Train service
Train tickets
Raileurope
Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide.
Trainline
Trainline sells rail and coach tickets worldwide on behalf of major UK and European transport companies.
Omio
Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning.
Direct trains from Florence to Pisa run throughout the day, operated by Trenitalia. The vast majority of services require no change, covering the 69 kilometres between the two cities in approximately 50 minutes to one hour on a typical regional service. Faster connections can complete the journey in around 46 minutes. Multiple trains depart per hour during weekday peak periods, and standard second-class tickets start at around €8. Most trains depart from Florence Santa Maria Novella and arrive at Pisa Centrale.
Tickets and Prices
Regional train fares on this route are set by Trenitalia and do not change based on demand or how far in advance you buy. Booking early will not unlock a cheaper fare on a standard regional service, though it does mean one less queue at the station.
Standard Fares
Second-class tickets on Regionale and Regionale Veloce services start at approximately €8 one way. First-class seating may be available on some express regional trains, with higher fares than standard second class. Check current availability in the Trenitalia booking engine. Faster Frecce-branded services such as the Frecciargento carry a different fare structure, so it is worth checking the specific price at the time of booking if you choose one of those departures.
| Service type | Class | Approx. fare | Reservation required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regionale | Second | From ~€8 | No |
| Regionale Veloce | Second | From ~€8 | No |
| Regionale Veloce | First (some services) | From ~€13 | No |
| Frecciargento | Varies | Check at booking | Check at booking |
Prices shown are approximate and should be confirmed at the Trenitalia booking engine before travel.
Child Fares
Children aged 4 to 11 travel at a 50 percent discount on regional trains. Children under 4 travel free of charge without an allocated seat. These are standard Trenitalia regional policies; confirm they apply to your specific service when booking.
Booking and Ticket Validation
The Trenitalia app and website are the most straightforward ways to buy tickets. Both are available in English. Search Florence Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale to see the full day's timetable and purchase in a few steps. Buying through the app avoids queuing at station machines and gives you a digital ticket you can show on your phone.
Station ticket machines and ticket windows at Florence Santa Maria Novella accept both cards and cash. Third-party platforms also sell tickets for this route and may add a small service fee on top of the base fare.
Important: validate your ticket before boarding. Regional train tickets must be stamped at the yellow or green validation machines on the platform before you board. Failure to validate is treated as travelling without a valid ticket, regardless of whether you have paid. This rule applies even if you bought the ticket on an app or at the station moments earlier, unless your ticket is a mobile barcode that is activated digitally at the point of purchase. If you are unsure, validate at the platform machine.
Confirm with Trenitalia whether your regional ticket is valid for any train on the date of travel or is tied to a specific departure before you finalise your plans.
Journey Time and Frequency
Typical journey times
The journey time depends on which type of service you board. The fastest confirmed option is the Frecciargento, which covers the route in approximately 46 minutes departing from Florence Campo di Marte. Regionale Veloce services from Florence Santa Maria Novella typically take around 50 to 55 minutes. Slower Regionale trains that stop at more intermediate stations can take up to one hour 30 minutes. Always check the journey time for the specific train you select rather than assuming a single figure applies to all departures.
| Service type | Typical duration | Stops |
|---|---|---|
| Frecciargento | ~46 minutes | Few |
| Regionale Veloce | ~50 to 55 minutes | Moderate |
| Regionale | ~1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes | More |
Daily frequency
Trains run throughout the day from early in the morning until late at night. On weekdays, multiple departures operate each hour during morning and evening peak periods. Published timetable sources indicate approximately 36 to 47 direct trains on weekdays; live searches on some dates show higher totals depending on the mix of service types included. When all service types across all Florence stations are counted, the total number of daily departures may be higher still. Weekend and public holiday services are less frequent and journey times may be longer on some options. The first departure from Florence Santa Maria Novella is at approximately 12:40 a.m. The last departure of the day is in the late evening; check the current Trenitalia timetable for the precise time.
Train Types on This Route
Three types of Trenitalia train operate between Florence and Pisa.
Regionale trains are the standard regional service. They stop at more intermediate stations, which extends the journey, and are the most affordable option. No seat reservation is required and seating is open, meaning you may sit in any available seat in your ticket class.
Regionale Veloce trains are the faster regional option, making fewer stops and typically arriving in Pisa in around 50 to 55 minutes from Florence Santa Maria Novella. As with the Regionale, no reservation is needed and seating is open.
