Tuscany by train

Thanks to its central position, Florence is the most important railway hub in Tuscany. It’s home to a number of train stations and it is connected to Livorno and Massa via Pisa, to Viareggio via Prato and Lucca, to Siena via Empoli, and to Cortona and Chiusi via Arezzo.

Florence's main train station is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, sometimes shortened in Firenze SMN, set right in the city center, just a few hundred meters from the Duomo. Don’t get confused by Firenze Rifredi, another station in town, that is a 5-minute train ride from Santa Maria Novella station. The station Firenze Campo d Marte is also set in a strategic position, especially if you're staying in the areas of Campo di Marte, Sant'Ambrogio, or Santa Croce.

There is a mainline that goes along the Tuscan coast, making it easy to reach some of the most beautiful seaside destinations from North to South. 

For day trips to the beach on the Etruscan Coast stop by Castiglioncello, Vada, San Vincenzo, or Piombino. For those who love both the beach and entertainment, then reach Viareggio.     

When you travel by train in Tuscany is mandatory to look out of the windows. If you love little towns and mountains then, from Florence, take a slow ride on Dante’s train through the Mugello area or stop by Castagno di Piteccio in the Pistoiese Mountains, taking the Porrettana line from Pistoia.  

For a very scenic ride take the regional train from Florence to Arezzo and gaze through the window at the Balze, renowned as the Italian Grand Canyon. 

Many other Tuscan towns and villages are not well-connected by train because they are on a hilltop and the train station is quite far from the town center. This is the case of Volterra, San Gimignano, Cortona, Monteriggioni, Pienza and the list can continue. The solution is to add a local bus to the train or decide to rent a car and reach the place without the worry of combining public transport timetables. 

Traveling by train with your kids too? On the regional trains, children up to 4 years don’t have to pay the ticket, but they are not entitled to occupy a seat, while children up to 12 years old pay a reduced ticket price.

Traveling by train + bicycle? You can carry your bike on the train but you need to ask before. Most of the regional trains accept bikes but not all. In addition to your train ticket, you will need to purchase a ticket for the bike. Trains have specific cars at one end or the other to carry the bike. Fix them and use a locker if you’re not staying in the proximity of the bike.

Traveling by train with your pet? No problem because pets can travel on trains in Italy but don’t forget your dog registration certificate/passport. Small dogs, cats, and other little pets kept in carriers no larger than 70x30x50 cm travel for free in all the different types of trains. A dog of any size can travel with a muzzle and leash on many trains buying a second-class ticket for your dog at half off the standard fare. 

There are various kinds of trains, depending on how fast you want to travel and how much is your budget: the faster you go, the more you spend. The types of trains in Tuscany are: Regionale and Regionale Veloce are the slowest while Intercity, Frecciabianca, Frecciargento and Frecciarossa are high-speed trains. 

Each one is different, for example, the Regionale Veloce is perfect if you want to move between Pisa or Livorno and Florence.

Last but not least: if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience then hop on a steam train! These journeys are organized during specific periods of the year on special occasions like the chestnut festival in Marradi or the truffle festival in Buonconvento.