1930s Italian modernism
Florence Santa Maria Novella (usually abbreviated to Firenze SMN) is the main station in Florence, named after the little church nearby. There's been a station here since 1848, but the current station is a classic example of Italian modernism built 1932-1934. For more about the station's history see Florence SMN Wikipedia entry. A few trains leave from Florence Campo di Marte station rather than SMN, for information see here.
Station overview: Location map
There's a plan of the station at www.gsretail.it/en/network/firenze-santa-maria-novella (click EN for English).
Florence Santa Maria Novella, exterior
Exterior showing portico, side entrance and taxi rank.
Ticket hall (Salone Biglietteria). The entrance from the portico is behind the camera, looking towards the concourse, Italo & Trenitalia ticket offices on the left.
Concourse, looking across the width of the station with platforms to the right and the ticket hall through doorways to the left.
The partition between concourse & platform area. Your ticket is checked entering the platform area. There's no check when leaving the platform area.
Platforms circulating area, behind the buffer stops. You can change trains between all platforms without any ticket check.
Platform 12, with the 15:48 Frecciarossa 500 about to leave for Rome & Naples.
Which platform for your train?
Finding your train
The station is a terminus with 19 platforms, numbered left to right as you look towards the trains.
Platforms 1, 2 & 3 are slightly set back from the others.
Platforms 4 & 5 are set back further, to reach them walk down platform 3 or 6.
Regional trains to Siena, Lucca, Pisa, Livorno typically leave from platforms 1-6.
Platforms 6 to 16 are the main platforms, lined up in front of the concourse. High-speed trains to Rome, Naples, Bologna, Milan or Venice usually leave from these platforms.
Platforms 17-19 are set back quite a way, you walk along platform 16 to reach them.
The station departure boards shows which platform each train leaves from and there are train departure indicators on every platform. You can easily walk between any two platforms in 2-3 minutes, with level access between all platforms, concourse and streets outside.
There's a station plan at www.gsretail.it/en/network/firenze-santa-maria-novella (click EN for English).
Tip: If the departure board shows a scrolling message against your train, Executive e Business in Coda then 1st class is at the rear nearest the buffer stops. Executive e Business in Testa means 1st class is at the front, furthest from the buffer stops. Coda = tail, testa = head.
Ticket check
There is a partition between the concourse and platform area , with various entry points at which there is a simple ticket check. It's mainly intended to control access for non-travelling undesirables, I find that anything vaguely ticket-like waved in their general direction gets you through. There is no check when leaving the platform area.
Check your departure platform on your phone
Stay one step ahead! If you go to www.viaggiatreno.it/infomobilita/index.jsp on your phone and select Firenze SMN you'll see a list of departures with the planned platform number (Binario previsto) for Trenitalia trains (but not Italo trains) even before the actual platform (Binario reale) is announced on the station departure boards. Just remember that they can sometimes switch platforms on the day.
Alternatively, you can see actual departure platforms for all trains including Italo by selecting Firenze SMN at www.rfi.it/en/stations/station-page/quality-services/Public-information/Live-departures-Arrivals-Monitor.html.
Changing trains in Florence
Changing trains at Florence SMN is straightforward. Being a terminus, there is easy level access between all platforms, you can walk between platforms around the back of the buffer stops without passing through any ticket check. It only takes a few minutes to change trains, even if you were changing from platform 1 to platform 19. Just make sure you allow for any delay to your first train. If a booking website suggests a connection, it will be a reasonable one.
When connecting between two Trenitalia trains (for example, a Regionale from Siena into a Frecciarossa high-speed train to Rome or Venice) as long as the scheduled connection is over 15 minutes, you are entitled to later onward travel at no charge if a delay means a missed connection. Online systems will only suggest valid connections. See Trenitalia staff at the help desk if you need reserved seats on a later train. However, that does not apply if you were connecting from a Regionale into a privately-run Italo high-speed train as you'd then be using two different companies.
To reach platforms 3 & 4, walk along platform 5. Trains to Siena, Lucca & Pisa typically leave from this side of the station.
