- Must visit
Galleria Regionale della Sicilia - Palazzo Abatellis
Important Sicilian art museum in Palazzo Abatellis, with medieval and Renaissance works including Antonello da Messina’s celebrated portrait.
Cheapest price on 05 Sept
£100
Average ticket price on 05 Sept
£130
Fastest journey on 05 Sept
12 h 48 m
Average journey duration on 05 Sept
13 h 57 m
Trains on 05 Sept
8
Distance
653 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Florence to Palermo is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Florence to Palermo will cost around £130 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £100.
On Sat 05 Sept, we found 8 trains from Florence to Palermo, including 1 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 653 km distance in an average of 13 h 57 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 12 h 48 m .
The slowest trains will take 15 h 10 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
InterCityNotte 1963
Intercity 581 · Intercity 551 · Intercity 727
Intercity 594+
InterCityNotte 1959
FRECCIAROSSA 9503+
Intercity 723
FRECCIAROSSA 9519+
Intercity 727
FRECCIAROSSA 9519+
Intercity 727
FRECCIAROSSA 9503+
Intercity 723
FRECCIAROSSA 9555 · FRECCIAROSSA 9653+
InterCityNotte 1955
FRECCIAROSSA 8525+
InterCityNotte 1955
FRECCIAROSSA 9435+
InterCityNotte 1959Omio recommends booking the flight as it is the most popular option from Florence to Palermo among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the ferry, with an average ticket price of £44 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 31m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.2 - 0.6kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a ferry costs an average of £44, while a train costs an average of £100.
Distance: 653 km
| Train | Most popular Flight | Ferry | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
£100 Average Price | £54 Average Price | £44 Average Price Cheapest | £71 Average Price | £83 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
13h 28m Average total duration 12h 58m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 31m Average total duration Fastest 1h 31m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 20h 47m Average total duration 19h 47m Onboard + 1h 0m Additional time* | 16h 21m Average total duration 15h 51m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 12h 3m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.2 - 0.6kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 2.0 - 3.9kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions | 0.7 - 1.6kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | ![]() Most popular ferry company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Florence to Palermo:
A ferry is £10 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Florence to Palermo costing on average £54.
A ferry is £27 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Florence to Palermo costing on average £71.
A ferry is £56 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Florence to Palermo costing on average £100.
Other travel options to Palermo take longer:
Train takes on average 12h 58m.
Coach takes on average 15h 51m.
Ferry takes on average 19h 47m.
Tickets start at around £100 compared to roughly £83 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £-16.83. The journey takes 12h 58m versus 12h 3m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
The table below shows live departures for Florence to Palermo trains for today, Friday 4 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FRECCIAROSSA 9551+ InterCityNotte 1955 | 18:14 Florence Santa Maria Novella | 14h59 | 9:13 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9555 · FRECCIAROSSA 9653+ InterCityNotte 1955 | 19:14 Florence Santa Maria Novella | 13h59 | 9:13 Palermo Centrale | 2 changes | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9563+ InterCityNotte 1959 | 21:14 Florence Santa Maria Novella | 15h37 | 12:51 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
| Saturday 5 September | |||||
InterCityNotte 1963 | 0:12 Florence Campo di Marte | 16h43 | 16:55 Palermo Centrale | 0 changesdirect | |
Intercity 581 · Intercity 551 · Intercity 727 | 5:45 Florence Santa Maria Novella | 17h17 | 23:02 Palermo Centrale | 2 changes | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9503+ Intercity 723 | 6:00 Florence Santa Maria Novella | 13h10 | 19:10 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
FRECCIAROSSA 9519+ Intercity 727 | 10:14 Florence Santa Maria Novella | 12h48 | 23:02 Palermo Centrale | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach, train, flight and ferry prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Florence to Palermo run on average 6 times per day, taking around 12h 58m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £55 but you can travel from only £16 by flight.
The earliest train runs at 00:03, the last at 23:26. The fastest train covers the 653 km distance in 12h 47m.
