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How to Get to Florence from Rome
Here is how to get to Florence from Rome: take a high-speed train from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, a ride of about 1 hour 30 minutes over 261 km of track. This guide compares the train with the bus, the car and the route from Fiumicino airport, explains how fares and discounts work, and shows how to fit Florence into a day trip.
Quick answer Rome to Florence in one minute
The high-speed train takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, with departures through the day from 5:35 a.m. Buses take about 3h 15m and driving about 2h 41m, and from Fiumicino airport most travellers ride the Leonardo Express to Termini first.
Key takeaways
- Book a fast train from Termini, then join the Highlights Walking Tour with Expert Guide for a 1.5-hour first look at the centre.
- On a day trip, the Florence in a Day: David, Cathedral & City Highlights Guided Walking Tour fits the David and the cathedral into 3 hours.
- Landing at Fiumicino? Take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini, then the fast train, as the route table shows.
- Once you arrive, compare every guided option in the florence city tours catalogue.
What is the best way to travel from Rome to Florence?
The high-speed train is the best way for almost everyone, because it runs from central Rome to central Florence in about 1 hour 30 minutes with frequent departures.
Six ways connect the two cities. Only the train delivers you to the middle of Florence in well under two hours, which is why it wins for most travellers.
Every way compared
The table lists each option with its journey time and where it starts and ends. Times are the operators' and planners' own figures. Fares on trains and buses change with the date and how early you book, so check the live price on the operator's site before you travel.
| Way | Time | From | To | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-speed train (Italo or Trenitalia Le Frecce) | 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes | Roma Termini or Roma Tiburtina | Firenze Santa Maria Novella | Almost everyone |
| Regional train | Longer, with stops | Rome | Florence | Rail pass holders and travellers who want Orvieto or Arezzo on the way |
| FlixBus | About 3h 15m | Roma Autostazione Tiburtina | Florence Villa Costanza | Travellers who booked late and want a fixed seat |
| Rideshare | About 3h 12m | Rome | Florence | Budget travellers with flexible plans |
| Car | About 2h 41m for 272.8 km | Rome | Florence, outside the ZTL | Travellers going on into Tuscany |
| Flight | About 2h 47m door to door | Rome | Florence airport | Rarely worth it on this route |
Why the train wins
The fast train leaves from the city centre and arrives at Santa Maria Novella, a short walk from the Duomo. There is no check-in before boarding on Italo, and the trains run up to 155 miles per hour. The bus and the car both take more than twice as long, and the car meets Florence's limited traffic zone at the end.
Flying adds airport time for a trip the train covers faster.
Santa Maria Novella station, where the trains from Rome arrive. Photo: MenkinAlRire, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Is there a high-speed train between Rome and Florence?
Yes, Italo and Trenitalia's Le Frecce both run high-speed trains between Rome and Florence, averaging 61 trains per day.
Two companies share the fast line, and between them a train leaves Roma Termini every few minutes at busy times.
Operators, stations and timetable
Italo runs from Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, and its trip takes 1 hour 25 minutes. Trenitalia's Le Frecce trains take 1 hour 30 minutes and leave Termini about every 20 minutes. Across all operators, departures from Termini come about every 10 minutes, and most trains run direct with no change.
The earliest train leaves Roma Termini at 5:35 a.m. and the last listed departure is at 9:30 p.m. Check the exact times for your date before you plan a late return.
| Detail | Italo | Trenitalia Le Frecce |
|---|---|---|
| Journey time | 1 hour 25 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Rome stations | Roma Termini, Roma Tiburtina | Roma Termini |
| Florence station | Firenze Santa Maria Novella | Firenze Santa Maria Novella |
| Rail passes | Check pass rules with Italo | Interrail holders pay only a seat reservation |
On board
The fast trains reach up to 155 miles per hour and carry air conditioning, power outlets at the seats, wifi, a cafe car and a food cart. The distance is 162 miles, a short ride that leaves most of the day for Florence.
How much is the bullet train from Rome to Florence?
High-speed fares change with the date, the time and how early you book, so the price to trust is the one on Italo's or Trenitalia's own site for your train.
Both companies sell dynamic fares. The cheapest seats go first, and discounts cut the cost for families, young travellers and day trippers.
Discounts that lower the fare
Italo sells a day return ticket with discounts of up to 50 percent, which suits a Rome to Florence day trip. Its family offer lets children travel free, and its Young offer gives discounts of up to 70 percent. Italo also runs round trip promotions.
Rail pass holders save on both kinds of train. Interrail pass holders pay only a seat reservation on Le Frecce, and they ride regional trains free with no reservation needed.
| Offer | Who it suits | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Italo day return | Day trippers | Discounts of up to 50 percent |
| Italo family offer | Families | Children travel free |
| Italo Young offer | Young travellers | Discounts of up to 70 percent |
| Interrail on Le Frecce | Pass holders | Pay only the seat reservation |
| Interrail on regional trains | Pass holders | Ride free, no reservation |
When to book
Book early if your date is fixed and you start in central Rome. If you are connecting from a flight, wait: a delayed landing can make a fixed-time ticket useless, so buy the train once you are through the airport.
How do you get to Florence from Rome airport?
From Fiumicino, take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini and then the next fast train to Florence, because only one or two direct trains a day run from the airport.
Where you start in Rome changes the plan more than anything else. This table puts the starting point first.
