Florence to Rome
The Heritage Dash
One hour and twenty-nine minutes. Florence to Rome on the Frecciarossa is the route that killed domestic aviation on this corridor - and the numbers explain why. There is no nonstop flight to catch; any air routing means a connection through another hub, and by the time you have reached an airport, cleared security and transferred into the city at the far end, the train passenger is already at a café in Trastevere.
No airline operates a nonstop flight between Florence and Rome. High-speed rail so comprehensively won this corridor that any air routing means a slower, pricier connection. The train doesn't compete with the plane here - it replaced it.
Book your Frecciarossa to Rome
Advance fares from €19 - the earlier you book, the cheaper it gets. Buy directly on Trenitalia or via Omio for a comparison with Italo (the private operator also running this corridor on competing high-speed trains).
Railero may earn a small commission if you book via the link above, at no extra cost to you.
Example costs are based on typical advance bookings and city-centre transfers. Actual prices vary by date, operator and travel demand.
Leaving Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Florence, Italy · 43.776°N, 11.248°E
Santa Maria Novella station sits at the western edge of the historic centre, named for the 13th-century basilica that faces it across the piazza. It is a masterpiece of Italian Rationalist architecture - built in 1935 by Giovanni Michelucci to a design that perfectly blends functional modernity with the city's Renaissance context. The departure board, the green-marble floors, and the long, low platform canopy are as much Florence as any of the Uffizi's rooms.
The Frecciarossa (Italian for Red Arrow) departs multiple times per hour. Trenitalia's flagship high-speed train - the ETR 1000, built by Hitachi-Bombardier - operates the Florence–Rome corridor at up to 300 km/h. The competing Italo service uses NTV's AGV trains, also touching 300 km/h, and offers comparable fares. Both operators serve the same stations on the same high-speed line.
The train didn't improve on flying Florence to Rome. It made flying irrelevant.
Which operator to choose?
- FrecciarossaTrenitalia - more frequent, all classes including Executive
- ItaloNTV private operator - often 10–20% cheaper, stylish onboard
- BothCompare via Omio - cheapest advance fare wins
- Bookingtrenitalia.com or italotreno.it directly is cheapest
Arriving in Roma Termini
Rome, Italy · 41.902°N, 12.501°E
Roma Termini is the largest railway station in Italy and one of the busiest in Europe, serving around 480,000 passengers daily. The Frecciarossa pulls in at the high-speed platforms on the eastern side of the main shed - Tracks 1 through 9 - and you step off into the vast, surprisingly well-organised concourse with its 80-plus shops, restaurants, a supermarket, and a pharmacy that never closes.
What Rome has that Florence lacks is a Metro system worthy of its size (though not without complications - excavation for Line C kept encountering Roman ruins). Lines A and B intersect at Termini itself, putting most of the city within 15–20 minutes. Line A serves the Vatican, the Spanish Steps, and Barberini in one direction; Line B reaches the Colosseum (Colosseo station) in 7 minutes, perhaps the most theatrical stop on any European metro.
The ancient city begins the moment you leave the station. The Baths of Diocletian, the largest thermal complex of the Roman Empire, flank the Piazza della Repubblica directly in front of Termini's exit. The Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli - Michelangelo's conversion of the frigidarium of the Baths - is next door. Rome does not ease you in gently.
From Roma Termini
Hotels near Roma Termini
The Frecciarossa sets you down at Roma Termini, with Metro lines A and B and the historic centre a short walk away. Every address below is close to the station.
near Piazza della Repubblica
A grand hotel by Piazza della Repubblica, a short walk from Termini toward the Trevi Fountain and the historic centre.
Piazza della Repubblica
On Piazza della Repubblica facing the Baths of Diocletian, a few minutes on foot from Roma Termini.
Via Nazionale - between Termini and the centre
On Via Nazionale midway between Termini and the historic centre, an easy walk from the platforms.
Hotel links open Booking.com. Railero may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is the train from Florence to Rome?
- The fastest Frecciarossa and Italo services take 1 hour 29 minutes from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Roma Termini. Services with extra stops take a little longer - check the journey time when booking.
- Are there flights from Florence to Rome?
- No airline operates a nonstop flight between Florence and Rome. Any air routing means a connection through another hub, which is slower and more expensive than the 1h 29m train - which is why high-speed rail replaced flying on this corridor.
- Frecciarossa or Italo - which should I book?
- Both run the Florence–Rome corridor at up to 300 km/h on the same high-speed line, serve the same stations, and offer comparable fares and journey times. Compare both for your date and pick on price; Italo (NTV) is often marginally cheaper in advance.
- Which stations does the Florence to Rome train use?
- Trains depart from Firenze Santa Maria Novella, in the centre of Florence, and arrive at Roma Termini, Rome's main station, with direct Metro lines A and B and connections across the city.
- How far in advance should I book Florence to Rome tickets?
- Advance fares start from around €19 and rise as the train fills, so book as early as your plans allow. The cheapest Super Economy and Low Cost fares sell out first and are non-refundable.
- Can I use an Interrail or Eurail pass on this route?
- Yes. Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on Frecciarossa services, but a compulsory seat reservation (a small fixed fee) applies and must be booked in advance. Italo does not participate in the pass schemes.
Continue Your Journey
Routes that pair naturally with this one — for building your European itinerary.
Milan → Florence
~1h 55m · Frecciarossa · Italo
Arriving from Milan? The northern high-speed leg
View Route
Florence → La Spezia
~2h 30m · Trenitalia Regionale
Day trip west: Florence to the Cinque Terre
View RouteHow to find the best fares, which operators to book with, and when advance booking makes the difference.
When reservation is mandatory, which side of the train has the views, and how to choose your class.
Florence to Rome is the shortest argument for rail travel over flying. No nonstop flight exists on this route because it couldn't survive the comparison. An hour and a half from one Renaissance city to one of the greatest ancient cities on earth - city centre to city centre, no airport, no taxi from Fiumicino. The train is simply the only sensible option.