Firenze Santa Maria Novella

One of Italy's busiest stations as the main hub to Venice, Rome, Naples with 160,000 people passing through every day, Santa Maria Novella is more than just a train station. It serves as a grand gateway to the heart of Florence bustling with locals and tourists, strategically positioned in the northwest corner of the historical center. Opened in 1935, it features a spacious entrance hall with a glass and steel roof. The station’s main entrance leads directly to a large hall where tickets are purchased and information on several digital boards displaying train schedules prominently. There are 19 clearly marked platforms, and directional signs in multiple languages help guide passengers to their trains. The station houses several eateries, from quick snacks and coffee bars to sit-down restaurants. My partner, our friends, family member, and I waited here last Wednesday for our high-speed Italo train on our last leg to Rome. Andiamo!

Station Firenze SMN has a clean, modern design and great connections to nearby cities like Pisa, Bologna, Milan, Venecia and more. Lots of cafés and small markets make the wait easy. Just note: most help is visual on the screens, so don’t expect much verbal guidance. Still, super easy to navigate and a solid station overall. You can purchases your ticket via app or at the kiosk near to the screens. If this helped you drop a like 🤙🏼

Everything is great with many cafes to choose from and even some shops. This is until if your departure is from platform 1-4, where you need an extra 10min on top of your planned time to reach your platform due to poor station design.

Florence Santa Maria Novella Station (Firenze SMN) – A Traveler's Guide Florence's main railway station, Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN), is more than just a transit hub; it's the modern gateway to the Renaissance city and often the first and last impression for millions of visitors. Understanding its layout and services can significantly enhance your travel experience. Strategic Location and First Impressions Firenze SMN is uniquely situated for tourists. Its exit places you directly in Piazza della stazione, with the magnificent basilica of Santa Maria Novella opposite you. More importantly, you are within a 15-20 minute walk of almost all of Florence's iconic landmarks. The Duomo is a mere 10-minute stroll, Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi Gallery are about 15 minutes away, and the Ponte Vecchio is reachable in under 20 minutes. This unparalleled accessibility makes the station the perfect base. Station Layout and Navigation The station has a relatively straightforward linear layout. The main binari (tracks) are 5 through 16, located on the upper level. These are for regional, intercity, and high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Italo). A key feature is the large, central "Concourse" or Atrium" that runs parallel to these tracks. This hall is lined with shops, eateries, and service points. Lower Level (Piano Inferiore): This is where you will find the "Binari" 1, 2, 3, and 4. These are often used for regional trains, so always double-check your track number on the departure boards. This level also provides access to the bus terminal for local and regional ATAF buses. Essential Services for Travelers Luggage Storage (Deposito Bagagli): An absolute lifesaver. The left-luggage office is located on the lower level, near the entrance to tracks 1-4. You can store your bags for a few hours or several days, allowing you to explore Florence unencumbered before check-in or after check-out. Ticket Offices and Machines: Trenitalia and Italo ticket counters are in the main concourse. However, it's often faster to use the multilingual self-service machines. For regional trains, it is mandatory to validate your ticket at the green or white stamping machines before boarding to avoid a fine. Tourist Information (InfoPoint): Official tourist offices are located both inside the main concourse and outside in the Piazza della Stazione. They provide free maps, information on attractions, and can help with booking accommodations. Food and Shopping: The station is a mini-mall. Beyond fast-food chains, you can find excellent panini shops, pizza al taglio (by the slice), and pastries. A Coop supermarket is on the lower level for affordable water, snacks, and groceries. For last-minute souvenirs, there are numerous kiosks selling leather goods, paper, and other Florentine specialties. Transport Connections: Buses: The main city bus station (for ATAF buses) is directly adjacent to the station on the left side (when facing the church). This is your hub for buses to Piazzale Michelangelo or the central market. Taxis: The official taxi rank is directly in front of the station's main exit. Car Rentals: Hertz, Avis, Europcar have desks inside the station. Practical Tips and Tricks Beware of Pickpockets: Like any major European station, SMN is a hotspot for pickpockets. Keep your wallet, phone, and passport secure, especially in crowded areas and when boarding trains. Validate Regional Tickets: This cannot be overstated. If your ticket doesn't have a specific time and seat (like most regional tickets), it must be validated. Early Arrival: For high-speed trains, arriving 20-30 minutes before departure is sufficient. For regional trains, 15 minutes is usually enough to find your track. Restrooms: There are paid restrooms (€1) in the station. A free alternative is to use the facilities in a bar after making a small purchase, like a coffee. Firenze SMN efficiently blends historical significance with modern convenience. By leveraging its services and central location.

