Trains, buses, taxis and cars are the main transports that can be used to travel around Tuscany. Tuscany is not a large area; it can be traversed by train, car or bus in a matter of hours. But trains remain one of the easiest ways to travel from city center to city center.
Florence’s station is the main station in Tuscany as it is located in the capital. From there, you can take intercity and regional trains to reach other rail destinations in the area.
There are several types of trains that operate in Tuscany: Eurostar Italia (ES), Intercity (IC), frecciagento (high speed and traditional lines) frecciarossa (high speed lines), and slower frecciabianca. Passengers get the option to choose from first and second-class tickets.
To enjoy Tuscany’s rustic villages, slower, regional trains are a great option. The Chiusi line, the Elsa Valley route and the Siena/Grosseto route are some of the region’s most scenic slow train rides.
The train connects all major cities but to get to some towns you’ll need to rely on bus services. Tuscan cities such as Siena, Cortona or Volterra, tend to be located on hilltops, while their train stations are not. Therefore you would have to take a bus or walk to reach your final destination.
When it comes to paying for rail travel in Italy you have got two options. You can go for a Eurail Pass or point-to-point tickets, which is cheaper unless you are planning to do some lengthy routes. You can buy and print tickets online from Tren Italia, on site at train station ticket windows or automated machines.
Before boarding a train in Tuscany, be sure to validate your ticket at one of the yellow or orange boxes located on the railway platforms. If you forget this last step your copy ticket will not be valid.
