Pisa to Florence by train

Train service

Trenitalia

Trenitalia is Italy’s state-owned rail operator, running high-speed, intercity, and regional trains across the country and beyond.

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Train tickets

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The Pisa to Florence train takes between 48 and 80 minutes, depending on which service you catch. Fares are fixed at around €9.30. No reservation required, no need to book ahead. It is one of the simplest train journeys in Italy.

Trenitalia runs the route. No other operator serves this corridor.

Which train to take

Two types of regional train run between Pisa and Florence:

• Regionale Veloce makes limited stops. Fastest option on this route, typically 48 to 51 minutes.
• Regionale stops at every station. Takes around 73 to 81 minutes.

Both cost the same. Take the Regionale Veloce unless the timing works better for you.

Trains run from early morning to late evening, roughly 04:15 to 23:30. Frequency is high: departures roughly every 15 to 30 minutes during the day, and closer together at peak times. You will not wait long at the platform.

Intercity trains also serve this route on some departures. They are faster than the Regionale but cost more. For a journey this short, the regional fare is good value.

One thing to know about Frecciarossa: it does not serve the Pisa to Florence local route. If you see a Frecciarossa on the departure board at Pisa Centrale, it is a long-distance service passing through Florence as a stop on its way elsewhere. Book a Regionale or Regionale Veloce for this journey.

Tickets and booking

Regional tickets cost around €9.30. The price is fixed. Booking 70 days ahead will not save you money on this route. Buy any time: on trenitalia.com, via the Trenitalia app, at a station machine, or at the ticket counter.

No seat reservation is needed on Regionale or Regionale Veloce trains. Buy a ticket for the right train type and board any departure.

Validate before you board

This is what first-time travellers miss. Paper regional tickets must be stamped at one of the yellow or green validation machines on the platform or in the station concourse before you board. Do it before you go through to the platform. An unvalidated ticket is treated as no ticket, and inspectors check regularly on this route. Fines apply, so stamp it or use a digital ticket.

Digital tickets on your phone do not need stamping. Show the QR code if asked.

Stations

Pisa

Pisa Centrale is the main departure point. It is well connected to the city centre and bus network, with ticket machines, a ticket office, left-luggage storage, and food options. The station deposit charges a fee that varies by how long you leave your bag, so check the current rate on arrival.

If you are arriving from Pisa Airport, take PisaMover to Pisa Centrale, then board a train to Florence. PisaMover is the automated shuttle linking the airport terminal to Pisa Centrale. The ride takes around 5 minutes and costs €6.50 one way. The old airport railway station no longer runs through trains to Florence, so every airport traveller changes at Pisa Centrale. From there, board any Regionale or Regionale Veloce to Florence.

Florence

Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) is where most Pisa trains arrive and the right station for almost everyone. It is central, with tram, bus, and taxi connections outside the main entrance.

A small number of services, some Intercity trains in particular, stop at Firenze Campo di Marte rather than SMN. Campo di Marte is around 3 km east of the city centre. Check your ticket for the arrival station. If you need the city centre, make sure it shows SMN.

Rail passes

Trenitalia regional trains on this route are included in Interrail and Eurail. No seat reservation fee applies. Mark a travel day on your pass and board.

Intercity services on this route require a small reservation fee for pass holders, currently around €3. Reserve before boarding an Intercity, and check the Interrail or Eurail website for the current figure.

From Pisa airport to Florence

There is no direct train from the airport terminal to Florence. Take PisaMover to Pisa Centrale (around 5 minutes, €6.50), then board any Regionale or Regionale Veloce. The shuttle runs daily from early morning to around midnight, every few minutes, so the change is quick. Allow around 15 to 20 minutes for the transfer on top of the train journey.

Once at Pisa Centrale, follow the same advice as any other traveller: take the Regionale Veloce for the fastest run, and validate a paper ticket before boarding.

The journey

The route runs west to east through flat Tuscan countryside via Empoli. Pleasant rather than dramatic. The middle section is agricultural. The most interesting part for most travellers is arriving into Firenze SMN itself, a short walk from the historic centre.

Trains are air-conditioned. Power sockets are available on some newer Regionale Veloce trains but are not standard across all rolling stock. Regional Trenitalia trains do not have WiFi.