Rome to Florence Day Trip

A Rome to Florence day trip is definitely an amazing way to get a taste of the city and totally worth. Hop onto a fast train at Roma Termini and arrive to the heart of Florence in only 1.5 hour.

Once there, you'll be spoilt for choices of what to do and see. The beautiful Florence offers so much to visitors, from unique museums, the beautiful palaces and squares, a range of shopping opportunities and of course tasty Tuscan food and wines.

Keep reading to find useful info about trains, what to see and do, what to buy as a souvenir. Plus, we have some helpful tips on how to escape the crowds and make the most of your time in Florence.

If you fall in love with Florence and decide to stay a couple of days more, we would recommend Casa di Chiara, a cosy and stylish apartment offering a full comfort during your stay (we're sure you'll adore staying here!).

1. Taking a train from Rome to Florence

High-speed Frecciarossa train runs from Rome to Florence in only 1h and 30 minutes

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Taking a high-speed train is obviously the best option to get from Rome to Florence. The trains are modern, comfortable and quick and you'll enjoy the journey on your way to Florence. They run from Termini (and Tiburtina), starting running as early as 5:35am (the last one departs from Florence at around 10pm).

We suggest you to catch a very early train going and a late train returning from Florence. Skip regional trains which are slower and travel nearly 4 hours each way, making them impractical for a day trip to Florence.

Keep in mind that high-speed train tickets from Rome to Florence get very prices and do rise as your date of travel get closer. So be sure to book well in advance to secure cheaper tickets (they release tickets even 3-4 months ahead).

Book your tickets easily at Trainline, and you'll get them directly to email. And, you'll have them at your fingertip (to show once the staff ask you at the train). Plus, you can easily change them or cancel (if you choose flexible tickets) online.

Don't forget to make an online check-in, just before the train ride starts. Tickets for high-speed trains start from €30 one-way.

Trains arrive at Florence Santa Maria Novella Train station, which is only a 10-minute walk from the Piazza del Duomo and historic centre of Florence.

On the way back, grab a delicious sandwich on the train station to take on the train. You'll enjoy eating it while watching the fields of sunflowers slide by.

👉 Get your train tickets easily online

2. Tips for visiting Florence on a day trip from Rome

There's no way to cover all Florence has to offer in one day, but there's definitely time to see enough to make the trip worth it!
Try to set out as early as possible on your Rome to Florence day trip. If you can get there at about eight or nine in the morning, you can have a full day of exploration. It’ll be tiring but worth it!
Read on to find out which are the highlights of Florence you should see and explore. You don't have to visit all of them, just pick the ones that might be of your interest and enjoy the rest of the time walking, tasting food and shopping.
You don't have to visit both the Uffizi and Accademia Gallery. Pick one large museum and one smaller (for example the Bargello Museum) then continue to explore popular piazzas, palaces and churches. Leave the time for walking, wandering the streets, shopping and of course eating delicious food.

3. 4 popular "Florence in a day" tours

Explore the best of Florence on a guided tour

Florence in day guided tour - For a completely hassle-free exploration of Florence and visiting the most important sights and museums (Academia Gallery and Uffizi Gallery included) in only 5 hours, join this guided tour (starts at 9:45am).
Best of Florence small-group tour - This 3-hour tour takes you to view Michelangelo's David in the Accademia Gallery, then you'll hear the secrets of the Duomo (skip-the-line tickets). Afterwards, you'll explore several other top spots in Florence to learn more and take amazing photos. Ideal for seeing a lot in a short time!
Highlights & Hidden gems of Florence (private tour) - On this tour you can create an itinerary that focuses on the main highlights of places that interest you. Your private guide will teach you a lot about the history of Florence in a short time.
Florence sightseeing tour for kids & families - This 2.5 hour walking tour is ideal for families with kids. Your guide will take you through the streets of Florence (to see the highlights) and keep your kids engaged with interactive activities using iPads and flash cards. A great way to get an overview of the city!

