If you don’t want to choose between Rome and Florence, the two cities are luckily close enough to do both! By planning both into your itinerary, you can explore where the gladiators stood, marvel at the Sistine Chapel, drink delicious Tuscan wine, and enjoy the serene beauty of the Arno River.
If you are looking for the easiest way to get to Florence, we recommend taking the train. However, we’ve laid out all options below so you can evaluate the best way to reach your end destination.
Train
The train is the easiest and fastest way to get to Florence from Rome. These run frequently between the two cities, with tickets costing as low as 14 Euros. Prices range based on the speed of travel and the train line. You can reach your destination in as fast as 1 hour and 30 minutes with the high-speed rail. Regional trains will take longer
Tips for the Train
Go to Rome Termini to Leave for Florence
Rome has a lot of train stations, but this is the major hub, where you can catch trains for all over Italy.
An Overview of the Train System
There are two train lines, and either option is good. However, machines for tickets generally service one or the other (so if you have a particular train in mind, be sure you are using the right machines). These are listed below:
- Trenitalia: This train line is operated by the state. If you are looking for high-speed rail, book the Frecciarossa. This train reaches 190 miles per hour. There are also Frecciargento and Frecciabianca, which are their other train options
- Italo: This is a privately owned train company. Their AGV model can reach similar speeds to the Frecciarossa train.
Don’t Speak to Strangers (Unless in Uniform)
If you are having trouble with the ticket booth, don’t let anyone who is not in uniform help you. It’s a common scam, so it’s best to avoid strangers who don’t officially work for the train station or one of the train lines.
Validate Your Ticket
You may need to validate your ticket for it to be used. You also need to do this BEFORE you get on the train.
Get the App
You can also purchase and validate tickets on your train app (which may be easier to do)
Bus
The bus takes anywhere from 3 to 4 hours. Our recommendation is Flixbus, which can be easily purchased online. If you are not staying at the main train station, there are a few alternatives for pick-up from Flixbus, including Rome Tiburtina Bus Station and Rome Anagnina.
Tickets are also relatively affordable, beginning at 10 Euros. The bus is perhaps the cheapest way to travel long distances on our list. However, it is still comparable to the train, so it will depend on when you leave and which kind of train you take.
Car
It’s also possible to drive by car to Florence. However, this does take longer than high-speed rail. It can take anywhere from 3 to 5 hours (traffic dependent).
Parts of Florence are also pedestrian-only zones, making a car less ideal depending on where you are staying. If you choose a car, we recommend ensuring you have parking through your hotel.
Final Thoughts
There are many ways to get to Florence from Rome, whether it be by train, car, or bus. It’s best to sort out how you want to reach each city while still in the planning phases for your international trip. This can save you a lot of money and headaches when you finally land in Rome.
How have you made this journey, and what are your recommendations? Leave them in the comments below.
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