Naples and Florence, known as Napoli and Firenze in Italy, are two metropolitan hubs with a wealth of history and attractions. From the ruins of Pompei to the statue of David, there's plenty to explore between the two cities.

There are plenty of options when purchasing train tickets from Naples to Florence. For instance, you can take the high-speed bullet train, which quickly travels across the breathtaking Italian countryside, offering a smooth ride from the moment you step aboard to the moment you reach the Florence train station.

Here's what you should know about the best trains from Naples to Florence, including departure times, the number of trains a day, the distance covered, amenities, ticket information and how to maximise your visit to Florence.

Operators serving the Naples to Florence route

Frecciarossa trains

Operated by Trenitalia, Frecciarossa trains offer a quick and easy option for travelling betweel Italy’s biggest cities. With the Frecciarosssa, you can depart from Napoli Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Trenitalia's high-speed train from Naples to Florence reaches a velocity of up to 300 kilometres per hour, drastically shortening travel times while offering first-tier amenities for passengers to enjoy on their journey.

Frecciarossa trains offer a high frequency of service, with the Naples to Florence train schedule reflecting 88 trains departures a day, making it easy for you to plan your travels accordingly. Frequent departure times aside, Frecciarossa trains are designed for optimal comfort, with each of their several models featuring superior travel perks like:

  • Plug sockets in each seat to charge your devices.

  • Adequate space for your luggage.

  • Ample LED lighting.

  • Screens in each carriage that reflect real-time updates.

  • Infant changing area.

  • Designated spaces to accommodate those with disabilities and their travel companions.

  • Onboard WiFi network via FRECCE Portal, internet access, entertainment, and travel information.

Italo trains

While Trenitalia is run by the government, Italo trains are run by a private operator, and they can take you from Naples to Florence. This particular train system is operated by Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), and like Frecciarossa trains, Italo trains connect Napoli Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella via their high-speed bullet trains.

In addition to the convenience of connecting from one city centre to another, travelling via train means avoiding airport hassles and delays while still enjoying accelerated travel times. Not to mention the environmental benefits - with sources indicating that opting for train travel over air travel can decrease carbon emissions by as much as 86%.

As for the amenities? Italo Trains is a masterclass in providing a comfortable and passenger-centric travel experience. Their services are all-encompassing - offering everything from sleek and comfortable seating to a snack area with vending machines for snacks and espresso.

Even better, Italo American Express cardholders can take advantage of the ambience upgrade, including a first-class travel experience with access to the exclusive Lounge Italo Club. (More on that below.)

Naples to Florence train schedule details

Quickest journey time & total distance by train

Once you've decided what train service you would like to use, it's time to figure out the logistics for your train ride from Naples to Florence. Here, we'll cover key details you need to know to plan your journey in advance.

The distance from Naples to Florence by train is 407 kilometres, with 88 trains departing on this route each day. The number of operating trains on this route makes for ideal flexibility and convenience, so you'll never have to worry about shortening your visit to make the train on time.

Timetable for trains from Naples to Florence

The fastest time from Naples to Florence is 2 hours and 31 minutes, though this can vary depending on several factors. Moreover, train departures may vary depending on what time of the week you're leaving.

For those departing Naples during the week, the earliest train that leaves is 05:50, while the latest train will depart at 20:30.

Alternatively, travellers who are making their way up to Florence during the weekend can expect the earliest train to leave at 05:50, while the latest train from the Naples train station to Florence is 20:30.

Train tickets from Naples to Florence

Buying your train tickets from Naples to Florence is a strategic process if you're aiming to get the most value for your travel experience. Depending on how far out you purchase your ticket, buying well in advance can lead to significant savings. Alternatively, buying the day of your departure can be time- and cost-prohibitive, requiring you to get to the train station far earlier to buy a ticket that costs well beyond the pre-purchase price.

Buying a ticket 30 days in advance is your best bet to get a cheap train from Naples to Florence. The average cost is US$29, with US$3.60 being the cheapest ticket on the route.

The money you save on tickets can go toward your experience in Florence. Consider trying a Florentine delicacy like the Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine Beef Steak) at the popular Antico Ristoro di Cambi restaurant in the San Frediano district. Or, if you prefer, use your savings toward a souvenir from Florence's famed leather merchants at the San Lorenzo Market.

Rail Europe offers an exclusive ticket alert system

Platforms like Rail Europe offer booking alerts for exclusive deals and discounts on train tickets to help you achieve as seamless a journey as possible. The platform's Booking Alerts allow you to set up alerts for available tickets on a specific route.

Setting these up is very straightforward—simply search your desired dates on Rail Europe's booking page. If your date is not yet available, a message will pop up recommending you set up an alert to snag the cheapest ticket.

