Pisa to Florence by train

Regional trains cover Pisa to Florence in about 50 to 75 minutes on Trenitalia, with no seat reservation needed.

Trenitalia is the only operator on this short regional corridor; Italo runs no regional services anywhere in Italy, only its own high-speed network.

Which train to take

Two categories of regional train run between Pisa and Florence, both on Trenitalia's official current timetable for this line:

• Regionale Veloce makes limited stops. It covers the route in around 50 minutes.

• Regionale stops at every station along the way and takes around 72 to 75 minutes.

Both are priced the same, since Trenitalia's regional fares are set by distance travelled, not by which of the two categories you ride. Take the Regionale Veloce unless the timing works better for you.

Trains start early, from around 6am, and continue until around 10pm, with departures frequent enough through the day that you will rarely wait long at the platform.

Intercity trains also call at both stations on some departures. They stop less often than Regionale, so they are typically quicker, but cost more. For a journey this short, the regional fare is good value.

One thing to know about Frecciarossa: it does not run as a dedicated Pisa to Florence local service. If you see a Frecciarossa on the departure board at Pisa Centrale, it is a long-distance train on the Genoa-Pisa-Rome line, calling at Pisa Centrale on its way to or from somewhere else. Book a Regionale or Regionale Veloce for this journey.

Tickets and booking

A single second-class regional ticket for this route is 9.80 EUR, set by Trenitalia's Tuscany regional tariff for the 81 km distance between the two stations. The price does not change if you buy earlier. Buy any time: on trenitalia.com, via the Trenitalia app, at a station machine, or at the ticket counter. Trenitalia also runs Tap&Tap, a contactless option that lets you tap a bank card or phone directly at the gate on some regional services without buying a ticket first; where it is available, it charges the standard regional fare automatically.

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, or use a digital ticket

This is what first-time travellers miss. A paper regional ticket must be stamped at one of the yellow or green validation machines on the platform or in the station concourse before you board, and the ticket is then valid for four hours from that point. Do it before you go through to the platform. An unvalidated paper ticket is treated as no ticket, and inspectors check regularly on this route. Fines apply, so stamp it or travel with a digital ticket instead.

A digital ticket bought through the Trenitalia app or website does not need stamping. It activates itself automatically at the scheduled departure time of the train you chose, shown on screen as a green bar, and stays valid until that train's scheduled arrival. Up to 23:59 the evening before travel, you can change the train and date on a digital regional ticket as many times as you like at no extra cost.

Stations

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. Ask at the desk for the current left-luggage rate, since it is charged by how long you leave a bag rather than a flat fee.

If you are arriving from Pisa Airport, take the PisaMover shuttle to Pisa Centrale first, then board a train to Florence; see below for the transfer details.

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, and a staffed left-luggage desk on the ground floor, open roughly 07:00 to 21:00.

A small number of long-distance services stop at Firenze Campo di Marte, a working Florence station around 3 km east of the historic centre, rather than at SMN. Check your ticket for the arrival station. If you need the city centre, make sure it shows SMN.

Pisa airport to Florence

There is no direct train from the airport terminal to Florence. Take PisaMover, the automated shuttle linking the airport terminal to Pisa Centrale, then board any Regionale or Regionale Veloce onward to Florence. The shuttle runs frequently from early morning to around midnight, and the ride itself takes about 5 minutes. The old airport railway station no longer runs through trains to Florence, so every airport traveller changes at Pisa Centrale. Allow around 15 to 20 minutes in total 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, or travel on a digital one, before boarding.

Rail passes

Trenitalia regional trains on this route are covered by Interrail and Eurail as part of the general network, with no seat reservation to make. Mark a travel day on your pass and board.

Intercity services on this route require a seat reservation for pass holders, currently around 3 EUR. Reserve before boarding an Intercity, and check the Interrail or Eurail website for the current figure. Italo does not participate in either pass scheme, though that does not affect this route since Italo runs no service here.

Accessibility

Both Pisa Centrale and Firenze Santa Maria Novella are covered by RFI's Sala Blu assistance service, which provides free help with boarding, alighting, and moving through the station for travellers with reduced mobility or a disability. Book ahead through the SalaBlu Online portal, the SalaBlu+ app, or by phone: at least 12 working hours ahead at most stations, though fast-track booking is available closer to departure at larger stations. Wheelchair users should book assistance for both the departure and arrival station, since Pisa Centrale and Firenze SMN are handled separately.

Day trip from Pisa to Florence

With regional trains running from around 6am to around 10pm and the Regionale Veloce covering the route in around 50 minutes, Florence works comfortably as a day trip from Pisa. An early departure gets you into Firenze SMN, in the historic centre, well before mid-morning, and services continue late enough into the evening that a full day of sightseeing is realistic without an overnight stay. Because regional tickets are not tied to a specific train, you can pick your return time on the day rather than booking it in advance.

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. Trenitalia's onboard WiFi network, Portale Frecce, runs on its Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca services; it does not extend to Regionale or Regionale Veloce, so do not expect WiFi on this route.