Taking Rome to Florence Train

Travelling by train from Rome to Florence (and the other way round) is the best ways to get between these two Italian cities. Trains travel directly between both cities, meaning you won't be required to change trains.

The most of trains depart from Roma Termini, which is situated in the center of the city (not far from famous Colosseum) and arrive to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station, also only a short walk from historic centre.

Travellers can choose from about 68 train services (Find cheap train tickets!) a day between Rome and Florence (the earliest at 5:35am and the latest at 10:35pm), including high-speed trains with journey time of 1h 36 minutes to regional/intercity trains (slower but cheaper) taking from 2.5h to 4h, depending on the train.

See our guide on visiting Florence from Rome in one day! Or spend whole 3 days in Florence and explore more!

For staying in Florence, choose this cosy and stylish apartment!

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How to choose Rome to Florence train

When travelling between Rome and Florence, you have option of numerous daily trains, run by either Trenitalia or Italo. Trains leave Rome as early as 5:35am and as late as 10:35pm, and there are trains every 30 minutes.

The quickest and most comfortable ride is by high-speed trains which run between Rome and Florence in only 1 hour and 36 minutes.

Trenitalia trains are air-conditioned and have electrical outlets and free wi-fi (note that signal will drop in tunnels). Trains have cafe/restaurant as well as food cart that brings snacks/drinks to your seat. At the end of each car you'll find a restroom.

They even have "silent carriage" for those who want to work or travel in silence.

Italo trains are comfortable high-speed trains offering 4 seat classes: Smart, Comfort, Prima and Club Executive, equipped with reclining seats with tables, footrests and power sockets, free Wi-Fi and generous luggage space.

Drinks and snacks can be purchased from onboard vending machines. Passengers travelling in the cinema coach can enjoy entertaining multimedia.

Besides Frecciarossa trains, Trenitalia also offers Intercity trains, which are slower and stops many times along the way, making travel between Rome and Florence longer (from 2h 30 minutes to almost 4 hours).

These trains are less comfortable overall and don't come with a reserved seat. You might need to change the train at some point, depending on the exact route you choose.

We suggest you to skip Intercity trains on this route, as the difference between their fares and high-speed train fares are not so significant.

Rome to Florence train ticket prices

The travel on this route can cost starting from €12.90 to €145, depending on the train you choose, the class, date and time of travel and how long in advance you buy tickets. 

For example, Trenitalia intercity train which runs on this route in 3 hours can cost as low as €12.90 (2nd class seats, non-refundable).

For the faster journey (1 hour 36 minutes), you should opt for high-speed Frecciarossa trains, which are available frequently during the day. You can find a wide range or prices, depending on the class and type of tickets.

Their prices start from €27.90 for the trip in Standard class with super economy type (no refunds or exchanges on this ticket), while base type tickets start from €50 (allows change of the date and time as well as class; plus, you can get tickets refunded for the 20% fee).

The prices goes up for Premium, Business and Executive classes and range from €50 to €145. Trentialia usually has discounts for young people, seniors and families so it's good to check current offers when buying tickets. See all available train ticket options and book online.

If you know the dates you want to travel, you may find some cheap train tickets by booking early (most companies release their tickets around 3 to 6 months in advance). 

In addition, if you are flexible with travelling time, choose trains outside of peak hours (6am - 10am and 3pm-7pm) and you'll find cheaper tickets.

The prices for Italo trains are slightly lower, starting from €21.90 for Smart and €26.90 for Club Executive class. Italo trains offer 3 classes with different levels of comfort: Smart, Comfort, Prima and Club Executive. Check all Italo train options here!

Buying train tickets

Train tickets for Rome to Florence trains can be easily bought at Roma Termini on the day of travel. You can buy them from the ticket offices and ticket machines you can find all around the train station (for both Trenitalia and Italo trains).

We recommend buying train tickets in advance to spend less. We recommend booking through Trainline website where you can compare all trains and prices for specific date on one place. 

When you buy the train ticket, you'll get email with all details (including PNR code) and attached ticket. Once on train you can show ticket to the staff on your phone, print them out on A4 size paper or view them in the app. Plus, you can change/refund the ticket easily online.

Once on train you can show the attached etickets on your phone, print them out on A4 size paper or view them in the app.

Bare in mind that in very high season, you may find limited seat availability on the train you want, so it's wise to book tickets in advance.