An effective train station for going to places across Italy, whether it was taking a regional train, or going on the high speed between Rome and Bologna. Navigating the most of the platforms. You can buy tickets from the walk-up window no issue and the staff was helpful. I could give it five stars because of how the last 4 platforms were laid out. They were behind some buildings and kept separate from the rest of the station. If you hadn't been to the station before, it would be easy to miss them. I also could not, based on the signs, find the anything beyond the shops or the police kiosk, so despite it's somewhat small walking footprint, it didn't seem to be organized clearly to me.

An easy to understand train station with all trains platforms in one huge room. Ticket sales are in another room that is also a waiting room. It it clean and seemed safe to me. No homeless people loitering about. Many more shops are downstairs and there is no waiting at the food outlets down there.

We arrived here from Rome… The station isn’t nearly as nice as Rome, this one was more crowded because they don’t have as many tracks, so the platform was a little tighter to navigate. Signage on the platform was non-existent, having just arrived for the first time and not knowing if we needed to use stairs to go down or stay on the platform to exit. Then the inside was packed too. The cab area was nice and orderly though.

It’s a very crowded place, which could be solved if more gates would be opened to the platforms, right now there are only 2 opened gates where all of the people arr stacked, besides that the incoming trains are getting shown on these little screens elderly people can’t even ride. All in all you just wanna leave this place. It feels like nobody really thought about a good concept of this train station.

I don't know how anyone finds this train station manageable or organized. This place was a hot mess, engulfed in a dumpster fire. I guess I can't blame the station itself, but both times we were in this place, it was a mob of people that you can hardly get through. The place is small, and the benefit of that is that the trains line up in one row, so it's pretty hard to get lost. However, this city is huge. The amount of people visiting this city is intense. The train station needs to be bigger. The mass of people standing in front of the control gates is seriously out of control. There are a few places to get food and drink and we were lucky enough to find a spot for the 4 of us to wait for our platform to be announced but even then, people trying to jostle you to get your spot or just bumping into you even though you're flush against a wall is intense. Once our platform was announced, we beelined to the tracks where there was space to breath (most people were waiting outside of the control zone) and it was better but man I was shocked at how small this station is for what it does.

Pretty well organized for a busy train station, lots of food and drink options. Purchased tickets via the app. The trains take some getting used to, especially as far as finding luggage space for larger items.

Very busy and crowded train station. Lots of places to eat, self-service stations, cafes, bistro, etc. There are quick service booths tonl get tickets at the train station, the staff is mostly friendly. Always check your train schedule and plan accordingly. It is tough to find a spot if your train is on a delay. At the main level, you have the trains with gates to pass, I booked tickets via eurail, and tickets are validated inside the train. I can see 16 platforms, and the schedule gets updated on the big screen. Lower level has more shopping and food options, too. With this busy, they definitely maintained it. Constant announcements going in Italy.

Very good train station and everything you expect from Italian train system. Lots of shops, food, etc. Very good signage. Easy to purchase tickets and the big boards are constantly updated. Treinitalia has a Freccia lounge in the main concourse for executive and business class passengers. Snacks, drinks etc free of charge. A bit quieter than being in the general population. This station is easy to get to via bus, taxi, car but I recommend just walking. Less than 15inites from the major attractions. Very good train station and everything you expect from Italian train system. Lots of shops, food, etc. Very good signage. Easy to purchase tickets and the big boards are constantly updated. Treinitalia has a Freccia lounge in the main concourse for executive and business class passengers. Snacks, drinks etc free of charge. A bit quieter than being in the general population. This station is easy to get to via bus, taxi, car but I recommend just walking. Less than 15inites from the major attractions.