4. Highlights of Florence (must-see sights)

Piazza del Duomo (with Duomo complex)

Visiting Florence in one day can be overwhelming, so if you are here first time, we recommend walking around the historic centre to get familiar with it.

A great place to start is Piazza del Duomo, where you'll have opportunity to admire the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (the Duomo) with its dome and other sights and capture a few amazing photos.

While here be sure to have a true Italian breakfast, an espresso and freshly baked pastry. After breakfast, take a quick visit to the Duomo, to admire the impressive frescoes inside, the fabulous mosaic floor art and keep an eye out for the intricately designed 14th-century clock that sits above the entry (the entry to the cathedral is free, but line can get very long).

If you want to visit the Baptistery of St John (standing in front of the cathedral), climb the Dome (we recommend taking a tour as you'll be able to access areas that aren't open to the public) or Giotto's Bell Tower, or visit the Opera del Duomo Museum (a fascinating museum that explores history of the Duomo), you'll have to pay.

For seeing the best of Duomo complex in only 2.5 hours, take this tour of the Opera del Duomo Museum, the Duomo and cupola (you'll climb 463 steps). From the top you'll soak stunning views of the Florence and the Tuscan hills.

Piazza della Signoria (with Palazzo Vecchio)

The Piazza della Signoria is a beautiful square in the very centre of Florence you should definitely visit and spend some time there. This is a place for admiring the architecture, people watching and taking amazing photos.

You'll find here the Palazzo Vecchio (dominated the square; home of civic life in Florence), the Loggia dei Lanzi (open-air gallery made of wide arches open to the street featuring beautiful sculptures), the Neptune Fountain (one of the most photographed spots in Florence), a copy of Michelangelo’s David statue, the statues of Hercules and Cacus and much more.

Go inside the Palazzo Vecchio and admire the beautiful courtyard (it's free), but if you want to visit the museum that houses an amazing collection of art from 13-19th centuries, you'll need to buy a ticket.

We suggest this guided tour that takes you to visit off-beaten corners of Palazzo Vecchio Museum including the mysterious stairway (skip-the-line; lasts for 75 minutes).

It's possible to climb the Arnolfo tower (which is 95m tall). Once the top you can enjoy amazing vistas of the city and the Duomo. Tickets for the Palazzo Vecchio and the tower can be bought separately.

Bargello Museum

If you want to skip visiting large museums such as the Uffizi and Accademia, but still explore some of Florence's fine art, then the Bargello Museum would be an ideal choice.

Situated only a short walk from Piazza della Signoria, this museum is easy to reach. It is often overlooked by tourists and that's why it offers a peaceful and calm atmosphere and it's rarely crowded.

The Bargello museum mainly has sculptures by big names such as Michelangelo, Ghiberti and Donatello as well as impressive porcelain, goldworks, jewels, ivory and glazed terracota works.

You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring all displays in the museum. Sit in its shady courtyard and admire its beautifully proportioned archways and well-preserved Medieval details.

Buy your tickets on the spot (ticket costs €10) or purchase ahead online.

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)/Stroll along the Arno River

From Piazza della Signoria, you can walk to Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge of Florence. The bridge is lined with jewellery and souvenirs shops, so it's great opportunity for some shopping. Take photos of the Arno River or the bridge itself. Note that it's always packed with tourists (except early in the morning).

While there, take a scenic stroll along the Arno River - particularly stunning at the sunset.

The Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

Visiting the Uffizi Gallery (it's extremely easy to find; it's located near Piazza della Signoria) is a must when visiting Florence. This museum houses a huge collection of paintings and sculptures of the most famous Italian painters such as Raphael, Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and others.

It's necessary to plan ahead and book tickets online to avoid waiting in the long ticket lines (note that the museum is closed on Mondays). Depending on your interest in art, you may just want to spend an entire afternoon there or visit in only 2 hours.

If you want to see the best of the Uffizi in a short time (1.5 hour), we suggest taking this small-group tour (no more than 9 people), guided by locals who know stories behind each masterpiece. We recommend taking morning departure - at 10am.

