How to Get to Florence from Rome

Every way from Rome to Florence compared

The table below compares journey times from the operators and from Rome2Rio's route data. The train wins on speed and frequency. The bus and rideshare are slower but can cost less, and Rome2Rio lists rideshare as the cheapest way. Driving makes sense only if you want a car in Tuscany afterwards. Flying sounds fast but takes about 2h 47m door to door once you add both airports.

For most people the plan is simple: a fast train into Santa Maria Novella, then a day of private tours in florence italy.

Stations at both ends

In Rome, Italo leaves from Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina. Termini is the main station and the one most visitors use. In Florence, the fast trains arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the station locals call SMN.

Direct trains depart Roma Termini about every 10 minutes, according to Rome2Rio. You rarely need to plan your day around one fixed departure.

First and last trains

About 61 trains a day run on the route. The earliest leaves Roma Termini at 5:35 a.m. and the last at 9:30 p.m. That window is what makes a day trip work. You can be in Florence for breakfast and still be back in Rome for a late dinner.

On a busy travel day, check the departure board for the platform. The ticket names the train number, and the board shows where it leaves from.

Journey times by source

Each source below gives its own figure for the same route. The gap between them is a few minutes, which matters only if you are chasing a timed entry in Florence.

Can you take a slower regional train instead?

Yes. Regional trains also run between the two cities. They need no seat reservation and let you stop in Orvieto and Arezzo along the way, which turns the trip into a day of its own.

The trade-off is time. Regional trains are slower and may require a transfer, so they suit a traveller with a free day rather than one with a booked tour in Florence.

Where to buy and what lowers the fare

Buy in the Trenitalia or Italo app, or on their websites. Trenitalia prices its Le Frecce trains on its own site, so compare the two for the same hour.

Italo also sells three offers worth checking. Its day return offer gives discounts of up to 50%. Its family offer lets children travel free. Its young offer gives discounts of up to 70%. If you hold an Interrail Pass, high-speed trains need only a small seat reservation fee, and regional trains need no reservation at all.

Classes and luggage

Italo sells three classes on the route: Smart, Prima and Club Executive. Check the Smart luggage rule before you book it. Luggage larger than 75x53x30 cm is not permitted in Italo Smart class, so a big suitcase points you to a higher class or to Trenitalia.

Step by step from Fiumicino

First, clear passport control and customs. Plan at least two hours from landing to being on a train, because those queues decide your timing.

Second, ride the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. It is the same airport train that runs from Termini out to Fiumicino.

Third, at Termini, buy a Trenitalia or Italo high-speed ticket for the next train with seats. Departures run about every 10 minutes, so the wait is short.

Should you book the Florence train before you fly?

No. Travel advisers say not to book the airport connection in advance, because a delayed flight can make you miss a fixed train. Buy the Rome to Florence high-speed ticket once you have landed and know your real arrival time. If you want certainty, book a flexible fare in the app and choose the train only once you are at Termini.

Is there a direct train from Fiumicino airport to Florence?

Only about one or two direct trains a day run from Fiumicino to Florence. They rarely line up with a flight, so most travellers take the Leonardo Express to Termini and change there.

FlixBus and rideshare

The FlixBus leaves from Roma Tiburtina, not Termini, so plan the trip across Rome to reach it. It arrives at Florence Villa Constanza, not at Santa Maria Novella, so check how you will reach your hotel from there before you go.

Rideshare is the other slow choice. Rome2Rio lists it as the cheapest way between the cities, at about 3h 12m. Both options take more than twice as long as the fast train, which eats most of a day trip.

When a car makes sense

A car is the right call if Florence is one stop on a longer Tuscan loop. For a city stay, the train drops you in the centre and the car sits unused.

If the real draw is the countryside, a driven day out of Florence saves you the wheel. The Private Chianti Wine Tour & Tasting lasts 4 hours at $311 per person. The Private Chianti Safari: Off Road Tuscany Wine Tour with Lunch from Florence lasts 8 hours at $553.14 per person.

What about flying?

Flights exist, but Rome2Rio puts the trip at about 2h 47m door to door. That is slower than the train once you add check-in and the airport at each end.

From the platform to your first stop

Taxis wait outside the station. The tourist information office can help with maps and directions. Most main bus routes also stop outside, which helps with luggage.

For a day trip, book something with a fixed start time before you travel. A private guide saves the time you would lose finding your way. Pick a train that leaves you a margin before the meeting time.

A simple day trip from Rome

Take an early fast train out of Termini. Start with the Private Florence Tour: 3-Hour Walking Tour with a Licenced Guide, rated 5 from 240 reviews, at $213.81 per person. After lunch, add the Florence Duomo Complex Private Guided Tour, 2 hours at $170.23 per person, or see Florence by car on the Florence Vintage Electric Fiat 500 - Private City Tour, 1.5-3 hours at $161 per person.

The last train back leaves at 9:30 p.m., and Italo's day return offer cuts up to 50% off the return trip.