NOTHING SPECIAL ! After our huge screw-up getting on the wrong train at the Rome Train Station...the slow train to China instead of a Bullet Train to Florence we finally arrived here at 1pm. What a horrible 4 hour train trip ! After getting off the train I tried to find a restroom. I eventually found it....pay a Euro to pee. I only had credit cards on me....no coins and the credit card payment system was broken. YOU HAVE GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME ! I gave up and we then stood in a long line for a taxi to our hotel less than 10 minutes away. EVENTUALLY ! After a few minutes we jumped in a taxi and were on our way. We checked in at our hotel at 1.45pm. NICE CLEAN RESTROOMS ! NOTE - Of course with over 22 million views of my Yelp reviews and pics world wide in 2022 I can tell you what is great !

Wow, I had a lot about trains in Europe and high expectations about what the whole experience would be like but i have to tell you I was blown away with the combination of cost, ease of use, efficiency, and sheer convenience we experience taking the train. The Firenze Santa Maria Novella or Florence Train Station is a massive construct. Named after a nearby historical church, it handled multiple lines of the Italian Rail System The station had more security and was tighter about accessing the platforms, but otherwise it was full of people transiting to and fro and lots of cafes and shops to grab a bite etc before you go. This experience will complketely change how we look at transport once we arrive in Europe going forward.

Nice & clean train station in florence. They have resto & cafe, sephora & other shops

The Florence train station isn't too bad. It's definitely busy and grimy, but it's easy to navigate, there's an efficient taxi stand, and there's some good food options.

A typical Italian train station. Everything was easy to find. My mom and I were able to find the track and board our train with ease. The station was also pretty clean and organized. I wouldn't have an issue if I transit through this station again.

Pro: small and easy to navigate Cons: if you're early, you cannot use the restroom. Need to use your train ticket to get into the platform to use the restroom. And then the line is way too long. Con: no seating areas or food establishments with seating.

We trained down from Milan and had zero issues. We weren't at this train station long at all, hopped right off and walked out the front door. Easy breezy! I will say, when we arrived the taxi line was atrocious. Little miss impatient was not thrilled, but it seemingly moved at a half sufficient pace and we were on our way soon. We weren't picking up our rental car until the next day and had to wait but I'm sure if you have hand luggage only you very well could walk to your destination. I will say, I purchase all of my tickets online in advance so I'm not completely familiar with buying seats on site. I'd recommend you purchase online if your schedule allows. I'd highly recommend euro rail, I really have no clue who wouldn't. It's simply the best!

Smaller more manageable train station. We purchased tickets on line, checked the departure board, went to our track. Cars were marked prior to getting on board. Seats are assigned. Putting luggage above us was very difficult. Wearing a mask is required. WiFi & restrooms are available.

It's a train station. Relatively easy to navigate with staff that's friendly enough to help you get to where you are going.

We took trains here from Venice and to Rome. They have 16 platforms with plenty of self serve ticket stations. Full serve ticketing opens at 6:30. We were here early around 6 on a Friday and one of the Cafes was open. Taxis are available regularly and our hotel was about 10 minutes away. One complaint would be the lack of seating for passengers in the area before the platform entry and information boards. Another one would be to have earlier times for some of the bigger cities (I.e. Rome) Some shopping with a couple of Cafes and restaurants. They do have a Pharmacy which is convenient although they don't have Covid testing at this location. Overall, easy to get to and travel from.

Pretty easy to use. Comfortable option into town and priced reasonable. Cars were clean and thankfully the aircon was doing its job. Appreciate that!

Efficient. Excellent location in Firenze. - There are almost no places to sit. - An ugly exterior. What were they thinking?

Firenze Santa Maria Novella is a nice place to make a train connection or spend a little time between trains shopping or grabbing a bite to eat. Super Cute Wife and I went through S.M.N twice bot into and out of Florence. Being from the U.S. the train station experience is not necessarily something ingrained in our culture but the layout of the station and where you need to go is fairly easy to figure out. It certainly is helpful to know which train company you are using and use the self service kiosks to buy tickets or you can download apps in which to buy your tickets. The self service kiosks are fairly easy to figure out as they have many languages in which to go through the process available. Once you get you ticket it will show the train number, car, class of service etc on it. Then find the train number on the departures board, find the track and go to that platform. They do have a few levels of shopping and quick bite restaurants in which you can spend some time if you need between or waiting for a delayed train. Do mind your possessions as there are pick pockets about and scammers as well. As in any big city use caution and stay safe. The architecture is quite grand and quite interesting.