Train stations served

Napoli Centrale

Dedicated to the late former deputy of the Kingdom of Italy, Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Napoli Centrale train station serves as a bustling, central hub for departures across Naples and Southern Italy. Passengers frequently use this station to connect to local areas via private trains from the Circumvesuviana annexe to nearby hotspots like Sorrento and Pompei, making this train station ideal for seeing the best of what Southern Italy has to offer.

Napoli Centrale train station is highly accommodating to travellers, offering various facilities and services for travellers to take advantage of as they wait for their departure:

  • Baggage consignment: If you don't want to carry your bags around as you wait for your train, don't fret—the train station offers convenient baggage storage from 6 AM to 11 PM, with rates starting at €3.80 for 5 hours. Any additional storage time starts at €0.20.

  • Food to go: On the lower level of the train station, you can choose from various food vendors, including McDonald's and Bar-Pizza, or from the vending machines.

  • Currency exchange: One thing about European travel is that you can never have enough currency exchange facilities. The currency exchange at Napoli Centrale is on the lower level and is open from 8 AM to 8 PM.

  • Tourism office: Open from 7 AM to 9 PM, the tourism office is located on the ground floor in the main hall. Here, you can find important travel information about your destination, lodging, maps, attractions, and more.

Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station

Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station, often abbreviated as SMN, is among the busiest train stations in Italy. It features several platforms through which nearly 60 million travellers pass each year. SMN's historical significance dates back to 1935, and since then, the station has grown to serve Italy's northern region and beyond, reaching as far as Vienna, Austria.

In addition to serving train routes across Italy and its Northern borders, SMN is a designated connection hub for air travel, buses and taxis. The train station has routes to the Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa and Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence, with the express train running six times a day and three times on Sundays. SMN also serves local routes, providing rides to the Campo di Marte and Florence Rifredi stations.

SMN's services and facilities are just as wide-ranging and valuable as that of Napoli Centrale, including:

  • Tourism office: The office is open for travel inquiries from 9 AM to 7 PM every day except Sunday when it will be open from 8:30 AM to 2 PM.

  • Baggage consignment: Passengers can drop off their baggage anytime from 6 AM to 11 PM, with prices starting at €3.80.

  • Currency exchange: SMN has convenient currency exchange services available on the ground floor of the stations. This service can be used anytime between 8:30 AM to 4:40 PM.

  • Food: SMN has a great variety of food vendors if you're looking to get a quick meal before your journey. Choose from the McDonalds near platform 16, or try a panini to-go from VyTa. Although there are no sit-down restaurants at SMN Firenze station, there are plenty of shops where you can grab convenient snacks to-go.

  • Lost & found: Nothing is more stressful than losing an item amid your travels. This is especially true if that item is your travel lifeline, like your passport or credit card. If you encounter this situation, SMN Firenze has a Lost & Found outside of the station at Via Circondaria #19, which is reachable by bus. Its hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday are from 9 AM to 12 PM and between 2:30 and 4:40 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Travelling with Frecciarossa and Italo

Tips for navigating stations and boarding

Finally - you've purchased your tickets and arrived at the station, and now, you must board the train to Florence on time. The boarding process may vary by train, so it's helpful to know the following details about each train service beforehand:

  • Boarding with Frecciarossa: High-speed trains operated by Trenitalia do not require check-in prior to boarding, and tickets (and, in some cases, IDs) will be checked once you're on board. Be sure to arrive for boarding at least 15 minutes beforehand, as coach doors will close 1 minute before departure.

  • Boarding with Italo: There are no check-in or security procedures before boarding Italo trains. However, like Trenitalia, ID checks may occur randomly once you're on board. Travellers new to the station are encouraged to arrive early to allow adequate time to find the correct platform upon boarding.

The boarding process

Regardless of which train you're taking, you're encouraged to utilise the resources available at the train station to help you navigate the boarding process. It's best practice to look at the carozza/coach number on your ticket and view the informative screens on the "binario" or platform. This is where you will find the area in which you should wait to board your specific coach.

When boarding Frecciarossa trains, the door indicates which class the coach is in. The number 1 indicates first-class seating, while the number 2 indicates standard coach seating. Your seat is reserved with your designated number, which typically reflects a combination of letters and numbers (for example, seat 15A). It's important to note that the number will be on the wall while the letters are above the seats.

Italo trains have a similar boarding process. Train track numbers and departures will be posted on monitors within an hour of boarding, so it's best to take a glance ahead of time. From there, you'll show your tickets at the checkpoint on the platform before boarding, which the conductor will then scan. From there, you can find your designated seat and relax for the remainder of your journey.

