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Train Poggibonsi to Florence

Posted by on

Rather than drive from our Tuscany villa, I think taking the train may be a smarter move to avoid parking issues. Will I need to book these train tickets in advance for our early morning journey on June 28th?

I'm fairly certain we need a specific train to make it in time for our Duomo stair climb, but I'd prefer to have flexibility coming back.

Will we be safe just purchasing tickets at the train station? Will the train station be open for a 6:48 am train? Is there such a thing as rush hour in the morning or on the way back around 6:00 pm?

Given that the round trip train tickets are $60 for our family of four, is there any place to park near Florence for half that?

Grazie!

-John

Posted by
16894 posts

These are regional trains with a set price and no discount for advance booking and no seat assignments. Booking online will lock you into a particular 4-hour window for each ticket, versus those bought in the station must be validated (date/time-stamped) before boarding the train. I would normally buy in the station but online works if you think it's easier. I haven't been in that station. Some ticket machines take cash, so bring enough, in case of any issue with credit cards. In some other small stations (e.g. around Lake Como), if there's no obvious ticket machine or staff in the station, then tickets were sold at the bar/café.

Here's a recent thread with links to parking options: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/parking-lots-on-outskirts-of-florence-city-center.

Posted by
3112 posts

The trains are regional trains that cannot sell out. While there's no cost savings to buying these tickets in advance, it would avoid concerns about whether the ticket window was open or kiosks (if available) were working. If there's a train scheduled to depart at 6:48, there will be access to the platforms. Pre-purchased tickets come pre-validated, which means you can take a train up to 4 hours later but not an earlier train. To keep your return time options open, buy your Florence to Poggibonsi tickets the day of travel. They'll be good for any regional train that day, which means you must validate them before boarding. You could also wait to buy all tickets a day or so before, being certain to specify they're for travel on June 28.

I'm not familiar with parking options, so I'll let someone else address that part of your question. Don't forget to factor in the cost of gas and tolls (if any) when comparing parking to trains.

Posted by
3812 posts

You don't need to be at Poggibonsi station to "buy at the station" and receive a day specific ticket (that must be time-stamped before boarding). All tickets can be purchased up to 180 days in advance at any Trenitalia station, FCO's included. Many tobacconists sell Regionale tickets, too.

Since you are driving in Tuscany, I'd be more worried about the ZTL areas than the cost of parking. To avoid fines, you could leave your car either at Peretola airport, or at Villa Costanza Parking on the A1 and take a tram into Florence.

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