I used this train station to get in and out Florence and it really did try my patience. It is under renovation and Covid protocols only make it worst. There is limited seating options so, 90% of the ppl in the station are standing around staring at the departure board waiting for the track # for their departure. There is a mall under the train station and it is actually alright. I almost bought a pair of shoes. Oh the bathrooms are down there too. If you really have to go, good luck. (It cost a Euro....) The benefit to this station is that it is walking distance to all the sights. Maybe it will improve once Covid goes away and the renovations are completed, but I won't hold my breathe.

I'm not a fan of this station. I could not find bathrooms at this place. Although, if you buy something at the bookstore, you can use theirs with a code they give you. The security guards are super hyper at this place asking you questions about your phone with no good reason. I found two sets of stairs to leave and/or arrive at this place and there was no ramp or lift. I had to drag my heavy luggage up a couple dozen stairs---so difficult and frustrating. The city tram doesn't even come into the station, it drops you off across the street making you have to cross a dangerously busy intersection. About the only thing beneficial is the McDonalds restaurant in the food court to get some quick food when you're in a hurry. Be aware they also charge .80 euros to use the restroom.

We had to use this stazione ferroviaria twice during our trip, once from Cinque Terre to Florence and then Florence to Napoli. I guess you'd call this a medium sized station. I know for sure it's used a lot judging by the crowds we encountered on both trips. There are restaurants and vendors inside along with an armed military presence that sadly is ubiquitous these days. Modern displays announce arriving and departing trains, delays, etc. as you would expect. It seems to run efficiently so there are really no negatives nor positives to report here.

We have been to Florence twice in the past few years and have travelled through the Florence train station on both visits. The first time we took the train from Rome to Florence and on the second visit recently we came from Milan. The Florence train station is literally a 5 minutes walk to the city center. Florence is a very small city and even though they have public transport buses but my recommendation is to walk the city as you are able to enjoy the streets and find things of interest. The railways station is always buzzing and filled with tourists and locals alike. Be careful just like any other train station with your bags and personal belongings as thieves are always lurking. 5 star convenient train station within the city center.

For some reason the tour guide on one of those busses was praising the architectural magnificence of this place. Honestly, it is absolutely horrible. I don't care whether Mussolini designed it or not, it is an ugly blight on an otherwise beautiful city. Oh, and all my other criticisms about Italian railway stations also apply to this place. However, please don't consider it a tourist attraction, it's just a plain old railway station.

I found this train station pretty easy to navigate. It's really amazing how you can get anywhere in Italy on a train. If you have a few moments to spare before entering the train station-or exiting- there are plenty of vendors outside selling all the typical goods of Florence. Lots of leather.

This was the train station we frequented the most during our trip to Italy. It's big and easy to navigate to the trains. As far as the bus/taxi area, that was difficult to find. They do have a lot of signs, but can be hard to figure out if you're not familiar with the area. They have quite a few options for food, like a coffee shop, sandwich shop and a McDonald's.

So much hustle and bustle of people trying to catch their train or wait for their train. Be cautious and don't be a victim of pickpockets. Keep an eye out for your belongings. Make sure you have the correct train number and hop on the correct train.

If you ever want to go first class on the a train it wasn't bad at all it was only an extra €14 each to do first class we get the first-class lounge which was air-conditioned free snacks of all kinds of candy sodas water and you get to sit in a nice air-conditioned car you even get stewards that come to you and bring you hand towels and little sandwiches and even little chocolate croissants it was pretty cool and certainly worth a few extra euros to go we loved it do it again in a minute

This station is a mess. Feels more like a herding of cattle than of people, but hey it's Florence. One of the artistic cities in the world right? Right? I've had pretty good experiences in the train stations in Europe...OK, maybe not. Still this one is on the lower spectrum of getting things done right. Again, it's a mess. I wish you the best of luck if you arrive at this station and have to deal with the thousands of people who seem to wander in an aimless circle.