Pick your plan by where you start
Coming from the US, allow at least two hours from landing through passport control and customs before you count on any train.
| You start at | Plan | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Fiumicino airport | Leonardo Express to Roma Termini, then the next fast train | Allow at least two hours after landing, buy the fast train ticket once through |
| Fiumicino, direct | One of the one or two direct trains a day to Firenze Santa Maria Novella | Few departures, easy to miss after a late flight |
| Central Rome | Fast train from Roma Termini | Book early for the cheapest seats |
| East Rome | Italo from Roma Tiburtina, or FlixBus from Autostazione Tiburtina | The bus takes about 3h 15m |
Tours That Fit
Guided starts that fit a morning arrival from Rome.
from $109
Editor's pick
Florence in a Day: David, Cathedral & City Highlights Guided Walking Tour
One ticketed morning covers David inside the Accademia plus Duomo complex entry, then walks the centre to Ponte Vecchio in three hours.
Check Availability
from $71
Uffizi Gallery Small-Group Guided Tour with Ticket
Small-group Uffizi visit with priority entry ticket, headsets and a 1.5 hour guided tour included in the price.
Check AvailabilityCan you take the bus or drive from Rome to Florence?
Yes, a direct FlixBus runs hourly and the drive takes about 2h 41m, but both take longer than the train and end outside the historic centre.
The bus and the car make sense in a few cases: a late booking, a group sharing costs, or a trip that goes on into the Tuscan countryside.
By bus
FlixBus runs direct every hour from Roma Autostazione Tiburtina to Florence Villa Costanza, and the trip takes about 3h 15m. Villa Costanza sits at the edge of the city in Scandicci, and tram T1 (Leonardo) runs from there to Santa Maria Novella station, so you can reach the centre without a taxi.
By car
The road distance is 272.8 km and the drive takes about 2h 41m. The catch is the arrival. Central Florence is a limited traffic zone (ZTL), and cameras read number plates at the gates.
Hotel guests may drive in only to drop luggage and stay at most 3 hours, pedestrian areas and bus lanes are closed to traffic, and parking inside the zone is only in hotel or private garages. Leave the car outside the centre if your hotel has no garage.
Can you stop in Orvieto or Arezzo on the way to Florence?
Yes, regional trains stop in Orvieto and Arezzo, so you can break the journey and see a hill town on the way.
The slow train turns the transfer into a sightseeing day.
How the slow route works
Regional trains take longer than the fast line and need no seat reservation, so you can hop off in Orvieto or Arezzo and board a later train. Interrail pass holders ride them free. Leave your bag at your Rome hotel or travel light, since you will carry it through the stop.
If time is short, skip the stopover. The fast train gets you to Florence in about 1 hour 30 minutes and leaves the afternoon free for the city.
Is Florence worth a day trip from Rome?
Yes, Florence works as a day trip from Rome if you take an early fast train and book the sights in advance, since the ride is about 1 hour 30 minutes each way.
A day trip gives you roughly a working day in Florence. The trick is to spend it inside the sights, not in queues.
How to plan the day
The first train leaves Roma Termini at 5:35 a.m., so an early start puts you in Florence before the museums open. Italo's day return ticket, with discounts of up to 50 percent, is built for this trip. Check the time of the last train back for your date before you book the outward leg.
With one day, pick a single guided block for the big sights and walk the rest. The Florence in a Day: David, Cathedral & City Highlights Guided Walking Tour costs $109 per person and covers the David, the cathedral and the city highlights in 3 hours. For art, the Uffizi Gallery Small-Group Guided Tour with Ticket costs $71 per person for 1.5 hours.
| Day plan | Tour | Price and length |
|---|---|---|
| The big three in one morning | Florence in a Day: David, Cathedral & City Highlights Guided Walking Tour | $109 per person, 3 hours |
| David and the centre | Accademia Gallery David Guided Tour & Timed Entry plus Highlights Walking Tour with Expert Guide | $46 for 1 hour plus $23 for 1.5 hours |
| Art lovers | Uffizi Gallery Small-Group Guided Tour with Ticket | $71 per person, 1.5 hours |
| Less walking | Golf Cart Tour: Express Highlights of Florence | $52 per person, 1.5 hours |
How do you get around after arriving at Santa Maria Novella?
Santa Maria Novella is in the city centre, so most sights are a walk away, and tram T2 links the station with the airport and Piazza San Marco.
The fast trains stop at the edge of the historic centre, which is the main reason they beat every other option.
Trams and the airport
Tram T2 (Vespucci) connects Santa Maria Novella station with Florence airport and runs on to Piazza San Marco, with trams about every 5 minutes. Florence airport is about 5 km from the centre. Tram T1 (Leonardo) runs from the station toward Careggi in one direction and to Villa Costanza in Scandicci in the other, where the FlixBus from Rome arrives. Children under 11 ride the trams free, and contactless tap is accepted.
If walking is hard, the Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: 24, 48 or 72-Hour Ticket costs $25 per person and covers the city on two lines. To browse every guided option in one place, see the florence city tours catalogue.
Rome to Florence FAQ
Which Rome station do trains to Florence leave from?
Roma Termini for both Italo and Trenitalia, and Roma Tiburtina for Italo. All of them arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, as the Italo route page shows.
How far is Florence from Rome?
It is 261 km by rail and 272.8 km by road, according to Rome2Rio. The fast train covers it in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Is there a direct train from Fiumicino airport to Florence?
Only one or two direct trains a day run from Fiumicino to Florence. Most travellers take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini and change to the next fast train, leaving a margin in case the flight is late. The Fiumicino route shows the steps.
Do children travel free on the train to Florence?
On Italo's family offer, children travel free. Check the conditions on the Italo route page before you book.
Can I use an Interrail pass from Rome to Florence?
Yes. Pass holders pay only a seat reservation on Le Frecce and ride regional trains free, according to Interrail.
What should I book first for a day trip?
Book the timed sights first, then the train. The Accademia Gallery David Guided Tour & Timed Entry costs $46 per person for 1 hour and fixes your slot for the David.
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