Wondering how to get to Florence? Florence is a popular tourist destination, with around 10 to 16 million visitors per year. The city exhibits several wonders, such as a vibrant culture, remarkable architecture, and scrumptious cuisine. It has excellent connections to the rest of Italy and Europe, conveniently accessible by air or ground transportation.
Recently, there has been notable growth in tourism, with visitors flying into Florence’s Vespucci Airport. And this influx is prompting infrastructure improvement to keep up with demand. However, Vespucci isn’t the sole entry route for those who wish to experience all the city offers; there are other airports close by, like Pisa Airport, which is merely an hour away, and Bologna Airport in 90 minutes, thus involving minimal trouble to get here from anywhere around the world.
If you’re traveling to Florence from within Europe, you can take a bus or train or fly directly to Vespucci Airport. For travelers from further away, your best option is to fly into Pisa or Bologna and then take a train or bus to Florence.
It’s no surprise that people worldwide want to experience Florence, one of the world’s most stunning and historically rich cities.
In this article, we’ll discuss how travelers from different parts of the globe can make it to Florence:
- United States of America,
- Canada,
- Australia, and
- Europe
So let’s begin with one of the most popular modes of transport.
By Air
Traveling from the U.S.
Suppose you’re looking to fly into Florence from the United States. Several airlines, such as Lufthansa, ITA, Airberlin, British Airways, and KLM, offer connecting flights from Chicago, New York, and Washington to Florence Airport. To give you an idea, the average travel time from Chicago to Florence is nearly 10 hours. The good thing is that there are flights directly to Florence from the U.S.
Flights available from the U.S. to Florence
- Delta Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Alitalia
- American Airlines
| Origin | Airports | Key Airlines | Notes |
| United States | Florence Airport (FLR) | Delta, Lufthansa, Alitalia, American Airlines | Connecting flights from major cities like Chicago, New York, Washington. |
| Canada | Pisa Airport (PSA), Bologna | Lufthansa, American Airlines, Alitalia, Air Canada | No direct flights; one-stop connections from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. |
| Australia | Pisa International Airport | Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates | Quickest route via Pisa; two-stop connections from Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane. |
| Europe | Florence Airport (FLR), Pisa Airport (PSA) | Cityjet, Vueling, British Airways | Direct flights from London to FLR; option to fly to PSA and then travel to Florence. |
Traveling from Canada
No airlines fly directly from Canada to Tuscany. There are, however, several airline carriers that provide one-stop connecting flights from Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal such as:
- Lufthansa
- American Airlines
- Alitalia
- Air Canada
Traveling from Australia
The quickest way to travel from Australia to Tuscany is to fly into Pisa, which is around 23 hours. Furthermore, multiple airlines provide two stops connecting flights from Perth, Melbourne, and Brisbane to Pisa International Airport. Alternatively, you may fly to Rome or Milan, though Rome Airport is closer to Florence than Milan, and then travel by rail to Florence.
The following are the major airline businesses that fly from Australia to Florence:
- Singapore Airlines – via Singapore
- Malaysian Airlines – via Kuala Lumpur
- Cathay Pacific – via Hong Kong
- Emirates – via Dubai
Traveling from Europe
There are a few ways to get from London to Florence, Italy. The most direct way is to fly straight to Florence Airport with the airlines cityjet.com or vueling.com, which usually takes around 2 hours. Another option is to fly to Pisa Airport with British Airways and then take a bus or train to Florence’s historic center.
Major airports to land if you are coming from anywhere in the world
- Florence Airport
- Pisa Airport
- Bologna airport
Florence Airport (FLR)
Florence Airport, also known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport and formerly Florence Peretola Airport, is the international airport of Florence, the capital of Tuscany. It is the second-busiest Tuscan airport for passengers after Pisa International Airport. The easiest way to reach Florence is by flying into Florence Airport or Pisa International Airport.
Several European carriers, including British Airways and Vueling, fly into Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport, commonly known as Peretola, which is 5km (3 miles) northwest of the city.
How to reach Florence Center from the airport:
Airport Shuttle
If you arrive at Florence Airport, the quickest method to get into town is on the Airport Shuttle Bus. It departs every 30 minutes and takes about 25 minutes to get there. It will deposit you at the bus station, just a few hundred meters from the train station and within walking distance of Florence’s historic heart.
Train/Tram
The T2 is a new tram line that links Florence Peretola Airport to Santa Maria Novella train station. It is the most cost-effective means to reach the city center. Trams depart the airport every six to seven minutes during peak hours, with a trip time of around 20 minutes. The tickets are €1.50 and must be available from the machines at each tram stop’s station.
Taxi
You may hire a taxi from the Florence City Center Airport. The rank is right as you exit the airport. A taxi from the airport to Florence’s city center will cost 22 Euros, 24 Euros on weekends and holidays, and 25.30 Euros at night. There is an additional “Luggage Supplement” of 1 Euro per item.
Since 2020, there has been no Uber in Florence. Here, people prefer to give money to a local skilled driver rather than to have part of it transferred to a corporation that will never be used again in the area’s economy.
Once you get to the city center, you can download this map of Florence to help find the sites.
Pisa Airport (PSA)
Direct flights are available from various countries to Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport, 79 kilometers (49 miles) west of Florence. Once you have arrived here, reaching Florence is not difficult. Below are mentioned various ways to reach the Florence center.