This is a pretty large train station and can be a bit confusing compared to many of the other stations in Italy. There's a lot of chaos of people near the entrance to the actual train lines. We've been multiple times and this has been my experience every time. I'm not a big fan of this station, but it does get the job done. We have traveled from point A to point B on multiple occasions and have enjoyed our seating on the trains themselves.

Super crowded and bathrooms are not marked. After trying for about 15 minutes to find the bathrooms, we finally did. They charge 1€ and the bathrooms were filthy. At least keep them clean if you charge that much to use it!!!!

I blazed through this station to get to where I needed to go but it seemed quite navigable and clean. I loved the bookstore here and was able to pick up a few practical items as I waited for my train back to Rome.

This is the hub train station of Florence! The architecture needs a facelift compared to Milano Centrale, but a plus was that it was fairly easy to navigate to and from our tracks. The train also leaves right on the time unless there's a delay. If you're taking a local train, there's first come, first serve seating. Regional trains have assigned seating and I would recommend splurging 10+ euros or so for first class since it's more spacious in terms of seating and room for your luggage. Another plus is that there are also snacks provided. We didn't partake, but there are several food and cafe options inside and outside of the station.

Seems simple enough, just had a couple hundred US in my purse thought I would exchange for Euros. So they need your name address sign here. So they ask for your passport, then your cash, question to sign seemed strange, sign here here and here.? I did not give them a debit or anything but had to sign my life away.? And then finally she count my Euros back that I asked for 111.00 It cost 79$ US to get EUROS! Are you kidding me? I said "no thank you" " she said madam it is done". Just think everyone should know if you want to exchange US FOR EUROS GO TO A BANK DO NOT Go TO THE EXCHANGE PLACE IN THIS OR PROBABLY ANY OTHER PLACE IT WILL COST YOU 48% Of what you get back. Such a horrible rip off!!!

In terms of Western European train stations, Florence's main station, SMN, is about 15 years out of date. In fact, it is almost exactly the same as when I first visited Florence in high school. There is no free WiFi, which essentially strands travelers just arriving in the city. If you pull up your WiFi, there are several "free" WiFi networks. Check them out! None of them work except for McDonald's, which requires a ridiculous social media login. Thanks for nothing! I will give them credit for installing automated ticket machines, which don't like taking out-of-country credit cards, though. They also have an in-house luggage store through KiPoint, which has some nasty online reviews. We used them out of necessity, and we had no issues. So, don't be afraid of KiPoint.

This train station was busy and really crowded. There were just barely enough ticket machines scattered around. There were short lines but some had a long line. For the most part, the lines were quick and were in multiple languages. Inside, there were stores and food places like McDonald's. The screen for arrivals and departures was large and easy to read. There wasn't a whole lot of other things here to see. I thought this place looked clean and would probably come back if I'm heading to Florence.

I spent way more time in this station than I ever would have imagined ahead of my Italy trip. Santa Maria Novella is a central hub for travelers in Tuscany. If you're looking to head to Rome after a Siena trip, know that your best option will be to backtrack to this station and then take a train directly to Rome. Visiting from Pisa? Next stop, Santa Maria! The station itself was typical of Italy. You'll find nice shops where you can stock up on essentials for your journey -- like makeup, snacks, sandwiches, and books -- and the trains are organized well enough. Like you probably know, stay vigilant of your surroundings. It's common for folks to ask you for money (or point at your wallet and then themselves) while you pay for your ticket. Like the machines say before every single purchase, beware of pickpockets! You could do a LOT worse than this station. It's even conveniently positioned in Florence for easy walkability through the historic areas.

I stepped into this station coming in from Rome. It's not a grand station or anything, but it sure as hell does the job and it's pretty easy to navigate as soon as you arrive. There are 16 tracks where trains pull in and out of. It's relatively clean and is pretty open concept. Please keep in mind of where you are going EXACTLY in Florence when you travel here as there are 3 train stations that all serve different locations.