One of the popular tours is this one (with many daily departures) on which you'll learn a lot about the history of Florence and the Medicis as well as get insights about key artworks.

The Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

A short distance from the Ponte Vecchio, you'll find the Pitti Palace, one of the biggest Florence's museums (see the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art).

Enjoy priority entry to one of Florence’s biggest museums and admire the Palatine Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The Pitti Palace was a residential palace for the Medici family and now it houses many galleries of artworks, sculptures and painting.

While there, visit also Boboli Gardens, beautiful gardens with antique and Renaissance statues and large fountains. The gardens are huge and there are lots of walking trails. You can easily spend 2-3 hours here. There are many places to sit and rest.

We recommend buying a combined ticket for the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens to avoid waiting in lines and save your money too.

The Accademia Gallery

The Accademia Gallery in Florence

The Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) is one of the city's most visited museums and home to Michelangelo’s 17-foot-tall (5.2-meter-tall) David. Other treasures on display include Renaissance paintings by artists such as Botticelli and Lippi, unfinished Michelangelo sculptures, and a collection of rare musical instruments.

It's smaller than the Uffizi. The museum offers late openings in the summertime. The entrance to this museum is timed, so you should book it ahead. For a full and memorable experience of the museum, we suggest taking a guided tour (we recommend this short but excellent tour!).

Orsanmichele Church and Museum

On the way from Piazza del Duomo to Piazza Signoria, you'll find another hidden gem, the Orsanmichele Church and Museum, ideal for exploring without large crowds (buy tickets from the office at Via dei Calzaiouli, ticket costs €8).

You'll admire the beautiful frescoes on the ceiling of the church and Madonna and Child marble tabernacle, by Bernardo Daddi. After you've explored the church, head to the museum, where you'll see bronze and marble sculptures of saints (made by great masters).

In addition, from the top floor, you can admire amazing views of the Florence's roofs, the Duomo to one side and the Palazzo Vecchio to another. The museum's top floor is ideal for having a small break, as there are benches inside to sit.

Beautiful churches of Florence

Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence

If you don't want to spend time on major museums, you might visit one of the churches in Florence. The good thing is that some of them are free to visit.

Not far away from train station, you'll find the Santa Maria Novella Basilica (dates to the 15th century). The interior is adorned with amazing artwork. The ornate facade appears today as it did when it was completed in 1470. Additionally, the cloisters are not to be missed!

A ticket is required to enter, which grants access to the church, cloisters and museum (costs 7.50 €; you can get a ticket plus audio-video guide online).

Basilica of San Lorenzo (one of the oldest in Florence) is still architecturally important – and it houses numerous artworks by famous Renaissance artists (like Donatello) – plus it is the final resting place for many of the Medici family (the Medici Chapels).

Basilica di Santa Trinita, is located near Ponte Santa Trinita (entrance is free). The paintings are worth stopping and observing. It's now overcrowded, and gives a calmer feeling both inside and outside.

Santa Croce Church stands on the square of the same name (about 10-15 minutes south east of the Duomo). It's the largest Franciscan church in the world and also the burial place of some of the most important Italians (Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and many others). You may find interesting this guided tour!

Very close to Piazzale Michelangelo, you'll find San Miniato al Monte, a beautiful Romanesque Church, that is so worth visiting. It dates from the 11th century, and features incredible artwork and artistic architecture. The best part is that it's free, and rarely crowded.

Florence gardens and parks

If you want to make a break from sightseeing and enjoy the nature, head to one of the gardens and parks in Florence. When you cross the Ponte Vecchio to the south bank of the Arno you'll soon come across two garden parks, the Boboli Gardens and Bardini Gardens. You can walk here, see beautiful sculptures and take some amazing photos of the gardens and Florence, in the distance.

You can visit these two gardens (together with the Pitti Palace) with one ticket, which is very affordable.

You'll also find more parks in Florence, such as Iris Garden, the Rose Garden (the best time to visit is from April to June), the Giardino dell'Orticultura, the Stibbert Garden and the Botanical Garden.

