Plan the date and approximate time for your travel between Rome and Florence.
Locate your departure station. The main train station in Rome is Stazione Termini, in the city center. If you are staying nearer the outskirts of the city, you can look for other stations that are closer to your lodgings, but see Warnings.
Identify your arrival station. Firenze SMN, or Santa Maria Novella, is the main station in the center of Florence, but again, you may choose a station that is closer to your planned lodgings.
Explore your train options. Go to the train station in Rome or use trenitalia.com (the website for the Ferrovie dello Stato, the state railway operator of Italy, which has the option for an English interface) to find trains that depart from your chosen station in Rome and disembark at your chosen station in Florence. Decide whether the fast train is necessary or if the slower one will do (see Tips).
Reserve tickets in advance, either online, at the station, or through a travel agent. Reservations are mandatory on Intercity Plus and Eurostar trains. You must reserve or purchase tickets for these Rome to Florence trains at least one hour before departure. Most train systems in Europe use first class and second class tiers to price their trips, and deciding to give up a little comfort can save you some money.
Arrive at the Rome train station with ample time for departure. Tickets must be validated at the yellow stamping machines outside before boarding the train. Passengers must be on the train, seated, with luggage stowed at departure time.
Enjoy your uniquely Italian train trip and disembark in Florence for more beautiful historic sites.