Ugh why does the city as beautiful as Florence has such an ugly station? This Fascist-style architecture was such a shock to me when our train pulled in the station. Despite being a major train hub in Tuscany, Firenze SMN is awfully small for its high traffic. The redeeming factors are that it's super close to the main Florence attractions including the Duomo and has all the amenities ranging from left luggage to pharmacy. Few logistics about this train station! -If you are looking for a place to stay, look into places that are nearby here, as many bus routes including the one that goes to the faraway Piazzale Michelangelo originate here. -The left luggage office located at the rightmost side (facing the track) for about €1 per hour per item. -Seats are at a premium, but if you have a Italo or Freccia train reservation, you can chill in Club Freccia or Casa Italo, where you can find more seats and power outlets. -Restrooms are located on the leftmost side for €1 per entry -Underground shopping is available with shops ranging from gelato to high-end clothings

We arrived at this bustling train station from Pisa. The station faces the Santa Maria Novella church which's undergoing repairs. The station lobby was packed with travelers and there are many shops. From here it is only a short walk to our hotel a stone's throw away from the Duomo. Restrooms are near Platform 1. We came back here to travel by train to Siena for a day trip. It's location near town center made it easy to get around.

During my recent birthday trip in Firenze, Stazione Santa Maria Novella served as my gateway of travel both to and from Firenze to visit other cities. If you stay anywhere in the heart of Firenze, you are no more than a 10-15 minute walk to this station at any given time. If you're coming or going from here, there are easy transports via bus or taxi. I love this station because it's really easy and not overly overwhelming to try to figure out how to get a ticket, get on your train, etc. There are live signs posted everywhere, updating you on the status of your particular train. You can either buy tickets online (www.trenitalia.com) or at the station (I prefer the former just to avoid the crowds). Plus, it feels safe. It's large and busy enough to justify lots of people here at any given time, but I didn't get the vibe that I would be pickpocketed or harassed. I felt very safe traveling alone to/from here. One of my favorite things about this station is that I could arrive early and get my morning coffee and nutella brioche at a local coffee shop located inside. Service is fast, and the coffee and pastries are delicious. I only had one negative experience here with a rude train attendant (I had gotten on the wrong train), but overall, the employees here are friendly and eager to help. People completely disrespect the smoking areas, too, but it doesn't personally bother me.

This place is organized chaos. It is so filled with people its almost unbearable however, trains seemed to be on time and shown on the screen about 30 mins of departure time. No need to come more than 30 mins ahead of time, you arent allowed on the platform until your train arrives so finding somewhere to sit in a benchless station will be hard.

This is an efficient fast way to commute between cities. There are NO certified porters , so protect your belongings against pick pockets and gypsies. If you are carrying luggage , you will have to carry it on the train yourself and stow within your seat area. I'd recommend staying light and small unless you want to be miserable traveling with your "stuff"!! There are no luggage compartments, but spring for first class for any trip over 30 minutes. It's more pleasant and less to manage( including safety ).

Efficient and easy train station in central Florence. Got the train easily for Venice and had time for a croissant. Get what you need, then wait inside the platform area until your track is called. Helpful staff and not crowded on a Friday morning.

Moderately clean train station. No public bathrooms. You must pay one euro per person to enter a bathroom. Purchasing a ticket is moderately easy at the machines are at the front desk. You must carry around bags and find your own way to the train when it arrives by watching the billboards.

A very small train station at the entrance to Venice. It holds 16 tracks. Its very easy to get around. It's extremely clean. If you get hungry there are several options inside as well as outside where they have a whole lot of food truck from local cooks. They have kiosks to print off your tickets if you haven't already done so. Make sure you are a little early since the train will leave right on time. The train themselves have wifi and are also very clean. The chairs and comfortable and rather large. Make sure you pay attention to the stops since there are several for Venice and Florence.

