The Rome to Florence train is one of the most-used routes in Italy, and for good reason. The Frecciarossa covers the 277km between Rome Termini and Florence Santa Maria Novella in approximately 85 minutes, departures run every 20-30 minutes throughout the day, and fares start well under €20 if you book ahead. There is simply no better way to travel this route. This guide covers everything you need to book it right.
Route overview: Termini to Santa Maria Novella
All high-speed trains depart from Roma Termini (Rome’s main station, city centre) and arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN), which is Florence’s central station and a 5-minute walk from the Duomo area. Both stations are large, well-signed, and connected to city transport.
The journey is entirely non-stop on Frecciarossa and Italo services — no intermediate stops between the two cities.
| Route | Journey time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Roma Termini → Firenze SMN | ~85 min (FR) / ~90 min (Italo) | Every 20-30 min |
| Roma Termini → Firenze SMN | ~2h 30min (Intercity) | 5-6x per day |
Frecciarossa vs Italo
Two operators run competing high-speed services on this route.
Frecciarossa (Trenitalia) is the state operator. The red trains are comfortable, punctual, and carry four classes: Standard, Premium, Business, and Executive. Standard class seats are spacious with power sockets and a fold-down tray table. Free WiFi is available but unreliable on this route. Book at trenitalia.com or via a booking aggregator.
Italo (NTV) is a private competitor running broadly similar trains (ETR 600 series). Service is slightly more casual, fares are often competitive with Frecciarossa on advance tickets, and the loyalty programme (Italo Piu) is worth joining for regular travellers. Book at italotreno.it.
Both operators offer the same core journey time and comfort level. We recommend checking both when booking — prices vary by departure time, and a 10-15 minute flexibility on either side of your ideal departure can sometimes halve the fare.
You can also book both on Omio, which shows Trenitalia and Italo fares side by side: compare Rome to Florence train times and prices.
Ticket classes and prices
Prices for the 2026 season (advance booking):
| Operator | Class | From |
|---|---|---|
| Frecciarossa | Standard | ~€19 |
| Frecciarossa | Premium | ~€30 |
| Frecciarossa | Business | ~€45 |
| Italo | Smart | ~€16 |
| Italo | Comfort | ~€28 |
| Italo | Prima | ~€45 |
Walk-up fares on the day typically run €50-80 in second class on either operator. If you book less than 48 hours ahead, you are unlikely to find anything under €35.
Both operators use dynamic pricing — fares rise as the departure approaches and as trains fill up. The cheapest fares (Super Economy on Frecciarossa, Low Cost on Italo) are non-refundable and non-changeable. Mid-range fares allow changes for a fee. Check the exact conditions at booking.
When to travel
Trains run from around 05:30 to 22:30 in each direction, with departures every 20-30 minutes during peak hours (07:00-10:00 and 16:00-20:00). The 07:00-09:30 window from Rome and the 18:00-20:00 return from Florence are consistently the most expensive departure windows — shift by an hour in either direction and fares often drop by 20-30%.
Weekends and public holidays (Easter, Ferragosto, Christmas period) carry a premium. The cheapest days are Tuesday and Wednesday.
Slow train option: Intercity
If price is the priority and time is not, Trenitalia runs Intercity (IC) trains between Rome and Florence. These take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, stop at a few intermediate stations (typically Chiusi-Chianciano Terme), and cost around €10-20 in second class. No advance booking premium applies — fares are roughly fixed. The trains are clean and comfortable, just not high-speed.
IC trains depart from Roma Termini and arrive at Firenze SMN, so the station logistics are identical.
Where to stay at each end
If you’re overnighting in Rome before or after your trip: hotels in Rome.
For Florence accommodation — the city is compact and most hotels are walkable from SMN: hotels in Florence. The Oltrarno neighbourhood is quieter than the historic centre and well-served by city buses to SMN.
Getting to Rome Termini
Rome Termini is on metro lines A and B and served by dozens of bus routes. From Fiumicino (FCO) airport, the Leonardo Express direct train takes 32 minutes and runs every 30 minutes, arriving at a dedicated platform inside Termini. From Ciampino airport, take the Terravision shuttle (~45 min) or a taxi (~30 min) to Termini.
Getting from Florence SMN
Florence Santa Maria Novella is in the city centre. Most hotels in the historic centre and Oltrarno are within a 10-15 minute walk. ATAF city buses depart from Piazza della Stazione outside the main exit. Taxis queue at the rank to the left of the main entrance — metered, approximately €10-15 to most city centre destinations. If you’re heading straight to the Uffizi or Duomo area, it is easily walkable from SMN.
For onward transfers from Florence: Florence airport transfer guide.
What to do in Florence
Arriving into one of Italy’s greatest art cities, you’re within walking distance of the Uffizi, the Accademia (David), and the Duomo. Tours and experiences in Florence.