In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 305 kilometre distance from Milan to Florence. Whether you prefer the scenic overnight train, a convenient bus+ferry combo, or the fastest flight option — we've got all the details you need.
There are 2 ways to get from Milan to Florence. You can choose between the bus, train. The most affordable option is by bus, starting from $11. The fastest route is by train (1h 45m).
Click a column header to sort. Click a row to jump to the full guide.
1h 45m
$48
--
4h
$11
--
Stay Connected
We're a small team of passionate travellers sharing what we've learned on the road. Get our best tips, route updates, and travel stories delivered to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Buses are also available for the Milan to Florence route. Bus fares can be cheaper, but the travel time takes longer than the high-speed train.
There are four main bus operators for this route. Itabus and Flixbus both offer several daily trips from morning until night.
The travel time can take 4h - 5h 35m, depending on the bus departure and traffic. Bus fares start from $11.
Taking the train is the easiest way to get from Milan to Florence.
There are at least 2 train departures every hour from 05:10 to 20:40. Note that some of them will require you to make one or two transfers along the way.
There are two types of train that you can take:
This option is the best choice if you’d rather save time than money.
Note that regional trains take 1-2 hours longer than the bus and also cost twice the price. The only advantage of the regional train compared to the bus is that the train arrives in the city centre of Florence. Buses arrive about 10 km from Florence city centre.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is where you’d want to go for the best of medieval art and culture. This old town was the home of legends — Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Dante, to name a few. And you can expect nothing but greatness here.
A walk through its Historic Centre will make you marvel at how this ancient Etruscan settlement rose to become one of the wealthiest cities in the 15th century. Museum-hopping is a must in Florence. Visit the Uffizi and Accademia galleries for the most iconic European masterpieces — like the iconic marble monument David.
Every route on GeckoRoutes is independently researched and regularly verified.
500+
ROUTES RESEARCHED
Every route is personally traveled and documented by our team, covering Southeast Asia's most popular and off-the-beaten-path connections.
Monthly
UPDATES
Routes are reviewed on a regular cycle to catch schedule changes, new operators, and price updates. Every guide shows when it was last verified.
Verified
BY TRAVELERS
Tips and corrections from our community of travelers help keep routes accurate between team visits. Your experience makes this guide better for everyone.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep GeckoRoutes free and up to date.
Carbon Footprint
This 305 km journey produces approximately 27 g CO2 by bus. Taking public transport is one of the lowest-emission ways to travel this route.
Used the Songserm ferry from Koh Samui. Cheaper than Lomprayah but takes a bit longer. Still a perfectly fine crossing. The views approaching Koh Tao are stunning either way.
OOliver S.November 2025Ferry
Train via Surat Thani was our pick. More scenic than Chumphon route and the Lomprayah catamaran from Tapee Pier is very comfortable. Book the special express train for the quickest ride.
The overnight bus with Montanatip was okay but not great. The bus was older and the seats didn't recline much. Ferry portion was fine though. If you're on a tight budget it works.
Took the sleeper train to Chumphon — magical! Woke up to palm trees and transferred to the Lomprayah catamaran. Whole journey felt like an adventure.
Lomprayah bus+ferry combo from Khao San Road was seamless. Departed at 6am, arrived Koh Tao by 3pm. Well organized.
Flew to Koh Samui and took Lomprayah catamaran. More expensive but saved a full day. Worth it if your holiday is short.
Most travelers base themselves near the main beach for easy access to transport, restaurants, and activities.
Popular budget resort with pool, located on Sairee Beach. Walking distance to dive shops and restaurants.
800 THB/night ($24)
Beachfront bungalows with balconies overlooking Sairee Beach. On-site restaurant and dive center.
2,200 THB/night ($66)
Luxury resort with private beach, infinity pool, and spa. Perfect for couples wanting extra comfort.
6,500 THB/night ($195)
Leave a Comment