Platform 2 (on the left) and platform 5 (on the right) with platforms 3 & 4 set back between them. That's a double-deck regional train to Pisa on 5 on the right, and a regional train to Siena on platform 4.
Left luggage
Florence SMN has a left luggage office (deposito bagagli) if you need to leave your bags, for prices & opening times see the left luggage page. It's run by KiPoint/KiBag (www.kipoint.it/deposito-bagagli).
It's not well signed, but easily found by walking down platform 16, see the photo below.
Circulati
WiFi, ATMs, safety & security
The station does not currently have free WiFi. There are ATMs in various locations around the station.
Ticket offices & ticket machines
Trenitalia's ticket office is in the main hall (Salone Biglietteria). It's often quicker to use the Trenitalia self-service ticket machines dotted around the station which can sell high-speed & mainline tickets with reservations and regional tickets. They have a touch screen with English language facility.
Italo has its own clearly-marked ticket windows next to the Trenitalia one in the main hall (Salone Biglietteria).
Agenzie 365 is a private travel agency which dresses up its ticket windows in Trenitalia's colours. If you are fooled into thinking that Agenzie 365 is the official ticket office you will pay an extra fee on top of the fare.
The ticket hall (Salone Biglietteria), looking towards the Trenitalia ticket office and exit doors to the portico.
Executive & Club class lounges
Trenitalia has a FRECCIALounge for Executive class & Business Salottino passengers on its Frecciarossa trains, and those with certain Trenitalia loyalty cards. It's in the main hall near the ticket office. It offers power sockets, free WiFi and complimentary drinks and snacks.
You can add lounge access to your booking for €20 when you book any domestic Trenitalia Intercity or high-speed train in any class at Trenitalia.com. Look for the FrecciaClub/FrecciaLounge +Add button, or the link to add other services. You can use the lounge for up to 4h before departure.
Italo has a lounge for Club class passengers, located in the main hall near the ticket office. You can access the lounge up to 3 hours before your train leaves. In Smart & Prima classes, you are often offered lounge access for an extra €12 or so when you buy your ticket at the Italo website.
Somewhere to eat or drink
There are various eateries inside and outside the station, including a MacDonalds on the concourse. There are bars on the concourse and along platform 16. If you have any other suggestions in or near the station for a meal, coffee or beer let me know!
Hotels near Florence SMN
For something fancy, try the Santa Maria Novella with a 9/10 review score and rooftop terrace overlooking the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. It's just a 6-minute 400m walk from the station, see walking map.
For something more affordable but also an easy 6-minute 450m walk from the station, try the Hotel Art Atelier, see walking map.
Other hotels nearby with good reviews include C-hotels Club, 7Florence B&B, Hotel Lombardia.
Local transport
Walking
Florence SMN is in the city centre, Florence is not a huge city and most sights are easily walkable from the station.
The Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore is a 10-minute 750m walk, see walking map.
The Piazza Della Signoria is an 18-minute 1.4 km walk, see walking map.
The Ponte Vecchio is a 17-minute 1.2 km walk, see walking map.
Taxis
For a taxi fare calculator see www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Florence-Italy. Taxis are plentiful in the rank in front of the station.
More information
There's more station information at www.firenzesantamarianovella.it.
Campo di Marte station
Campo di Marte station is a through station on the edge of the city centre. Some trains by-pass Florence SMN but call at Campo di Marte.
You can walk from Florence SMN to Florence Campo di Marte in 39 minutes, 2.8 km, see walking map. Or take a taxi, or take a regional train, these link Florence SMN and Florence Campo di Marte regularly, check times at www.trenitalia.com.
The somewhat unprepossessing main entrance to Florence Campo di Marte. Photo courtesy of Liam Cromar.
A secondary entrance, with the main entrance in the background. Photo courtesy of Liam Cromar.
Rifredi station
The other station of any note is Firenze Rifredi, located 3km north of SMN, see location map. There are a few Milan-Rome Intercity trains that call at Rifredi but not at SMN or Campo di Marte.