If you’re heading up to Bolzano from Florence, it’s easy to arrive by train. You don’t need to rent a car. Follow my quick guide step-by-step, and you’ll be up in the Dolomites in no time (well, in a few hours).
Note: This route is best if you’re planning to explore the area of the Dolomites around Bolzano – places like Merano, Alpe di Siusi, Ortisei, Fiè allo Sciliar, Castelrotto, etc. If you want to reach Cortina d’Ampezzo by public transport, it’s best to arrive via Venice.
I’m a mamma of three based in Tuscany and I’ve ridden this train route countless times, for work and play (since 2004). My family loves the Dolomites and we often make the trip by public transport.
Let’s take a look at:
- The best train route to take between Florence and Bolzano
- How to buy your train tickets
- Getting to the Florence train station and onto your train
- The train ride from Florence to Bolzano
- Arriving in Bolzano, and how to get to your final destination
- Taking the Florence-Bolzano train with kids
I hope this guide helps you feel confident in traveling up to the Dolomites – one of the most beautiful places on our planet!
Andiamo – Let’s go!
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Bolzano to Florence – Recommended Train Route
You’ll be traveling from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station to Bolzano’s Bolzano/Bozen train station.
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Train Travel in Italy
Printable Italy Train Map
Buying Your Train Ticket
You want to buy a ticket on a high-speed train, direct train.
You can purchase tickets for these trains on Italo Treno (private company) or Trenitalia (state-run).
I don’t have a preference – I check both and go with the best price (there can be quite a difference).
You can purchase tickets in person at the train station or on the apps or websites for Italo Treno or Trenitalia. Let’s look at the websites and apps. Here’s what your search will look like for each one. Note that you need to enter your dates and number of passengers.
On the next screen, you’ll see the schedules with prices. There are different seating areas, sales, and ticket flexibility options. You can read about them in my Guide to Train Travel in Italy. I usually choose the cheapest seats, but I also look to see if there’s a good deal on Trenitalia’s Business Area Silenzio. Why? Because if you sit in that train car/section, there’s a 95% chance you won’t have to listen to someone’s loud music videos playing from their phone or their conversation about what their aunt fed them for Christmas dinner. In other words, you’ll arrive at your destination in a tranquil mood and without a headache.
You can choose your seats if you like. I don’t have a side preference on the trip up to Bolzano.
When you go to pay, you don’t have to register. You can look up your tickets on the sites or apps with your info and ticket code.
You can print your tickets out or just have them on your phone. I usually just have mine on my phone but sometimes I print them (in case my phone battery dies, highly unlikely).
Helpful Tip: If you’ll be taking trains in Italy, download the apps. You can change trains on the apps (if your tickets allow), and your tickets are stored on them for easy access.
Good To Know: On Trenitalia, if you don’t mind a longer train ride and are on a budget, you can take a slower train with changes. For example, for a train tomorrow, instead of a direct 3 hr 12 min train for 62€ (at the time of writing), you can take a 3 hr 40 min train with one change for 48€ or a 6 hr train with two or three changes for 24€.
Good To Know: If you avoid buying your tickets last-minute, you’ll save quite a bit. The same direct fast train I just mentioned goes for about a third of the price (22€) if I purchase it a month in advance.
Here’s my ticket from Florence to Bolzano on Trenitalia. It’s for me and my 7-year-old son, business silent class, purchased over 3 months in advance.
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Getting to the Florence Train Station and Onto Your Train to Bolzano
Ok, so you’ve got your tickets. To get to the station in Florence, you’ve got a few options… walk, take a taxi, or take public transportation (bus, tram).
Make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes early. I’ve been arriving about 30 minutes early lately, just so I don’t have to feel rushed.
Helpful Tip: If you want a snack for the train, you can get something at one of the stops or cafés in the station, or make a quick stop at the Conad City grocery store (located just across the street).
You can use the pay toilets on platform 5, or wait and use the free toilet on your train. You can also buy something at McDonald’s in the station and use its toilet.