These gardens offer a tranquil escape from the bustling city center and boast panoramic views of the city. Visitors here can unwind on the grass and benches.

During the spring you'll enjoy roses in full bloom, filling the air with an incredible fragrance. These are little piece of heaven in the heart of Florence!

Lively Florence food markets

Visiting local market is a great way to experience local life. We recommend to head to Mercato Centrale (in historic centre) to see a variety of food produce (fruits, vegetables, cured meat, cheeses, pasta, meat, fish, spices...). On the second level, you'll find a food court, where you can have a tasty lunch (the offer is amazing). This is a place where you can buy quality local food products as a gift or a souvenir.

You'll also love Sant' Ambrosio Market (Mercato Sant'Ambrosio) which is more authentic and where locals come to shop for groceries. You'll also find great places to have a quick lunch (and not so expensive).

Visit Oltrarno neighbourhood (across the river)

Once you cross one of the bridge from historic centre, you'll find yourself in Oltrarno. This part of Florence is full of streets with artisan shops - goldsmiths, engravers, bookbinders, glassworkers and leather-workers, offering high-quality goods.

This is also where you'll find many trattorias and osterias offering best Florentine cuisine (ribollita, pappa al pomodoro, the classic Florentine steak). Be sure also to try zuccotto, a sponge cake soaked in alchermes and filled with ricotta, candied fruit and almonds.

And no visit to Florence would be complete without at least a couple of stops for gelato. This treat has its origins in Florence, and the city is well-known as one of the best in the country at producing it.

Visit Oltrarno is you want to experience true Florentine way of life, away from city crowds.

5. 7 unique ways to experience Florence

1. Joining a food tour (ideal for foodies)

If you are a foodie, then joining a food tour would be a great idea. You guide will take you through the city, telling you more about sights while stopping at the best restaurants and eateries to taste classic Tuscan dishes, such as lampredotto panini, schiacciata, hearty soups or pasta along local wines.

Travellers truly love this 3-hour tour with 10 tastings (plus wine) and this food tour exploring Sant'Ambrogio Market and Oltrarno. These could be your best memory from Florence!

2. Taking a cooking class (pasta + sauces)

Grab a rolling pin and knead some dough in this cooking class that’s all about making a fresh pasta from scratch. A local chef will demonstrate how to prepare 3 kinds of pasta (ravioli, fettuccine and tortellini) using a rolling pin and pasta cutter and sauces as well. The best part is eating what you've prepared. In the end, you'll have a cake and limoncello! You'll adore this amazing experience that lasts for 3 hours!

3. Bike tour of Florence with Piazzale Michelangelo

See the major tourist attractions of Florence during this 2-hour bike tour. You'll stop at spots such as Piazza della Signoria, the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica and explore narrow lanes of the Oltrarno, an artisan neighbourhood of Florence. The tour also takes you up to Piazzale Michelangelo for seeing amazing view of the whole city. Choose from several departures daily!

4. Rafting on the Arno River (a true adventure)

This panoramic 2-hour ride includes the descent down the Arno River that flows through the historic centre of Florence. The river offers a truly unique perspective giving you the opportunity of taking amazing photos of the famous buildings and monuments. This is a perfect mix of activity and culture. Your guides will tell you anecdotes about the river and the city itself. An unforgettable experience!

5. Florence hills e-bike tour (with gelato)

Explore Florence hills with a lots of fun on guided 2 hour e-bike tour. Start from the heart of Florence, then follow your guide from the city to the hills. Once outside the city, immerse yourself into the sound and scents of Tuscan countryside. Pass through olive groves and small vineyards, then end this tour with tasting one of the best gelato in the city. After the tour finishes, you'll still have time to explore Florence's highlights!

6. Florence Vespa tour (Tuscan hills)

This Vespa tour (lasts for 6 hours) is for those who want to explore beyond Florence and maybe already explored the city. The tour takes you first to see the Church of San Miniato al Monte then ride up in the hills overlooking Florence, passing through vineyards, olive trees and onto backroads.