Frecciargento is a faster, intercity-branded Trenitalia service. At least one Frecciargento service on this route departs from Florence Campo di Marte rather than Florence Santa Maria Novella, so check your departure station carefully when selecting this train. The Frecciargento covers the route in approximately 46 minutes. A seat reservation may be required and the fare structure differs from regional services; confirm both at the time of booking.
Frecciarossa services are not confirmed as operating between Florence and Pisa on the basis of current timetable evidence. Amenities associated with that service type are not described here as applicable to this route.
Stations and On-the-Ground Logistics
Florence: Departure Stations
Florence Santa Maria Novella (SMN) is the main station and the departure point for the vast majority of trains to Pisa. It is centrally located and well connected by city buses and trams. When searching for trains, use Florence Santa Maria Novella as your origin station.
Florence Campo di Marte is a secondary Florence station used by at least one faster Frecciargento service on this route. It is less central than Santa Maria Novella. If your chosen train departs from Campo di Marte, factor in additional travel time to reach the station.
Pisa: Arrival Station
Pisa Centrale is the main arrival station for trains from Florence. It sits approximately two kilometres south of the Campo dei Miracoli, the monumental complex that contains the Leaning Tower, the Cathedral, and the Baptistery. The walk from the station to the Campo dei Miracoli takes around 20 minutes on foot along a straightforward central route. Buses and taxis are also available from outside the station.
Pisa Centrale has left-luggage facilities, which are useful if you plan to explore the city before travelling onward.
Direct and Connecting Services
The vast majority of trains from Florence to Pisa run direct with no change of train required. On a typical weekday, only a small minority of timetabled options involve a connection, and these are usually less convenient than the abundant direct services. When booking, filter for direct trains to avoid any confusion. If a connecting option appears in your search results, check whether a direct Regionale or Regionale Veloce departs at a similar time before confirming.
Seat Reservations
Seat reservations are not required on Regionale or Regionale Veloce services. You may board and sit in any available seat in your ticket class. These trains use open seating, so there is no need to choose a specific seat at the point of purchase.
The Frecciargento service may require a seat reservation. Check whether a reservation is included in or required alongside your ticket when booking a Frecciargento departure.
Interrail and Eurail Passes
Both Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on Trenitalia services between Florence and Pisa. An Interrail One Country Pass for Italy or a Eurail One Country Pass for Italy, as well as any Global Pass that includes Italy, covers this route. Pass holders should note that round-trip tickets are not available as a single transaction when using a pass; each direction must be treated as a separate journey.
On Regionale and Regionale Veloce services, no seat reservation is required, which means pass holders can board these trains without paying an additional reservation fee. If you choose a Frecciargento service, check whether a reservation fee applies for pass holders at the time of travel, as this was not confirmed in available sources.
One practical consideration: with standard second-class fares starting at around €8, using a pass travel day for this route alone represents limited value. The route makes more sense within a pass if it forms part of a longer day of travel across Tuscany or Italy, where cumulative fare savings across multiple legs justify the pass day.
Alternatives to the Train
The train is the most practical and widely used option between Florence and Pisa. There is no public bus service connecting the two city centres directly. A private bus route runs between Villa Costanza and Pisa Airport at €9.50, but this does not serve the city-centre-to-city-centre journey that most travellers need.
Private tour coaches and sightseeing transfers do operate between Florence and Pisa, with some dropping passengers closer to the Campo dei Miracoli than Pisa Centrale. These typically cost more than the train and require advance booking through a tour operator.
Driving between Florence and Pisa takes approximately one hour via the FI-PI-LI highway and covers around 52 miles. Drivers should be aware that Pisa's historic centre operates a ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) restricted traffic zone. Entering a ZTL without authorisation results in a fine, and the restriction applies to most visitor vehicles. Parking outside the restricted zone and walking in is the standard approach for those arriving by car.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Florence to Pisa take?
Most direct regional trains take about 50 to 60 minutes. Some faster services can take around 46 minutes, while slower stopping trains can take up to about 1 hour 30 minutes.
How much is the train from Florence to Pisa?
Standard second-class regional tickets start at around €8 one way. Faster services and first-class seats, where available, cost more.
Are Florence to Pisa trains direct?
The vast majority of trains are direct. A small number of search results may involve a connection, so filter for direct trains if you want the simplest journey.
Do I need a seat reservation from Florence to Pisa?
No reservation is required on Regionale or Regionale Veloce trains. Faster Frecce-branded services may have different reservation rules, so check before booking.
Can I use Interrail or Eurail from Florence to Pisa?
Yes. Interrail and Eurail passes are valid on Trenitalia services on this route. Because standard fares are low, using a pass day only for this leg is usually poor value.
