'll save by taking those RV trains.
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.
Though rail pass users can save money by taking the Intercity trains or Regionale Veloce trains.
Rail passes aren't valid on the Italo trains.
Route Information
Option 2: taking the high speed Italo trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
1hr 32min
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: Milano or Torino or Venezia or Bolzano (and others)
Some trains also call at: Roma Tiburtina
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
The 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
The high speed (AV) train service between Milano Centrale and Firenze is provided by
(1) these Italo trains
(2) 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.
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 on Trainline or Omio, though look out for the fact that both of these services will charge a booking fee.
Rail passes are not valid on the Italo trains.
Route Information
Option 3; taking an Intercity train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
2hr 50min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
2 x trains per day
Purchase Tickets
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.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Milano
These trains are more than an hour slower than the high speed Frecce and Italo trains between Roma and Firenze because they don't use the high speed lines between the two cities.
But they can be much cheaper, particularly when the cheapest 'Super Economy' tickets have sold out on the Frecce trains.
If you will be a using a rail pass, you can avoid the €10 rail pass reservation fee payable on the Frecce trains.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Departing from Rome
Note that there aren't any Intercity trains from Roma Termini, the main railway station in the city, to Florence/Firenze
These trains have travelled north from Napoli, so they call at Roma Tiburtina station, which is some distance from the north of the city centre.
Accessing Tiburtina is particularly straightforward if the starting point of your journey is located along line B of the Roma Metro, take trains heading to Rebibbia.
This metro line also serves Termini, but it will typically be a time saver to make the transfer at Tiburtina, though the connection isn't step-free.
If you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass, you can hop on a Regionale train from Termini to Tiburtina station.
Arriving in Florence
Note that these IC trains arrive at Firenze Rifredi station and NOT the main city centre station - Firenze S.M. Novella.
If you take these IC trains then on arrival in Firenze/Florence the best option for reaching the city centre, is to take one of the frequent Regionale trains from Firenze Rifredi to Firenze S.M. Novella station.
However, it's possible to save money on Rome to Florence train journey and still arrive at S.M. Novella station.
The alternative Regionale Veloce (RV) trains will also be much cheaper than the high speed trains and in common with them, they also provide a city centre to city centre service.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
Take these Intercity trains from Roma to Firenze/Florence and you can usually save at least €15 in comparison to taking the faster Frecce or Italo trains.
Though if you want to easily compare prices with both of these services, you will need to look up this journey on the Trainline or Omio websites.
There are two options for booking tickets for these Intercity (IC) trains; but on both specifically select Firenze S.M.Novella as the 'to' station, if you will be heading to the city centre.
The ticket will then also be valid on the Regionale train on from Rifredi station to S.M.Novella station.
(1) If you will be travelling to Roma Tiburtina on the metro, search for 'Roma Tiburtina' as the departure station on the ticket booking websites - it will make these IC trains easier to find.
These trains are typically scheduled to depart from Roma Tiburtina at around 12:40 and 16:31.
(2) Or book from Roma Termini as your departure station, your tickets(s) will then include both the train from Roma Termini to Roma Tiburtina AND the train on to Fireze Rifredi station
Using Eurail or InterRail Passes:
If you will be travelling in Italy with a rail pass, you have three options when taking the train from Rome to Florence/Firenze.
(1) Pay the €10 rail pass reservation fee which is charged to travel on those Frecce trains.
(2) Avoid those fees by taking these IC trains; and then take a Regionale/Regional Veloce train from Firenze Riferedi station to Firenze S.M. Novella station.
Though if you'll want the peace of mind of remaining in the same seat for journey to Firenze Rifredi, you can pay the optional €3 rail pass reservation fee.
(3) Avoid paying any additional rail pass reservation fees and arrive at the main city centre station by taking the Regionale Veloce (RV) trains
Rail passes aren't valid on the Italo trains.
Route Information
Option 4: taking the Regionale trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
3hr 48min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
7 x trains per day
Purchase Tickets
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: Firenze S.M.Novella
If you want to travel direct from the city centre in Rome to the city centre in Florence by train, these trains are a much cheaper alternative to taking the high speed trains between the two cities.
Because in common with those trains they arrive at main station in Florence; Firenze S.M. Novella.
The alternative Intercity (IC) trains are faster on the 'classic' railway line, but they arrive at Firenze Rifredi station.
Therefore much of that time saving of around 50 mins by taking the IC trains, is swallowed up by having to change trains at Firenze Rifredi station; and then taking another train to Firenze S.M.Novella.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
As seats can't be reserved on these trains, aim to be waiting on the concourse at Roma Termini, ticket(s) in hand, when the binari (track/platform) that the train will be departing from is confirmed.
If you want to buy tickets at Roma Termini. then it's a good idea to be at the station a minimum of 40 mins before the train departs.
Buying tickets from a Trenitalia ticket machine is usually quicker than purchasing at the ticket office, but at busy times there can be lengthy queues for the machines.
Also these trains tend to depart from tracks/platforms, which are more distant from the main concourse.
On particularly busy trains, finding a spare seat at Roma Tiburtina can be a lottery, so this is a journey on which boarding at Roma Termini is recommended.
Don't forget to stamp your ticket before boarding these trains.
Tickets
Book early and save: No (not on these trains)
Tickets will cost the same price if purchased at the station immediately before departure.
If you will buying at the station on the day of travel then it's likely that you will save around €25 by taking these trains and not the high speed trains.
And unlike the Intercity trains these trains are city centre to city centre.
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