Train service classes

Frecciarossa

Frecciarossa trains offer Standard, Business and Executive classes on their trains, all of which contain various amenities for you to enjoy on your journey from Naples to Florence.

Here are some of the main features of each class:

  • Standard Class: Travellers will find themselves at ease in Frecciarossa's Standard class, with the carriage offering several amenities that bring you the most value for your money. This includes cloth reclining chairs, free WiFi, dedicated zone for luggage and a wide range of food options for meals and snacks. Those who prefer a quiet journey will be pleased to know that Frecciarossa recently added a quiet carriage to their Standard class. This upgrade comes with a welcome drink service, access to an onboard library, and even a complimentary sleeping mask and headphones.

  • Premium:Frecciarossa's premium carriage offers an upscale experience for travellers, building on the features of the Standard class. For a few extra Euros, you're treated to sleek leather reclining seats with glass dividers and power plugs, a complimentary drink and snack service, upgraded legroom and luggage space, and even complimentary face masks and hand sanitisers.

  • Business: Besides wide reclining leather armchairs and extra space between seats, the business class offers everything business travellers need to carry out their work undisturbed. This includes glass dividers, complimentary earphones and newspaper service, and even a private four seat compartment for important business meetings that can be reserved on Frecciarossa ETR 500 trains.

  • Executive: Frecciorossa's Executive includes five seats per carriage, a 32-inch TV screen that can be connected to your laptop, and a gourmet at-seat meal service complete with a main course, snack, and dessert. All of this is included with the previous features mentioned in the preceding classes. The only difference is that instead of a quiet carriage, an executive meeting room is available for use by travellers on business.

Italo

Italo trains come with their own set of amenities to ensure a smooth, enjoyable journey from Naples to Florence. This train service offers three separate classes starting at an affordable price. Italo trains' classes include the Smart Class, Prima Business Class, and Club Ambience, all of which ensure an optimal experience for travellers no matter the class they choose.

  • Smart Class: Italo's Smart Class is the first tier of their train services, offering all the baseline amenities needed for comfort and convenience in your travels, including feee WiFi and entertainment, sizeable luggage compartments, a snack area with coffee, cold drinks and snacks, andindividual power sockets for devices.

  • Prima Business Class: Italo's business class goes all out to ensure a premium experience for travellers from start to finish. It includes all of the above amenities for Smart Class, in addition to wider reclining chairs, more legroom, and a free welcome service of snacks and drinks delivered to your seats. Perhaps its biggest perk, however, is the ability to skip the long queues via its Fast Track entry service.

  • Club Executive Class: Though it may sound very exclusive, this class is available for travellers willing to spend a little extra in the name of comfort and delight. Travellers can access the Italo Club Lounge, which is only available to Club Executive Class members. In addition to all the features reserved for those in Prima business class, the Club Executive class offers enhanced privacy and seating, an onboard catering service, and personal 9" TV screens with onboard entertainment.

Required travel documentation & customs procedures

International travel comes with a stricter set of requirements regarding necessary documentation and custom procedures. At the very least, European travel guidelines require a form of photo identification, and ideally, a passport. This is adequate if you are only travelling through the Schengen zone, which comprises a majority of European countries.

Avoiding any unforeseen travel woes should be at the forefront of any traveller's mind. As such, familiarising yourself with the requisite travel guidelines beforehand is absolutely essential for your travel preparation.

All-inclusive rail passes for tourism in Italy

Rail Europe's Eurail and Interrail Italy Pass offers you an all-inclusive opportunity to explore the best of Italy via train. Travellers can take advantage of this pass and traverse the Italian countryside to destinations like Italy's capital, Rome, a city steeped in ancient history and majestic ruins. Or, if you prefer, use the Eurail or Interrail pass to travel to the fashion capital of Italy - the beautiful Milan.

The beauty of the Eurail and Interrail passes is that they are highly flexible and convenient, allowing passengers to travel the entirety of Italy. You have the freedom to travel multiple times per day and choose from first or second-class tickets. With either the Eurail or Interrail pass, you can decide where you want to go and when you want to go while enjoying all the benefits of Italy's progressive high-speed rail system.

Frequently asked questions

How far is the train ride from Naples to Florence?

The total distance is 407 kilometres.

How much does the train from Naples to Florence cost?

The lowest fare on this route is US$3.60. If booked 30 days in advance, tickets cost about US$29. When booked 7 days before travel, expect to pay around US$45.

How early can I reserve train tickets from Naples to Florence?

You can purchase tickets for this route 10 months in advance.

How long does it take to get from Naples to Florence?

The fastest trip between Naples and Florence takes 2 hours and 31 minutes.