Est. 2006
Shining a light on the green and gorgeous
Produced by Green Traveller Media
What is green travel?
Flight-free from the UK to Europe
Foot passenger ferries to Europe
UK to Ireland
Map of UK Ferry Routes to Europe
Scotland to Europe
North of England to Europe
Wales to Europe
Southwest England to Europe
UK to Italy
UK to Spain
UK to France
Sleeper trains
in the UK
Train travel to Europe:
Eurostar Route Map
Under 5 hours
by train from London:
Amsterdam
Brussels
Cologne
Ghent
Lille
Paris
Arrive same day by train from London:
Antwerp
Avignon
Barcelona
Basel
Bayonne
Bordeaux
Brive
Geneva
Hamburg
Interlaken
Lausanne
Marseille
Milan
Munich
Nantes
Nice
Toulouse
Turin
Valence
Zürich
Snow Trains to French Alps
Require overnight stopover from London:
Copenhagen
Florence
Lisbon
Naples
Rome
Sicily
Venice
West Sweden
Train + Ferry:
Corsica
Formentera
Greece
Ibiza
Morocco
How to travel by train from London to Florence, Italy
It is possible to travel from London to Florence with just one overnight stop en route if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and then either stay overnight in Paris (before taking the morning train to Florence via Milan), or go all the way from London to Paris and on to Turin or Milan in one day then stay overnight in either of those cities before taking the morning train to Florence.
The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence has a long and rich history: home to such great figures as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Dante – not to forget the powerful Medici family – Florence has been influential in shaping the modern world. Today, it remains one of Italy’s major cities and one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. With a host of celebrated sites, from the glorious dome of the Duomo and the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio bridge, to the world-renowned Uffizi and Pitti galleries, Florence is not short of sights for the visitor. Its elegant streets, squares, and palaces invite you to stroll, or to linger over Tuscan cuisine served up with the region’s celebrated olive oil.
Flight-free travel from London to Florence:
Journey Time: requires overnight stop in either Paris or Turin/Milan
Sample timetable: Depart London 10.22am, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 1.47pm, departs Gare de Lyon at 3.18pm arrives Milan at 10.07pm. Overnight in Milan then take any number of trains to Florence (journey time just less than 2 hours)
Changes: 2
Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon and same station change in Turin or Milan
Frequency of Departures: 28/day
Carbon emissions: 33.8kg (flight would be 257.9kg)*
Car hire at Florence SMN Railway Station: Yes
Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available.
How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation
If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries.
On Board Eurostar
For ticket types (Standard, Plus and Premier) and information on what it's like on board, see our Guide to Eurostar
What's the journey like?
You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). How to transfer between train stations across Paris. You can either stay overnight in Paris and take train to Turin or Milan to change to Florence, or take train straight to Turin/Milan, stay overnight in either of these cities and take the train next morning to Florence.
Miss your connection?
Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager.
Stopover in Paris 🏠
If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay conveniently near the two railway stations (ie the station you arrive at on the Eurostar in Paris – Gare du Nord, and the station that you depart from Paris – Gare de Lyon).
Hotels close to Gare du Nord 🚉
Grand Hotel de Paris and Hôtel Kabanel are just a few minutes walk from Gare du Nord (and Gare de L'Est so also great if you're heading out east). Rooms from about €100 per night. For more hotels near the station, see Hotels near Gare du Nord
Hotels close to Gare de Lyon 🚉
citizenM Paris Gare de Lyon is one of 5 citizenM hotels in Paris that aim to provide 'affordable luxury' in central city locations. Billed as 'hybrid hotels', they're as much about places to work as they are to sleep, with the idea that you can meet local people in a smart, cozy environment. For more hotels near the station, see Hotels near Gare de Lyon
Green Traveller's Top Pick 💚
Mob Hotel is a particularly environmentally friendly and socially conscious hotel that's in the heart of St Ouen, just a few miles north of Gare du Nord and close to the Garibaldi metro station (line 13). The hotel is all about being socially engaged within its neighbourhood (the artistic creations of local craftspeople are everywhere), but it also has strong eco credentials, such as water jugs rather than plastic bottles, refillable toiletries and organic cosmetics in the rooms. The restaurant is fully organic with a seasonal menu that draws on produce from farming cooperatives or direct from local producers (they also make their own honey and beer).
Eco-certified hotels in Paris ✔️
If you're looking for other green hotels in the French Capital, then these have all been certified by an accredited ecolabel: Hotel Gavarnie (near the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides Museum) | Hotel Le Pavillion (a former convent in the Saint-Dominique area) | Amélie Hotel (2-star) | Hôtel Malar (10 minutes from the Champs Elysees) | Hôtel Du Printemps, about a mile from Gare de Lyon.
Stopover in Turin or Milan
If you decide to overnight in either Turin or Milan, there are lots of lovely places to stay conveniently near the railway stations, see below:
Hotels near Turin Porta Susa | Hotels near Milan Porta Garibaldi | Hotels near Milan Centrale
On arrival at Santa Maria Novella – Florence's main railway station:
Benvenuto a Firenza! There's lots of information about sustainable travel in Florence at Sustainable Florence. Most visitors coming by train will arrive directly at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella (SMN) railway station, on the north-western edge of the city centre. However, there are two other stations in the city, Firenze Campo Marte and Firenze Rifredi: it is possible you may have to make a change at Rifredi to arrive at SMN, but this should be covered by your train ticket (for no extra cost) – check with the train operator in case of doubt.
Hotels in Florence
Green Traveller's Top Tip 💚
Eco Urban B&B is an elegant early 1900s apartment less than 5 minutes' walk from the railway station. It's an environmentally friendly place to stay, with furniture and mattresses made of natural materials, reduced use of plastic, and energy efficient facilities, and organic products for breakfast, including smoked salmon, rocotta, bacon and eggs. As it says: "Our fruit doesn't have to travel for miles and miles. Our baked goods come from Tuscan businesses we trust. Our jams are produced with all our heart." For more information, see the Eco Concept page on its website: ecourbanbb.com
Map of hotels near Santa Maria Novella Railway Station, Florence
More about Florence
Central Florence is compact, and much of it is barred to through traffic, so walking is a great option for getting around and enjoying what the city has to offer. Alternatively, you could choose to hire a bike – taking advantage of the flat terrain and quiet central streets (outside the centre, there is however traffic to contend with) – the city’s official tourist website offers a list of different cycle hire providers in Florence.
For longer journeys across and around the city, you may need to take advantage of the city’s bus system. ATAF, the bus operator, provides information, maps, timetables and a journey planner in English, including basic tickets, valid for 90 minutes, and various other options are available.
If you’re going to spend several days in Florence, and intend to head to several of the city’s museums and attractions, you might want to consider investing in the Firenze Welcome Card, which provides discounts on many cultural and commercial activities in the city as well as in surrounding towns and villages.
Buon Viaggio!