What is the best way to travel from Nice to Florence?

Consider a flight.

For me, if it's more than four hours by train, it's worth considering a flight instead (usually both cheaper and faster).

Thank you. I was thinking of that.

AFAIK, there are no direct flights from Nice to Florence. I looked at a random day next month and see a train at 8:10, taking 6 hr 49 min, with changes in Ventimiglia and Milan. And the price is about a half of prices for flights showing on Skyscanner. (€96)

Thank you can you share that link please?

https://en.oui.sncf/en/

I would stop for a night in Milan or Monterosso, if you do not want to be on the train that long.

Depends on what you mean by best. Best could be cheapest, fastest, or least complicated (number and types of changes). For example, in addition to the train mentioned previously with 2 changes, you could also fly direct from Nice to Rome for less than $70 (1 hr 15 min flight time +) and then train from Rome airport to Florence for about $30 (2 hr 15 min train time) - only change would be from the flight to the train at the airport. So, it all depends on what makes more sense to you. Personally I would take the train even with the changes because I hate dealing with airports if I can avoid it.

Thank you all so much. For some reason I could not find the solutions you've all explained. Daught's graduating USC enviro eng and this is her senior trip w/Mom (Dad picking up son from UOregon and the boys didn't want to come anyway). :) I have been so busy I've only got 1/2 the trip reserved. We are headed from Nice to Florence then last 4 days in Rome. Any/all advice on what to see in Florence/Rome appreciated (but if we must stay on topic here I completely understand). Thanks again, Jean VM

There are 2 trains a day with a single change in Milan in 6 3/4 hours. I believe the Nice-Milan leg is the the Tello day train.

rome2rio is a good website to find options for travelling between places. It will also link you to the website where you can find more information about the details of the trip.

In reply to your question about what to see in Florence, try to climb the hill to Piazzale Michelangelo, above the Oltrarno, to watch the sun go down and the lights come up over the river and the city. It is magical. There are several routes up the hill, and you can even take a bus to the square, but if you have the mobility the trek up is well worth the effort.

Thank you all very much for the info!

In comparing air travel with train travel in Europe, recall that the train usually takes you from very close to where you want to leave from (your hotel or temporary lodging) to very close to where you want to arrive at (hotel, &c.) and you will not have to wait for your luggage when you arrive. Florence is anomalous because its airport is very near the central city, and airport transfers are not much trouble. This is not the case for Nice. My advice is to take the train for 6.75 hours with one transfer in Milan. In Florence, make a meal of the bar snacks at the elegant bar Sesto atop the Westin at Ognissanti, and enjoy a different remarkable view from the one at Piazzale Michelangelo (at times hot, loud, and inconvenient to get to / escape from) mentioned above. You'll be repaid handsomely for the €14 cocktail or glass of wine that entitles you to the bar snacks. I like it enough to go there twice during a week in Florence.