How to get from Rome to Florence: train, bus, car and cruise

Rome and Florence are three hours apart. High-speed trains and comfortable buses run between the cities every day, planes fly the route, and cruise ships depart from the port of Civitavecchia.

We compared five ways to make the trip and put together the current travel time, price, and the honest catch for each one.

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How to get from Rome to Florence

💡 In short:

• The bus is the cheapest option: tickets start at 7 € (as of 09/2026, official FlixBus website).
• The train is the fastest option: from city center to city center in 1 hour 25 minutes.
• Prices and travel times: 09/2026, verified on official carrier websites.

Bus: the cheapest option

The bus costs less than the other options. FlixBus and Itabus operate direct services, departing from the Tiburtina bus station in Rome. You spend 3 to 4 hours on the road depending on traffic leaving the city.

Tickets start at 7 € (as of 09/2026, official FlixBus website). The earlier you book, the lower the price: a day before departure it goes up several times over. Take a morning departure and you'll arrive in Florence just as the museums open.

You can conveniently buy a ticket in advance on Trip.com.

© OfficinaT · CC BY-SAPhoto: OfficinaT, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

• Schedule: services run from early morning to late evening.
• Who it's for: budget travelers and those who aren't in a hurry.
• The catch: not all carriers offer direct services, so check before buying that there's no transfer.

Train: the fastest way from city center to city center

High-speed trains connect Roma Termini and Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Two operators run on this route: Italo and Trenitalia with its Frecciarossa trains. Departures leave several times an hour, so you'll find the right train without a long wait at the station.

Italo covers the route in 1 hour 25 minutes, with tickets starting at 15 € (as of 09/2026, official Italo website). Trenitalia's Frecciarossa trains take roughly the same time on the same route. The price depends on when you buy: a Super Economy fare on morning departures costs noticeably less than a ticket bought at the counter on the day of travel.

© Sean MacEntee from Monaghan, Ireland · CC BYPhoto: Sean MacEntee from Monaghan, Ireland, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Check train tickets in advance on Trip.com.

• Schedule: trains run from six in the morning until late evening.
• Who it's for: anyone who values speed and a central city location.
• The catch: cheap fares sell out early, and on the day of travel a ticket can cost twice as much.

Car: freedom and the A1 motorway

Renting a car gives you freedom. You can stop in Orvieto or Arezzo, change your route, and not be tied to train schedules. The A1 motorway runs from Rome to Florence: about 280 km and three hours without stops, and the toll for a passenger car costs roughly 18.70 € (as of 09/2026, toll calculator at italiantolls.com).

Add fuel and parking to that amount. The earlier you book a compact car for your dates, the cheaper the rental.

© Unknown author · CC BY-SAPhoto: Unknown author, CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia Commons

A ZTL zone is in effect in the very center of Florence. Entry is restricted, and cameras issue fines automatically. Leave your car at a park-and-ride lot near the station or along the tram line.

You can find a car for your dates on DiscoverCars.

• Who it's for: groups and trips to small towns in Tuscany.
• The catch: toll roads, fuel, and the ZTL, which keeps the center closed to traffic.

Plane: an hour in the air and two airports

ITA Airways operates direct flights from Fiumicino to Florence. The flight takes about an hour (as of 09/2026, flightconnections.com). That sounds fast, but it's only the time in the air.

© Carlo Dani · CC BY-SAPhoto: Carlo Dani, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

You still need to get to Fiumicino from central Rome, then go through check-in and security. Florence's Peretola airport also sits away from the historic center. Once you factor in all the transfers, the plane almost always loses to the train.

Look for cheap flights on Kiwi.com.

• Who it's for: travelers flying into Fiumicino and continuing on to Florence with a connection.
• The catch: two airports and security stretch the trip into half a day.

Ship: cruise from the port of Civitavecchia

From Civitavecchia, Rome's cruise port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, ships depart from Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, and Cunard. You reach Florence through the port of Livorno, which also sits far from the center, so you go ashore on an excursion or shuttle.

Civitavecchia handles more than 500 cruises a year (As of 09/2026, europeforvisitors.com). A cruise isn't for getting from point A to point B, it's for vacation. You choose the length: from a few days to three weeks, and the price depends on the route, cabin, and season.

Browse Mediterranean cruises on Tiqets.

• Who it's for: travelers who want to see several cities in one trip.
• The catch: the stop in Livorno is short, and the port is far from central Florence.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to get from Rome to Florence?

The bus is cheaper than the train, and the most expensive ground option is a car once you factor in fuel and tolls. The best deals are always tickets bought in advance: prices rise as the travel date approaches. For a group of several people, car costs are split among everyone.

How long does the trip take?

The train is the fastest: from center to center it takes about an hour and a half. Bus and car take roughly twice as long. The plane flies fast, but getting to the airports and going through security eats up all the time saved. For a day trip, choose the train.

Which is cheaper, train or bus?

The bus is cheaper, but takes twice as long. If your trip is short, the extra cost of the train pays for itself in saved time. For a longer journey through Italy, the price difference becomes noticeable, and the bus becomes the better deal.

Do you need a car in Tuscany?

For Florence itself, you don't need a car: the center is closed to traffic because of the ZTL zone. A car is useful if you want to stop in Orvieto, Siena, or small Tuscan towns along the way. In the city, leave your car at a park-and-ride lot.

Can you get from Rome to Florence by ship?

There is no direct connection between the cities. Cruises depart from Civitavecchia with a stop in Livorno, but that's a separate sea vacation, not a short trip. For getting between the cities, choose the train or bus.

In short: what to book

For exploring Tuscany, rent a car, and for a sea vacation, choose a cruise from Civitavecchia.

The best choice for most travelers: the train. It costs more than the bus, but saves you half a day, and Florence's station sits right next to the historic center.

You can buy train tickets in advance on Trip.com.