Florence to Milan Trains from €18.65

Departure station: Departing from Firenze Santa Maria Novella

Most trains from Florence to Milan depart from Firenze Santa Maria Novella - also known as Firenze SMN, which is the city's main railway station. Located on the edge of Florence's centre, it's within walking distance of major sights including the Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica and the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

If you're searching for train tickets from Florence to Milan, Santa Maria Novella is where you’ll find the majority of high-speed services, including Frecciarossa and Italo departures. Florence also has smaller stations, but unless your ticket specifically states otherwise, head to Santa Maria Novella.

Firenze Santa Maria Novella is easy to navigate, with clear departure boards, many shops and several cafés for a pre-journey espresso. If you're arriving early or checking out of your accommodation before travelling, there are lockers inside the station where you can store bags securely. It’s a good idea to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your departure, as the main concourse can get busy during peak travel periods, and you don’t want to be held up by crowds.

Arrival station: Arriving at Milan Centrale or Milan Rogoredo

Many Florence to Milan trains, high-speed specifically, arrive at Milan Centrale. It’s one of Italy's busiest railway stations and where a lot of visitors start their exploration of the city. The station is well connected to Milan's metro network, with direct access to multiple lines, making it easy to reach popular areas such as the Duomo, Brera, Navigli and Porta Nuova. Once you leave the station, you'll find taxi ranks directly outside the main entrance, along with buses, trams and metro connections. 

Some Italy Florence to Milan trains stop at Milano Rogoredo instead, which is located to the southeast of the city centre. This station is somewhat of a transport hub, rather than a tourist destination, but there are still various Florence to Milan trains for you to choose from. The station is connected to Milan's metro, allowing quick access to central Milan. But if you're visiting the city for sightseeing, Milano Centrale is generally the more convenient place to arrive.

When you’re travelling on the train from Florence to Milan, you’ll usually choose between two high-speed operators - Trenitalia (Frecciarossa) and Italo. Both operators run modern and speedy trains, making the journey between Florence and Milan fast, smooth and reliable. The experience is quite similar, and it’s likely to be the price and departure times that sway you one way or the other, rather than the trains themselves.

Frecciarossa high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: From 1 hour and 55 minutes

• Departure station: Firenze Santa Maria Novella

• Best for: Florence to Milan. Trenitalia is good for travellers who want the widest choice of departure times.

• Onboard perks: Standard and Business Class tickets, power sockets on most seats and air conditioning.

• There tend to be more frequent Frecciarossa trains and tickets are available in multiple fare types, meaning lower prices are often available.

Italo high-speed trains

• Avg. duration: From 1 hour and 44 minutes

• Departure station: Firenze Santa Maria Novella

• Best for: Florence to Milan. Italo is good for travellers looking for modern carriages and competitive advance fares.

• Onboard perks: Spacious interiors, WiFi, multiple upgraded carriage classes and generous luggage storage areas.

• There are fewer departures than Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa, but ticket prices can be lower when booked early.

A train from Florence to Milan is one of the most popular high-speed routes in Italy, but there are things you can do to benefit yourself in terms of price, comfort and timing.

• Book early: If you want to secure the lowest fares, you need to book early. High-speed tickets on both Frecciarossa and Italo can change, usually rising as the departure date gets closer. If your travel dates are fixed, booking in advance will benefit your budget.

• Choose your departure time carefully: Florence to Milan trains run frequently throughout the day, but peak times can feel a lot busier. Early morning trains suit airport connections and onward travel, midday departures are usually quieter, and late afternoon trains are popular with commuters and book up quickly. If you want more space and flexibility, off-peak services are often the better option.

• Real-time updates and delays: Italian high-speed trains are generally reliable, but minor delays or platform changes can happen, particularly at large hubs like Firenze Santa Maria Novella and Milano Centrale. After booking through TrainPal, you can check train updates easily, which is especially helpful if you’re changing to another train or have a tight itinerary in Milan.

• Scenic highlights along the route: Though this is a high-speed line, the Florence to Milan journey does offer glimpses of the Italian countryside as you leave Tuscany behind. It’s not a dedicated scenic route, but it does show a clear transition between landscapes.

• Always Double-Check: Before you board, double-check the operator. Are you travelling on Frecciarossa or Italo? And the station you’ll be arriving at in Milan. High-speed tickets are usually tied to a specific train time, so missing your departure often means buying a new ticket.

TrainPal is a simple way to keep your journey organised from booking to arrival in Milan.