Distance 653 km |
Average train duration 12h 58m |
Cheapest ticket price £55 |
Trains per day 6 |
Fastest train 12h 47m |
First train 0:03 |
Last train 23:26 |
Cheapest Month Mar |
Cheapest Day Tue |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 42 days |
Discover the best of Palermo — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Palermo trip today.
Important Sicilian art museum in Palazzo Abatellis, with medieval and Renaissance works including Antonello da Messina’s celebrated portrait.
Archaeological museum with Greek, Roman and Etruscan finds, coins and sculpture. A strong choice for understanding Sicily’s ancient past.
Modern and contemporary art museum in a restored monastery complex. Visit for Italian art, changing exhibitions and a central historic setting.
Monumental square at the junction of Palermo’s historic main streets. A classic meeting point with theatrical Baroque façades and constant street life.
Elegant square beside Teatro Massimo, popular for strolling and people-watching. A useful base for exploring central Palermo on foot.
Historic market district with layered architecture, lively lanes and everyday city life. Best for atmosphere, street scenes and local character.
Fried rice balls filled with ragù, peas and cheese. A Sicilian street-food classic, especially beloved in Palermo for its hearty, portable character.
Soft sesame-topped roll stuffed with spleen and lung, often with ricotta or caciocavallo. A distinctive Palermo sandwich with deep working-class roots.
Pasta with sardines, wild fennel, raisins and pine nuts. It captures Palermo’s Arab-Norman culinary heritage through sweet-savoury flavours.
Traditional restaurant serving Sicilian seafood, pasta and Palermo classics in an elegant but relaxed historic-centre atmosphere.
Historic market stall famed for pane ca meusa and other Palermo street-food staples in a lively, no-frills setting.
Long-established informal spot known for arancine, panelle and other classic rosticceria specialities popular with locals.
Moderate for Italy: street food and buses are cheap, while central hotels and seafood restaurants cost more in peak season.
Service is often included or modest. Round up or leave €1-2 in cafés, 5-10% for very good restaurant service, and round up taxi fares.
Official public transport app
Palermo Centrale -> Piazza Politeama, Palermo
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Florence to Palermo by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Palermo, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Florence to Palermo trains use the Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Palermo Centrale station pair. Use this guide to compare Florence and Palermo train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Firenze Santa Maria Novella is 1 km from Florence city centre. Public transport options include:
Firenze Santa Maria Novella has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: 12oz Coffee Joint, Casa Maioli, Don Nino, Fratelli Cuore, McDonald´s, Panella, Segafredo Zanetti, Spizzico, Venchi, & many more
Free WiFi (30 minutes limit). ATMs are located in the basement in the shopping center next to the Feltrinelli bookshop and between Celio and Mango shops.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sun: 06:00 - 21:00. Information desks are located inside and outside the station.
Luggage storage is provided by KiPoint and located on the ground floor, on the side of Piazza Adua. Open daily from 06:00 to 23:00.
Available at Firenze Santa Maria Novella: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Firenze Santa Maria Novella: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Firenze Santa Maria Novella: Elevators, escalators, step-free access. Mobility assistance is available with the Sala Blu, located next to Platform 1.
Nearby hotels include Hotel Luxor Florence, Joy Hotel Florence, Diplomat Hotel Florence.
Firenze Campo di Marte is 2 km from Florence city centre. Public transport options include:
Firenze Campo di Marte has practical services for this route, including Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Bike Rental.
Food options include: Moka Café
The ticket office is open Mon - Sun: 07:15 - 20:45.
Available at Firenze Campo di Marte: Taxis, WC.
Available at Firenze Campo di Marte: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Firenze Campo di Marte: The station is fully accessible, with step-free access throughout the station.
Nearby hotels include Florence Stadium B&B, Hotel Villa Liana, Hotel della Robbia.
Firenze Rifredi is 3 km from Florence city centre. Public transport options include:
Firenze Rifredi has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Information Desk and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Trattoria Fratelli Briganti, Osteria di Poneta
Free.
Ticket office support is available at Firenze Rifredi. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Firenze Rifredi. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Firenze Rifredi: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Firenze Rifredi: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Firenze Rifredi: Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
Nearby hotels include Hotel Raffaello, Hotel Corolle, Hotel Dalmazia.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need