An easy guide from Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport to the center of Florence.
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If you're flying directly into Florence, you're flying into the Amerigo Vespucci Airport. Although some may opt to fly into Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei Airport) in Pisa and travel from there to Florence. This article is a quick guide to how to get from the airport in Florence to Florence's city center. Travel time listed for each mode of transport is in refence to the Amerigo Vespucci Airport to the main train station Santa Maria Novella in the heart of Florence.
Let’s talk about public transit first and then we’ll get into the obvious options like taxis and car rentals.
Tram
20 min. | €1.70 per person (pp)
I think this is the easiest and least expensive option costing €1.70 per person one way, but keep in mind that there are baggage regulations. Each passenger is allowed 1 bag up to 10 kg (22 lbs) measuring 55x40x20 cm (roughly 21x15x8 inches) for free—think backpack or carry-on. You must buy a ticket for each large suitcase with a max of 2 suitcases per person. Each suitcase cannot weigh more than 20 kg (44 lbs) with max size of 80x45x25 cm (31x18x10 inches roughly). A little weird, I know, but it’s seems to me a fair price to pay for easy transit. Strollers, small musical instruments, fishing rods, skis can be carried on the tram free of charge. There is no dedicated storage space for luggage like some trams so be prepared to hold small bags in your lap and be sure your luggage doesn't roll away and bump into other passengers.
The T2 tram arrives at the Peretola – Aeroporto stop just a two minute walk outside of the airport's arrivals and departures. From there it is a 20 minute journey to Florence's main train station Santa Maria Novella. The tram runs from 5:00am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday and 5:00am to 1:30am Friday and Saturday. It runs quite frequently with one coming every 4-5 min from 6:30am-8:30pm, every 10 minutes in the early morning and evening, and every 20 minutes after midnight. The official time table can be found here.
Tickets can be purchased from ticket machines at the Peretola – Aeroporto stop (just outside the airport where you will get the tram), AT Bus app (Autolinee Toscane app), the official ticket office Via Santa Caterina da Siena, 50123, Firenze (near Santa Maria Novella), or any tabaccheria. Tickets must be validated when boarding the tram and last for 90 minutes. To validate a paper ticket, insert it into the yellow machines on-board the tram. Digital tickets can be validated through the app. If you don't validate your ticket, you can be fined by ticket controllers. This is because, until validated, tickets can be used for any time.
Some trams have machines for tap payment where you can tap to pay with a credit card or contactless payment, like smart phones. Bear in mind that tap payment can only purchase a single one-way fare per ride, per card, so a card (or digital equivalent) cannot be used to purchase two fares for one journey. For example, one person cannot buy a ticket for themselves and a partner. Tapping your card twice will not purchase a second fare.
In our experience, the tram has stopped at every tram stop (unlike on the bus) however, it's best practice to hit the "stop" button to request the next stop just in case.
City Bus
50 min. (approx.)| €1.70 pp via AT Bus app or €2.00 pp on board
I highly advise you to not take the bus from the airport to Santa Maria Novella. There are several bus stops around the airport but each is at least a 10 minute walk away and which stop you will need depends on when you want to catch the bus. In addition, not all buses stop at Santa Maria Novella so you may have a walk when you get off the bus as well. However, I think it's important to mention as an option because it is technically possible and seems to be mentioned fairly often as a suggestion although fellow travelers have advised me not to take the bus from the airport, just as I am doing now. I also mention it because, in my experience, Autolinee Toscane, who run the buses in Florence and all of Tuscany as well as the tram, provide a comprehensive and all around lovely bus service on the whole and I don't want to dissuade you from using them altogether.
If you have your heart set on taking the bus you can find timetables and plan your trip using the AT app and on the Autolinee Toscane website. Google Maps is also an easy way to see where and when a bus will be coming. With both platforms you can put in your departure and arrival locations and the time you want to leave to find what is available.
Tickets can be purchased through the app or at a tabaccheria. There will not be a ticket machine at the bus stop as there would be at a tram stop.
Once on the bus, you must press the "stop" button to request that the bus driver stop at the next bus stop.
Taxi
20 min. | €22 (plus additional fees)
There are two main taxi companies in Florence. The name of each company is the last four digits of their phone number, 4390 and 4242. If you decide to take a taxi, I suggest 4390 because the rates provided on their site are in line with the fixed rate set by the city.
There is a fixed rate of €22 for a taxi from the Amerigo Vespucci airport to a hotel in the city center during the day. At night, from 10pm to 6am, the fixed rate is €25.30. On public holidays the fixed rate is €24.00. You will also have to pay €1 for each bag/piece of luggage. According to florence-airport.com there is a an additional charge of €2.70 when coming from the airport into the city center, but not for going from the city center to the airport.
Taxis can be booked ahead of time by phone call or through the companies website. I suggest booking/inquiring before your trip so you are sure of the cost and the protocol for getting the taxi. For example, 4390 will send you a code via email or message that you will then show to the first available 4390 taxi at the taxi stand when you leave the airport.
It's important to note that taxis cannot be flagged down in Florence, or in any part of Italy, so you will need to call or book a taxi online.
Car Rental
20 min | Prices vary
It is absolutely not necessary to rent a car while visiting Florence. If you are staying in the city center is is almost unnecessary to even use public transit because the historic center, and so most places you'll want to visit as a tourist, are quite central. However, it is possible to rent a car from the airport in Florence. There are several car rental companies located at just outside of the airport, about a 3 minute walk. I suggest booking ahead of time to ensure that a car is available. You can also book a car rental online using booking.com.*
"Enjoy" Car Sharing
20 min | Prices vary
"Enjoy" is a car sharing (not ride sharing) service based in Turin, Italy, with service in several cities around Italy. Cars are rented by the hour or daily, but cannot be taken outside of certain areas, e.i. you cannot take the car from Florence to Venice, but you can use the car within limits inside of Florence. We have no experience with Enjoy car, but it is a popular option for car rental in big cities in Italy. Cars can be rented through the Enjoy app. Again, I highly recommend not using a car if possible.
So, what's the best option for you? I think across the board, the tram is the easiest and fastest way to get into the heart of the city. Just don't forget to buy a ticket for each large suitcase. It's also more environmentally friendly than renting a car. However, if you're feeling independent and adventurous, it is possible to order a taxi or rent a car and strike out on your own.