I come here often to take the train to local stops and also to major cities. There are lots of options to get to where you need to go and also access to trenitalia for the rapid train. Buying a ticket is relatively easy at the kiosks. There are also booths where you can buy the tickets the old fashioned way. There is quite a bit of construction since they are building security stops so expect to add a little extra time to get around the construction. Aside from the train service and typical train waiting areas. There is also shopping above ground and underground. Many places to buy clothes, books and have a quick bite. For food expect fast food quality but anyway it's a quick bite. Bottom line...I suggest this as a good central spot to catch a train throughout Florence or through Italy. Buying process is easy and can be paid using cash or credit. The booth attendants are not that kind so just expect rude service but they will in the end help you Pros Great place to catch a train to any destination throughout Italy including high speed train access Good variety of clothing, food and book stores Also there is a atm downstairs Easy machines to buy tickets in multiple languages Cons There is construction going on so be aware and plan ahead The booth attendants are not that nice but they generally are knowledgeable Be careful of pit pockets

Super easy train station to find, right in the center of Florence. We were in the outskirts so we had to take a taxi to our Airbnb but it only cost us like 20 euros, which isn't bad. Easy to get on and off the train and if you're in the center, it's walking distance!

This is specifically for the market of the Moka Cafe inside the station. Debated on whether or not to leave a review (this occured in April) and the whole thing doesnt sit well, even months later. Here we go folks. I went inside for water, waited in a line with 11 people ahead of me and a local decided to randomly cut in front of me. I told this person that it was my turn, he was not in line and the cashier, Katerina, stated in English "No, I serve him first." For what reason? Only thing I could see was that he was a local and I was not. I asked to speak to her manager, she suddenly did not speak English anymore- but regained her English speaking abilities when I refused to move. Her "manager" was worse. Desire (like Dessire) told me that Katerina denied showing preference to the local man, that the whole thing never happened and that he couldnt do anything about it. I said I wanted to lodge a formal complaint and he told me that it "would take a very long time" and that the paperwork and his boss were upstairs but I could go look if I wanted. I left, amazed at the level of unprofessionalism and complete lack of respect. So I said to myself fine, I will go look upstairs and I went back near the entrance to snap a photo, to show the mystery boss upstairs which two of his employees did not give two craps about their foreign customers. Mr. Desire saw me and in a flash literally slapped me and tried to take my phone away! Slapped me! Is this real life? Literally have never experienced something so hostile in a store or business before. The police came (and this is hilarious- the "manager" called them, probably to protect himself and talk to them first- which he did) and let me tell you- those goobers preferred to talk to my husband- who wasnt even there when this whole thing happened may I add, and told me that they have more important things to take care of (like walking around all in one group chatting with one another). Definitely the most terrible, sour experience I've ever had while travelling. Moka Cafe/the staion needs to take a look at who they are hiring and make them aware that their foreign customers have just as much of a right to respectful service as much as the locals do.

This is a big HUB station that connects a lot of trains. Keep in mind that tracks 1A, 1, and 2 are separated from the rest of the tracks. Follow signs to get to those tracks. The only toilets I walked by requires payment. I'm not sure if they're all like that, but I didn't have time to find another toilet. It looks like there are enough shops at this station to keep you busy for a chunk of time. PROTIP: if you're getting on local trains, get there first and find the toilet after. Local/regional trains have free seating, so it's first come, first serve. They have very limited storage space for bags, so you need to keep your bags at your feet or shove them between the seats that are back to back.

2.5 Stars Out Of 5 Not the nicest station in Europe by far, the fascist design is reminiscent of the days of Mussolini. Like many train stations in Italy, it is close to the historic center of Florence and one of the most beautiful cities on the continent if not the world. Well connected to all parts of Italy and beyond, you can get a train pretty much anywhere. Just make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure of purchasing tickets as the ticket machines have long lines during the day and are quite slow. Also make sure you are not using a "credit card only" machine if you want to use cash. There are also human ticket agents available if you have time to wait in line. Most trains are "Trenitalia" (state trains) and quite punctual. "Italo" also operates here and has very nice, very fast trains for long-haul journeys (Napoli-Firenze for example) and are often cheaper than Trenitalia. On our trip from Naples, they even offered FREE WI-FI with movies available on their network, also free, in English. Italo "veloce" trains hit speeds of 150-180 miles per hour, making the journey between Naples and Florence in just 2.5 hours. The station is a bit of a pit and full of seedy characters, so clutch your valuables and avoid crowded areas. Otherwise, it is quite handy if traveling by rail to or from Florence. CombatCritic Gives Stazione Santa Maria Novella (Florence) 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!