The adventure ends with a tasty lunch (with wine) and going back to the city. You will not forget this fabulous experience!

7. Small group Chianti wine tasting

For those who already explored highlights of Florence, we recommend this trip to the countryside. You'll visit 12th century castle and have a fun day of learning about wine and local traditions. Of course, you'll taste the best wines and have a delicious Tuscan lunch. Transport from Florence and back is included! The tour departs at 10am, so you'll still have time to explore Florence in the afternoon!

Outdoor restaurant in Florence

6. Rome to Florence organised day trips

Leave the hassle of planning behind you and take an organised day trip to Florence. A number of tour companies offer this kind of trips and most include pick up (and drop off) from your hotel in Rome.

If you choose one of these tours, you'll be worry-free for transport schedules, buying train tickets and getting around Florence once there. Also, it means that you'll have an expert local on hand to ask questions about the best places to eat and drink.

Travellers love these full-day trips from Rome to Florence:

1. Day trip from Rome to Florence (by fast train)
On this tour your guide will make sure that everything is fine during the whole trip. He'll be with you during the train ride and later on you'll explore by yourself (you'll get great tips what to visit, where to eat...). Tickets for the train are booked by the agency.

2. Rome to Florence and Pisa day tour with Accademia (by mini van)
This day trip from Rome will take you to explore Pisa and Florence. You'll be driven by modern mini van first to Pisa (exploring for 1.5 hour), then to Florence to see the best of it. You'll have 2 hour walking tour the city (including visit to Accademia Gallery). You'll be back to Florence in early evening hours!

3. A sweet walking in Florence from Rome
You'll travel from Rome to Florence by a comfortable vehicle from Rome to Florence (your private guide will travel with you). Once in Florence, you'll have enough time to explore the best of it in the company of the guide. You'll have also some free time. This tour is a truly unforgettable experience!

4. Rome to Florence & Tuscany day tour by high-speed train (Italia Tours)
This full-day tour takes you by train to Florence where you'll meet local guide and in his company explore the highlights of the city. After the tour you can choose to stay in Florence to explore on your own or head to Tuscan countryside to a local winery to have a lunch and wine tasting. Later on, you'll visit San Gimignano (all transfers are included).

7. Driving from Rome to Florence

Driving from Rome to Florence is a nice mini trip in Italy. With the exception of any stops that you might make (small cities, wineries), the most of the drive from Rome to Florence takes place on well-maintaned A1.

The A roads in Italy feel more or less like driving on any highway anywhere in the worlds, except you enjoy stunning views of the Italian countryside.

Without stopping or considering the traffic to exit Rome and enter Florence (or vice versa), the drive time from Florence to Rome is about 3.5 hours via the most direct route (the distance is 271 km / 168 mi).

Opting to rent a car and drive from Rome to Florence gives you a lot more flexibility in your schedule. You can also visit attractions in wider Tuscany en route.

For instance, you may like to spend your evening unwinding in a Tuscany spa. Alternatively, if you have a designated driver, you may enjoy touring some of the nearby vineyards.

Many cities are worth visiting when travelling between Rome and Florence, Civita di Bagnoregio, Viterbo, Orvieto, Perugia, Montepulciano, Cortona, Siena, Arezzo, Siena, Pisa and Terme di Saturnia to name the few.

Just be sure to avoid ZTL zones, restricted access areas that dot most of Italy’s historic city centers, including both Rome and Florence. If you drive into one, even accidentally, you’re risking a big fine.

Avoid them by parking on the outskirts of historical centers and by doing your research ahead of time, including where to park in each city you hope to stop in when driving from Rome to Florence.

We recommend searching for your car via Discover Cars, which will allow you to check out the rates of several different rental car agencies at once and compare prices and inclusions side-by-side.

The prices can vary depending on your time of travel, pickup and dropoff locations, size of the vehicle, and more!