I'm going to be staying in Milan for a week in April and I would really like to see Florence. I can't stay overnight, as i'm staying with friends in Milan, so I was wondering how feasible it would be to day trip to Florence for a very brief visit. Train times seem to be about two hours each way, which is a long time but doable for me. Are the train times listed on the Eurail website accurate? Are there any other factors I should consider? I'm wondering if this is just a bad idea, but I would really love to see Florence, if only for an afternoon.
Posted by
OP
Denver, CO, USA
11 posts
Thanks so much for the advice and the link! I definitely want to make it to Florence now. I can't wait to go to Italy.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
I think it's a good idea. The Accademia is open until nearly 7 pm, and the Duomo's Baptistry even later on some days. You do have to plan in advance, but you can certainly see a lot in one day.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
The standard 2nd class fare on EuroStar Alta Velocita trains between Milan and Florence is €52 each way. However, if you pick a specific date and specific departure times well in advance, you can get discount fares. Meno 15 is a 15% discount for tickets purchased at least 7 days in advance. Meno 30 is a 30% discount for tickets purchased at least 15 days in advance. There is a limit to the number of allotted seats for these fares. Since the Trenitalia site doesn't accept US credit cards for online booking, ask your friends to buy your tickets for you.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
251 posts
Sure, it can definitely be done as long as you take the EuroStar train both ways (as has been mentioned above). So, it will be pretty pricey in terms of travel, but it will get you there in less than 2 hours. With that, you could get a good days-worth of sightseeing in, and Florence is definitely worth it!