florence to lake como

You can take a train from Florence to Milan and then a regionale train to Lake Como.

It depends on where on Lake Como you want to go.
Also, you're not looking to do this as a day trip from Florence, right? Just checking...

Depends where on Lake Como - it is a big lake. It is shaped like an upside down Y.
First you get a train from "Firenze S. M. Novella" to "Milano Centrale".

• Como town is at the south-west end of one of the arms. You can get trains from Milano Centrale to "Como S. Giovanni" (the main station). The other station in Como ("Como Nord Lago") is on the lake but would require a change of stations in Milan.
• There is another line which runs along the east side of the lake from Milano Centrale, calling at Lecco, Varenna-Esino, Bellano-Tartavelle and Colico.
• If you want to visit the west side of the like, or the middle between between the legs (Bellagio), then you need to get a bus or a ferry from Como or Varenna.

You can look up times and prices and buy tickets on the Italian National railways website: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en Enter "Firenze S. M. Novella" and your desired destination on the lake, plus date and time.