The center of the Renaissance is also a popular Central Italy hub for rail connections.
The primary train station in Florence is Santa Maria Novella, a great example of Italian modernism from the 1930s. It's one of Italy's busiest stations, with 160,000 people passing through it every day. The station gets its name from the Santa Maria Novella church across the piazza from the entrance.
There are 19 platforms at Firenze Santa Maria Novella (abbreviated Firenze SMN on most train schedules), which is right in the city center and a short walk from the Duomo and other major attractions. The entrance hall has the rail ticket office and a few shops and restaurants. This floor is also where you'll find a division of Florence's tourism office, a passenger lounge, a currency exchange desk, the luggage office (near Platform 16), a post office, and the station's restrooms (near Platform 5).
Santa Maria Novella station has a Sala Freccia Club, available to travelers with a Gold or Platinum CARTAFRECCIA card or an Executive or AV Salottino ticket, near Platform 16 on the main level. The Sala Blu, for passengers with disabilities who need special assistance, is also on the main platform level of the station. An NTV office for Italo passengers, called Casa Italo, is on the platform level of the station, too.
The mezzanine level of the station has a restaurant, a pharmacy, and a bank. The other levels, a basement and the upper floors, are mainly for storage and office space.
The streets outside the train station are a major hub for bus lines in Florence. So although you can easily walk to most central destinations from Santa Maria Novella, you may come back to the station to catch a bus up to the Piazzale Michelangelo or to places like Fiesole, San Gimignano, or Siena.
Hotels in Florence
From historic properties to contemporary design hotels, this beloved Tuscan city, birthplace of the Renaissance, has atmospheric accommodations options for all budgets and tastes.
St. Regis Florence
This elegant outpost of the St. Regis brand occupies a quiet corner of one of Florence’s best neighborhoods along the Arno River, ensuring a peaceful, luxurious experience right in the heart of the city.
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Hotel Florence Brunelleschi
This luxury boutique property puts an emphasis on design. The rooms are cleverly designed to look outward, offering dramatic views of the city at every window.
Book Now >>Things To Do in Florence
Check out deals on some of the best tours in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and a city famous for its culture, art and architecture.
Uffizi Gallery Priority Access Guided Tour
Discover all the art treasures of the Uffizi with this guided in-depth tour. This tour takes in all the art masterpieces of the Uffizi gallery, including works by Raphael, Caravaggio, and Titian.
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Michelangelo’s David: Accademia Gallery Tour
Take in the most famous attraction at the Galleria dell’Accademia, Michelangelo’s David, as well as other artwork on this highlight tour.
Book Now >>Types of Trains in Italy
From Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa trains to old-world scenic rail cars, learn about the different kinds of trains in Italy.
Frecciarossa high-speed trains, operated by Trenitalia, reach speeds of 300 kilometers per hour and offer maximum comfort, making trips between Italian cities as smooth and short as possible. Read More >>
Frecciargento trains run through both the traditional and high-speed lines with connections between Rome and other major cities of the North-East and South sides of Italy. Read More >>
Frecciabianca trains are part of the Frecce high-speed long-distance rail service between Italy's main cities. The trains, operated by Trenitalia, travel at a speed of up to 200 kilometers per hour. Read More >>
Inter-City trains connect major and minor cities in Italy to meet the different mobility requirements of medium to long distances. Read More >>