You don’t need to validate your train ticket. You’ll just show your code to the train manager once the trip starts. The people you see validating their train tickets in the little machines at the tracks are traveling on regional tickets that don’t have set times or seats.
To get to your track, you’ll need to walk through the security gates. You may be asked to show your ticket, so have it handy just in case.
You can see your train’s track on the electronic departures boards set up around the station. Find your train number (on the left of the board) and then your binario (track, on the right side of the board).
Once you get to your track, look at your ticket to see which carriage (carrozza) you’ll be travelling on and look up at the screens that run down the track to find your carriage number. That way, when the train arrives, you’ll be at the right spot, and not sprinting down the track to get on your carrozza.
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Florence Train Station: All About Firenze SMN
On the Train from Florence to Bolzano
Once you’re on the train, you can use the WI-FI, read your book, stare out the window, or try to guess the life stories of your fellow passengers.
There are toilets and usually some sort of snack option (bar carriage, vending machine, etc).
The train manager will come around at some point and ask for your ticket code. You’ll only be asked once.
My favorite part of of the journey between Florence and Bolzano starts about 2 hours in (if you’re on the fast train that takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes). At that point, you’re entering the Dolomites and you can see the mountains start to rise up on both sides of the train.
The train will stop a few times for passengers to get off/on.
Arriving in Bolzano and Getting to Your Final Destination
You’ll get a heads up on the that the train is arriving in Bolzano/Bozen.
The train station in Bolzano is in a very central location, just a few minutes walk to Piazza Walther, in the historic center of Bolzano.
If you need to get a taxi, walk out of the front (main) entrance of the station and take a right. Walk to the orange TAXI sign.
If you need to take a bus to a destination up into the mountains, walk out of the front (main) entrance of the station and take a right. Walk on the sidewalk for a couple of minutes until you reach the neon yellow/green bus station. Just past it is where you’ll catch your bus.
If you’re taking a train to your next destination (for example, Merano), look on the departures board at the Bolzano train station to see which track you need to head to.
Taking the Train from Florence to Bolzano with Kids
It’s a straightforward journey, and my kids love when we enter the mountains.
I like to let my kids navigate the train stations (look at our tickets and find our track, find our carriage, etc).
We usually bring snacks from home, but if we need something I go to the Conad grocery store across the street from the station. Keepin’ it real – McDonald’s is a treat for my kids and there’s one in the station, so we sometimes get something to eat there.
I like to book morning trains. Not so early that we have to get up at 5:00am to get there, but early enough that we arrive in Bolzano for lunch and early enough that the train bathrooms haven’t been completely destroyed.
I like the silent cars (great if your kids are ok with whispering) and always buy tickets for them if the price is right. I appreciate the quiet, and my kids like the little snack packs (just cookies, water, and a drink).
I pack something to do for my kids on this train, but they tend to look out the window a lot for the last half-ish of the ride. On my recent trip with my 7-year-old, we brought homework (yikes!) and Dog Man book for the journey.
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Map of Italy for Kids
You can store small bags and carry-on size luggage above your seats. Larger luggage and strollers can go in the luggage storage areas at the ends of the carriages. I always keep my valuables with me, and not in the luggage areas.
There are often family deals if you don’t buy your tickets last-minute. So, as soon as you know you’re traveling, check both websites for specials and offers. You can snag some really inexpensive family tickets!
Read more about Italy Train Travel with Kids
That’s it! Have a great train ride up to the Dolomiti!
Staying in Bolzano? Check out
Things to Do in Bolzano
Bolzano Restaurants for Your First Visit
Bolzano in Winter
Dolomites in Winter – For Non-Skiers
Bolzano with Kids
A Winter Visit to Bolzano With Kids
Read more about the Dolomites
Dolomites with Kids – Winter Edition
Our Favorite Things to Do in the Dolomites
Dolomites with Kids
Where to Stay in the Dolomites with Kids
