How early should I get to the train station in Florence?

Arrive at the train station 20 minutes before your train, longer if you want to purchase a snack or bottled water for the ride. Keep a close eye on luggage at all times. Look for large electronic boards with destinations. The tracks are usually not posted until 5 or 10 minutes before train time.



For departures from Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN), you should aim to arrive at least 20 to 30 minutes before your scheduled departure for high-speed trains (Frecciarossa or Italo). Unlike airports, there is no formal check-in or security screening for domestic Italian rail; however, Florence SMN is a "terminal" station, meaning trains pull in and out from the same side. Platforms 17, 18, and 19 are located quite a long walk from the main concourse (nearly 5-8 minutes), so you need a buffer to find your "Binario" and navigate the crowds. If you still need to purchase or validate a ticket, or if you want to grab a quick espresso at the VyTA bar, give yourself 45 minutes. If you have already checked in via the Trenitalia app and are traveling light, 15 minutes is the absolute minimum, as the boarding gates at the head of the platforms often close their ticket checks 2-3 minutes before the train pulls out.

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Arrive at the train station with at least 20 minutes before departure. You don't need to worry about long security lines but you will need enough time to check the electronic boards which display the train numbers and their corresponding track number (or bin./binario in Italian).

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Arriving at the Station Plan to arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before your train is scheduled to depart (Auto Train passengers should arrive at the station at least two hours prior to departure).

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The main and the biggest one is Florence Santa Maria Novella, others are Firenze Campo di Marte, and Campo di Marte train station. Almost all of them are located in the city center, so you can easily reach any of them or any part of Florence.

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Arrive at the station at least 30 minutes to an hour in advance to give yourself time to get your bearings and find your way to the correct terminal.

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Pack all of your luggage so that you can easily have everything you'll need with you. Make sure that you can quickly pack the things that you might need to put in at the last available second. Make sure to have a good breakfast, lunch or dinner before you start your journey.

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Reserve Early The earlier you book your tickets, the more likely you are to get the lowest fare available for the dates you want on the routes along your journey. You may book your travel up to 11 months in advance.

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Train tickets can get fully booked in Italy, so booking well in advance is extremely important near the Italian holidays as trains book up quickly with Italian locals and tourists competing to book their train travel during these times.

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The urban ticket, valid both for buses and tramway, costs € 1,70 and is valid 90 minutes.

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Railway Station FS Firenze Rifredi Tickets can be purchased from the ticket counters at the stations or from any authorized travel agency.

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If you're looking to just hit the city's top highlights, three or so days should be enough. But if you're like us, hitting the hotspots will only make you curious to stay longer – especially in a place as rich with culture, cuisine, and history as Florence.

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The train is the simplest and cheapest way to go from Florence to Pisa (and vice versa). From Florence Santa Maria Novella station there are trains to Pisa (station is called Pisa Centrale) at least every 30 minutes (more often during peak hours), and a single ticket costs 8.90 euros.

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