Good reasons for buying online:

1. Purchasing train tickets online is super easy. When you search for tickets, you'll get all trains for specific route on one screen so you can compare them and choose the one that best suits you.
   
   
2. When booked ahead, you'll find cheap tickets as the price rise as the date of travel approaches. Note that companies release tickets even 6 months in advance.
   
   
3. Once you book, your train tickets will be e-mailed to you and you'll have it at your fingertip (you can even change or cancel online if you choose the flexible option).
   
   
4. TRAINLINE also offer options for across Europe and the UK, so you can even use their website to book a night train or connecting train for longer distance travel.
   
   

What happens when the train is cancelled

Sometimes trains in Italy are cancelled and in this case, go to the Trenitalia office at Termini station and check if there are other trains later on that day. The staff is polite and helpful (speaking English) and they will issue a new ticket if there are free space left.

Train stations in Rome

Most of the trains depart from Roma Termini station, which is situated in the centre of the city, not far from famous Colosseum, Roman Forum and Piazza della Repubblica. This is the station where Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino Airport arrives.

Termini station is easily accessible by taxi or metro (both metro lines A and B stops here) from any other part of Rome. 

Intercity trains depart from Roma Tiburtina train station, which is located to the east of the city and is the second most important train station in the capital.

Train station in Florence

Once you arrive to Florence, you'll get off the train at Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, which is situated a short walk from the historic centre. In addition, there are also buses, trams and taxis available once you go outside the station. 

At Santa Maria Novella, you'll find everything you may need, from ticket offices (both Trenitalia and Italo), tourist information office, luggage storage, exchange office, ATMs, post office, cafés (for buying delicious snacks and drinks) and much more.

Rome to Florence train alternatives

Instead of train you can take a bus between Rome and Florence, which is slower way of travel (take around 3 hours) but cheaper (it's possible to find tickets as cheap as €5). Buses departs throughout the day from Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina and arrives to Santa Maria Novella and Villa Costanza bus stations. Find all options here!

For those who want to explore picturesque Italian countryside of Lazio and Tuscany, renting a car would be a great idea. Having your own car will give you opportunity to visit small Italian towns and villages along the way. 

The route from Rome to Florence is 271 km/168 miles long. Book your car rental well in advance to find affordable deals!

If you don't want to drive, opt for a private car transfer and enjoy hassle-free ride between Rome and Florence!

Consider also taking a private tour from Rome to Florence (12 hours) that takes you to Tuscan countryside (you'll visit local winery for wine tasting and lunch) and Florence (you'll have few hours for sightseeing and shopping).

Getting around Italy by train

In Italy you can travel by train from almost anywhere to everywhere, reaching any larger or smaller city in the country.

Major cities like Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, Bari and others are connected by high-speed trains, while others are served with regional trains which are slower but still great for reaching any corner of Italy (they are also fairly cheap).

You can travel from Milan to Rome in only 3 hours or from Venice to Rome for 4 hours.

High-speed trains runs all across the country and you can easily reach Bari (from this port you can take ferry to Dubrovnik, in the south of Croatia), Brindisi (catch here ferries to Greece) and Lecce from both Rome or Naples.

Regional trains, which are slower, connects large cities such as Rome and Florence with smaller cities in the region. This way, you can travel from Florence to other destinations in Tuscany (Prato, Pistoia, Lucca and Pisa) quickly and affordable (for only €3-5).

See our recommendations for best day trip from Florence.

Lastly, you can also travel from Bari to Naples by high-speed trains. Reach port of Ancona from Rome by regional, intercity and high-speed trains.

See other popular train routes in Italy:

• Milan to Rome: from the north to south, this route connects two large Italian cities and takes around 3 hours
  
• Florence to Rome: the most popular route among visitors of Italy; this journey is a breeze taking only 1 hour 36 minutes
• Venice to Florence: connects two historical cities and takes around 2 hours
• Milan to Venice: from fashion capital of Italy to the most romantic city; the journey takes 2h 30 minutes
• Rome to Naples: many visitors love to go to south from Rome; this journey takes only 1h 15 minutes
• Rome to Venice: head to the north from Rome and enjoy a scenic train ride of 3h 30 minutes
• Milan to Turin: this route takes about 1h 10 minutes
• Rome to Bari: travel from central Italy to the south in 4h 30 minutes
• Florence to Naples: from Tuscany to Campania in only 3h 30 minutes
• Rome to Ancona: if catching one of the ferries to Croatia, Greece or Albania

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