How do you get to Florence?
Getting There8.9/10Easier to reach than about 90% of cities
- Main airport
- Florence Amerigo Vespucci (Peretola) Airport
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: aeroporto.firenze.it, aic2026.org
Good to know
Good to Know
- Tram T2 is the cheapest and fastest airport transfer (€1.50); taxi is more convenient with luggage but costs significantly more.
- Florence Airport is small with a single runway; bad weather can cause flight reroutes to Bologna or Pisa airports.
- Historic city center is traffic-restricted (ZTL); walking is best within the center. Car rental not necessary unless exploring rural Tuscany.
- Validate all bus and tram tickets in yellow machines onboard immediately—failure to do so results in €50 fines with potential increases.
- Taxis cannot be hailed on the street; call ahead or use dedicated taxi ranks at train station, Piazza della Repubblica, or Piazza Santissima Annunziata.
- Multiple Tuscan day trips accessible by regional train from Santa Maria Novella station; no car required to explore nearby towns.
By Bus
San Gimignano
- Transport Note
- Regional bus connection from Florence
Chianti Wine Region
- Transport Note
- Bus or private tour operators
By Train
Pisa
- Highlights
- Leaning Tower, cathedral complex, baptistry
- Travel Time Minutes
- 60
Siena
- Highlights
- Medieval walled city, cathedral, Piazza del Campo
- Travel Time Minutes
- 90
Lucca
- Highlights
- Renaissance walls, historic center
- Travel Time Minutes
- 90
Arezzo
- Highlights
- Piero della Francesca frescoes, medieval town
- Travel Time Minutes
- 60
Pistoia
- Highlights
- Charming medieval town with narrow streets
- Travel Time Minutes
- 50
Viareggio
- Highlights
- Coastal beach town
- Travel Time Minutes
- 90
Certaldo
- Highlights
- Medieval hamlet, rural Tuscany
- Travel Time Minutes
- 60
Rail Connections
- Location
- Historic city center
- Main Station
- Santa Maria Novella (SMN)
Major Routes
Rome
- Train Type
- High-speed (Frecciarossa, Italo)
- Travel time
- 1.5 hours
Milan
- Train Type
- High-speed
- Travel time
- 2 hours
Venice
- Train Type
- High-speed
- Travel time
- 2 hours
Naples
- Train Type
- High-speed
- Travel time
- 3 hours
Pisa
- Train Type
- Regional
- Travel time
- 1 hour
Siena
- Train Type
- Regional
- Travel time
- 1.5 hours
Lucca
- Train Type
- Regional
- Travel time
- 1.5 hours
Arezzo
- Train Type
- Regional
- Travel time
- 1 hour
Airport To City Center
Piazza dell'Unità (Near Santa Maria Novella Train Station)
- Cost
- €1.50
- Frequency
- Every 4-5 minutes during day hours, 7-10 minutes during late hours
- Transport Mode
- Tram (T2 Line)
- Operating Hours
- 5:00 AM to 12:30 AM
- Duration Minutes
- 20
- Notes
- Fastest and most economical option. Validates ticket in yellow machines onboard.
City Center (Any Hotel in Historical Center)
- Cost
- €22
- Transport Mode
- Taxi
- Duration Minutes
- 15
- Notes
- Fixed base fee within historical center plus €1 surcharge per suitcase. Not metered for center routes.
Private shuttle/transfer
- Duration Minutes
- 30
- Notes
- Various private shuttle and car rental services available at airport terminal.
Airport
- Name
- Florence Amerigo Vespucci (Peretola) Airport
- IATA Code
- FLR
- Distance From City Center Km
- 5
- Domestic And International Connections
- Connects to major European hubs (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, London, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Vienna) and Italian cities (Bologna, Milan, Rome, Turin, Verona).
By Car
- Accessibility
- Car rental available at airport
- Note
- Rental car useful for countryside exploration beyond public transport reach
Ground Transport Within City
Bus
- Operator
- Autolinee Toscane (AT)
- Validity
- 90 minutes after validation
- Ticket Cost
- €1.70
- Useful Lines
- C1, C2, C3, D (electric buses in center); 12, 13 (Piazzale Michelangelo); 7 (Fiesole); 23 (connects neighborhoods)
Taxi
- Phone Numbers
- +39 055 4242, +39 055 4390
- Base Charge
- €3.50
- Typical Short Trip
- €10
- Notes
- Cannot hail cabs on street; use taxi ranks or phone. Apps: AppTaxi, It Taxi, TaxiMove.
Tram
- Lines
- T1 (Villa Costanza to Careggi Hospital) and T2 (Airport to Piazza dell'Unità)
- Validity
- 90 minutes after validation
- Ticket Cost
- €1.70
- Payment Methods
- Ticket machines, tabaccherie, AT Bus app, contactless tap on board
Walking
- Note
- Historic center is highly walkable; most landmarks accessible on foot within 30 minutes.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Florence
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.