Bologna to Florence Trains from £7.38

Departure station: Departing from Bologna Centrale

Trenitalia, Frecciarossa and Italo services depart from Bologna Centrale, and the station is large, so it's a good idea to arrive a little bit early. This will give you time to check your platform, grab a coffee and a snack - which can be difficult during busy travel periods - without having to rush.

Arrival station: Firenze Santa Maria Novella

Firenze SMN is located on the edge of the historic city centre, with many of Florence's popular tourist sights within walking distance. The Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica and Ponte Vecchio can all be reached on foot, whilst taxis and local buses are available directly outside the station if you’re venturing further afield. It’s easy to see why Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the most convenient arrival point when you’re exploring Florence.

Once you’re off the train and you’ve left the platform, you'll find signs, shops, cafés and luggage storage facilities, as you would expect from a busy station. You’ll likely find that the easiest option is to simply walk to your hotel if you’re staying within Florence's compact city centre, as a lot of popular accommodation options are within walking distance.

There’s nothing slow about the train from Bologna to Florence; it’s actually one of the speediest services between two Italian cities. Two operators run the service - Frecciarossa and Italo - and the journey only takes around 37 minutes. It’s a quick, convenient and affordable way to get from Bologna to Florence by rail. 

Frecciarossa high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: 37 minutes

• Departure station: Bologna Centrale

• Best for: Lots of departure flexibility throughout the day, easy to connect to other Trenitalia services, ideal for travellers needing to get from Bologna to Florence quickly.

• Onboard perks: Quiet carriages, plug sockets at most seats, multiple travel classes and dedicated luggage areas.

• Frequent Frecciarossa services are running from early morning until evening, making it easy to find a service that works with your other plans. It’s easy to connect to other Italian cities - including Rome, Venice and Milan - when using Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa trains.

Italo high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: 37 minutes

• Departure station: Bologna Centrale

• Best for: Simple, speedy journeys from Bologna to Florence, affordable advanced fares and modern interiors.

• Onboard perks: WiFi, spacious seating, lots of luggage storage and quiet carriages.

• No shortage of departure times to choose from, so it’s easy to fit an Italo service into your itinerary. Fares are often slightly cheaper than Trenitalia services.

Regional trains: RE, InterCity 

• Avg. duration: From 1 hour and 24 minutes

• Departure station: Bologna Centrale

• Best for:  Budget-conscious travellers, flexible schedules and passengers who don’t need the speediest journey.

• Onboard perks: Standard seating, air conditioning and luggage storage.

• These trains take longer than high-speed services as they make additional stops along the route, but they can be a more affordable option.

One of the great things about an Italy Bologna to Florence train is that the journey is quick and easy. From the moment you book to the moment you arrive, the process is simple.

• Don’t delay booking: You might be tempted to delay booking your train tickets from Bologna to Florence, not wanting to commit to a specific time. But this could end up costing you more. Although the journey is short, high-speed ticket prices tend to increase closer to departure. By booking in advance, you have the best chance of unlocking cheaper tickets on both Frecciarossa and Italo services.

• Don’t worry about getting a good view: The Bologna to Florence train travel time is around 37 minutes, so you don’t need to worry about securing the perfect window seat. In fact, a lot of the journey runs through tunnels beneath the Apennines. Scenery is limited compared to other routes, so don’t worry too much about where you sit.

• Check live train updates: Bologna Centrale is one of Italy's busiest stations, and platform assignments can change at short notice. When you book with TrainPal, you can check real-time train information, so you don’t need to worry about a platform changing and you not knowing.

• Frecciarossa vs Italo: Don’t worry too much about weighing up the pros and cons of each, as they’re very similar. The journey from Bologna to Florence is short, so it doesn’t matter too much which operator you travel with. 

With digital tickets and live journey updates, TrainPal provides everything you need for a smooth trip from Bologna to Florence.