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How to get from Florence to Rome
Rome is a perfect mix of history, culture, and vibrant street life. As Italy’s capital, the entire city is a wonder, a beauty in ruins. With the Colosseum and the Pantheon still standing proud, it is easy to understand why Rome was once one of the world’s most powerful empire.
Surrounded by Rome is a world of its own – Vatican City – which draws millions of believers and non-believers alike. The jaw-dropping architecture and art in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums are not to be missed. Truly, a visit to Rome will take you back in time.
3 ways to get from Florence to Rome
There are 3 ways to travel the 275 km distance from Florence to Rome: a 1.5 to 4-hour train, a 3 to 4-hour bus, and a 3-hour flight (including transfers). Fares range from €7 ($7.50) to €89.6 ($96).
Taking a train from Florence to Rome is very convenient because the train stations are both within the city centres. The more expensive high-speed trains can complete this journey in just 1.5 hours, while the cheaper regional trains take 4 hours. Ticket prices start from €22 ($23.50).
The bus is the cheapest option with fares from €7 ($7.50). Travel time is around 3-4 hours, but the bus stations are located outside the city centres of both Florence and Rome. That means extra cost and travel time. Total costs would still be cheaper than the regional train, though.
There’s also an option to take a flight from April to October, but we don’t recommend it. It is the most expensive option with combined fares from €89.6 ($96). Although the flight time is only 55 minutes, adding up the airport transfers and the waiting time for your flight makes up for at least a 3-hour travel time.
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
If you’re going for speed, might as well get your money’s worth with a 1.5-hour high-speed train with fares from €35 ($37.50).
Itinerary from Florence to Rome
Flight
- Florence City Centre
- 20 minutes
- Florence Airport
- 55 minutes
- Fiumicino Airport
- 50 minutes
- Rome City Centre
Florence to Rome by Train
The most convenient option when travelling from Florence to Rome is the train. One advantage is that both stations are located in the city centres. Aside from the trains being spacious and comfortable too, they are not dependent on traffic conditions.
You also have 2 types of trains to choose from for this route, all with multiple departures daily.
Regionale trains
Regionale trains are the cheapest and slowest trains available. If you’re not in a hurry, we don’t think it’s a bad idea to spend around 4 hours on this scenic journey, especially when a ticket costs only €22 ($23.50). Note that there are only 9 departures a day for this train.
High-speed trains
You can also choose high-speed trains like NVT, Italo, and Frecciarossa. Travel time is only 1.5 hours, but tickets are more expensive with rates from €35 ($37.50). These trains have several hourly departures from morning to night, so you can be more flexible with your schedule.
Train schedules from Florence to Rome
Tickets are available at the train station, but if you want to skip the long queues, it’s best to buy them online beforehand on Omio and BookAway. You can also check the full schedules on these sites.
Departure and arrival station
You can board the train at Santa Maria Novella Station in Florence city centre. You can find this just a few meters from the basilica of the same name.
In Rome, there are two arrival stations: Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina. Both stations are located in the city centre, just 5 kms away from each other with the Quadriportico Verano Cemetery between them.
Florence to Rome by Bus
If you’re looking for the cheapest option, then the bus is a really good choice. It’s less than half the price of a regionale train and also a bit faster.
The only catch is that bus stations for both Florence and Rome are located outside the city centres. This means that you’ll have to spend extra time and costs on transfers to and from the bus stations. That will make the travel time a bit longer, but still cheaper than any of the trains.
Itabus and FlixBus are the main bus operators for the Florence to Rome route. Rates start from €7 ($7.50) for the 3 to 4-hour bus ride to Rome.
Bus schedules from Florence to Rome
It’s best to book online to get the cheapest rates possible. You can easily book Itabus via Omio, while FlixBus can only be booked on its company website.
PRO-Tip: If you can be flexible with your schedule, FlixBus sometimes offers prices for as low as €5 ($5). Just check the FlixBus website regularly!
Departure and arrival station
Buses depart from Villa Constanza Bus Station in Scandicci that is outside Florence city centre. Luckily, there’s a tram station just outside the bus station. From the city centre, you can take Tram Line 1 that will take around 25 minutes.
In Rome, buses park at Tiburtina Bus Station, located some 8 km east of the city centre. You should be able to reach your hotel through a 20-minute Metro ride.
Florence to Rome by Flight
We don’t think taking a flight from Florence to Rome offers much advantage over the other options. With combined rates from €89.6 ($96), the flight is the most expensive choice.
Although the flight itself takes only 55 minutes, you’ll have to add the travel time to and from the airports plus the required waiting time for your flight. That would be at least 3 hours. The high-speed trains are much faster and cheaper.
Keep in mind too that, unlike the other options, flights are only available from April to October.
Do you still want to take a flight? Read on for a detailed guide.
Step 1: Florence City Centre to Florence Airport
Florence Airport is located about 7 km west of the city centre. The most convenient way to get here is by tram.
To get to Peretola Airport, you can board Tram Line 2 from Unita Station, which is within walking distance from Santa Maria Novella Basilica. Trams are available every 11 minutes from 05:00 to 00:30. A ticket costs €1.60 ($1.70) for the 20-minute trip.
Other options from the city centre to Florence Airport include a 25-minute shuttle bus that costs €6 ($6) and a 20-minute taxi with rates from €25 ($26.50).
Step 2: Florence to Rome by Flight
ITA Airways operates 2 daily flights from Florence to Rome between April and October. The journey takes 55 minutes and ticket prices start from €82 ($88).
Flights arrive at Fiumicino Airport, which is situated 30 km southwest of Rome city centre.
Step 3: Fiumicino Airport to Rome City Centre by Tram
From Fiumicino Airport, you can take a bus, a train, or a taxi to get to Rome city centre. We recommend taking the bus if you’re on a budget and are not in too much of a hurry.
Several shuttle bus companies operate on this route. Sitbus offers hourly trips from early morning to night for only €6 ($6) per ticket. You can expect to arrive at Roma Termini after around 50 minutes. From here, you can either walk to your hotel or take a short taxi ride.
Alternatively, you can either take a 30-minute train that costs €14 ($15) or a 40-minute taxi with rates from €48 ($51) from Fiumicino Airport to the city centre.
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About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
