Getting to Florence

A quick guide on getting to – and from – Florence by plane and train plus getting around Florence on foot, bike, by car, taxi or bus.

Plane

Florence has its own piccolo (little) airport, Aeroporto di Firenze- Peretola, which only a small number of airlines fly into from other European destinations. From Peretola, it’s an easy taxi ride into the historic centre for a set price (plus luggage supplement) one-way. The international airport of Tuscany is in Pisa, Galileo Galilei Airport, an hour from Florence by train. Trenitalia (www.trenitalia.com) has regular connections to get you to Florence quickly.

Train

FRECCE trains (the fast trains versus the frequent-stopping regional option) are efficient and clean. Only one hour and 30 minutes to Rome from Florence, two hours to Venice, or one hour and 40 minutes to Milan make them the best way to travel between major towns and cities. Trenitalia (www.trenitalia.com) and Italo (www.italotreno.it) offer services throughout Italy with easily purchased tickets. You can pre-book your seat; for FRECCE trains, tickets don’t need to be stamped to be validated. The conductor will ask, however, to see a copy of your booking by text, email or a paper copy.

GETTING AROUND FLORENCE

On foot

Florence is a fantastic walking city. It is small, and most sites are within the circumference of the old city wall and a short walk on either side of the river Arno. With many streets pedestrianised, it is the easiest, fastest, and most fun way to explore the city and the best way to discover little backstreets, stores, and nooks you’d never otherwise find. A little tip: pack flat shoes for all those cobblestones.

Bike

For those who prefer two wheels, Florence offers a modern solution. Mobike (www.mobike.com), a user-friendly bike-sharing service, has been introduced to the city. With a simple sign-up process via their app, you can easily hire a bike by the minute. The best part? Helmets are not required, making exploring the city this way both convenient and enjoyable. Just locate the nearest bike, scan its code, and you’re ready to roll.

Car

When driving in the historic centre of Florence, it’s crucial to be aware of the ZTL (zona a traffico limitato) system. This system governs the area and can result in a hefty fine if you’re not registered. As the streets are narrow and parking is limited, it’s best to avoid driving in the city centre. If you must drive, consider using an official car-parking garage (normally upwards of 25 euros a day) that can compensate the ZTL fee for you.

If you are driving around Tuscany, remember that Italians drive on the right and are fast drivers, especially on autostrada (tolled highways) between cities. Most of the hire car companies are based on Borgo Ognissanti in Florence and require an international driver’s licence.

Bus

Buses cover the whole city from a central bus depot in Santa Maria Novella and at Piazza San Marco. Tickets (biglietti) are often purchased beforehand at a Tabbachi (newsagents) or newsstands and then stamped once you hop on board. Tickets are valid for 90 minutes. Remember to stamp your ticket, or you could be fined. If you have an Italian SIM card, you can text ‘ATAF’ to 4880105 for an electronic ticket.

Taxi

Florence’s taxis are white, and you’ll see them scooting around the central streets where they can be picked up from various official taxi ranks. Note, you cannot flag taxis for a pick-up (you must be at a rank or pre-book one), so don’t be surprised if a driver ignores your hand gesturing. Pre-booking can be done via text (+39 334 662 2550). Simply text your location, then your destination, and they’ll send you a confirmation text with the taxi name (for example, ROMA 12) and the number of minutes until its arrival. Uber is banned in Florence.

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