Getting to Florence from Pisa Airport
Bus
The bus ride may be the most convenient method to get from Pisa International Airport to Florence. In just under an hour, 15 daily Autostradale buses connect downtown Florence to Pisa Airport (14.99€ for adults; 7€ for children). Sky Bus Lines also runs the route 5–8 times daily, with the exact costs.
Shuttle
The People Mover service shuttles run between Pisa airport and the main train station, which are 2km apart. When you come out of arrivals, turn left, and the PisaMover will be at the end of the airport. From the central train station, you can take the train to Florence.
Train
It will take 5 minutes to reach the railway station from the airport. The train to Florence will take around an hour and arrive at Florence Santa Maria Novella station near the Duomo, Uffizi, and other key attractions.
Remember to stamp your ticket before you depart when traveling by bus or train – this is true for both sides! (For anybody returning to the Airport from Pisa Centrale Station)
Bologna Airport
The journey from Bologna Airport to Florence is about 106 kilometers and features three transfer alternatives: taxi, shuttle bus, and train. Taxis and shuttle buses depart immediately from Bologna Airport. You must first change to Bologna Central Railway Station to utilize the train. The overall travel time is roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes, regardless of transportation methods.
Taxi
The most convenient way to get from Bologna airport to Florence is to take a taxi. Taxis are available on standby at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport and may be booked beforehand or on the spot. A group of up to four people costs €190, taking 80 minutes in total.
Bus
Currently, two companies provide a direct bus from Bologna to Florence. The route takes 80 minutes, and the shuttle bus stops at Firenze SMN, the city’s central train station. Every day, from 5:30 am to 0:30 am, year-round. The bus fare to Florence is €20 for adults, €8 for children, and free for babies (0-4 years old). If you buy a ticket from the driver on board, tickets are somewhat more expensive.
Train
You can go by rail if you don’t mind transferring between Bologna’s Central Train Station in the city center. Trains frequently depart (on average every 15 minutes), with two service options available. To get to Florence, take the high-speed Trenitalia or Italo Treno trains.
Apart from an airplane, Florence can be reached using land transport.
Italy is well-connected by road and rail with the rest of Europe, making it easy for visitors to get to Florence. The city’s infrastructure is continuously improving, making it an ideal entry point for visitors worldwide who want to experience Florence.
| Mode | Origin | Details | Notes |
| Train | Within Italy | High-speed Frecciarossa, Frecciargento from Rome (1.5 hrs), High-speed trains from Venice (2 hrs) | Major hub at Stazione Santa Maria Novella, close to the city center. |
| Train/Bus | From Pisa | Bus: 1 hour via Autostradale, Sky Bus Lines; Train: around 1 hour to Santa Maria Novella station | Regular services available. Remember to stamp your ticket. |
| Train/Bus/Taxi | From Bologna | Taxi: 80 minutes, up to €190 for a group of four; Bus: 80 minutes, stops at Firenze SMN; Train: Transfer at Bologna Central Train Station, frequent departures. | Multiple options are available; the train involves a transfer to Bologna. |
| Car | General | Main route via A1 autostrada from Rome. The city center (ZTL) is restricted to non-permitted vehicles. | Advisable to park in garages like Parterre near Piazza Libertà. ZTL permits are available. |
| Train | From Livorno | Train to Florence Santa Maria Novella station (approx. 1hr 10min). | The common route for cruise ship travelers. |
By Train
The majority of visitors to Florence arrive by rail. Tuscany’s railway hub serves as a link between various cities throughout Italy. These long-distance trains are ideal for exploring scenic beauty as well. Take a high-speed Frecciarossa or Frecciargento train from Rome, which has a train station (1.5 hours) to reach Florence.
Alternatively, take Italo’s competing high-speed trains to get there. High-speed trains depart from Venice, take 2 hours, and reach Padua, Bologna, and Rome’s Fiumicino Airport.
Most Florence-bound trains arrive at Stazione Santa Maria Novella, Piazza Della Stazione. The station is an architectural marvel. It was constructed in the Fascist era rather than the Renaissance. It’s on the city’s northwest edge, a 10-minute walk from the Duomo and a 15-minute walk from Piazza Della Signoria and the Uffizi.
In case you’re curious about how much the bullet train from Rome to Florence is, train tickets from Rome to Florence have variable pricing, with costs starting around 55 USD. Prices differ depending on travel class, availability, day of travel, and other factors.
By Car
The A1, the main autostrada in the region, runs from Rome to Florence and beyond. Unnumbered superhighways connect Siena (the SI-FI raccordo) with Pisa (the so-called FI-PI-LI), take the A13 southbound to Florence, then switch to the A1 at Bologna.
It’s simple to get to Florence by car; the issues begin once you get there. The city center is off-limits to vehicles for much of the year; only residents or merchants with special permits can enter this clearly defined, camera-monitored zone, a trafico limitato (ZTL). You can use the ZTL to drop off your luggage at a hotel or go straight to a pre-booked parking garage, which may obtain a temporary ZTL permit (If you have your license plate, you may ask the ZTC to provide a temporary ZTL permit.)
If you decide to drive here, one of the city’s numerous garages is your best bet for overnight or long-term parking. You’ll pay less at the Parterre parking lot near Piazza Libertà, Via del Ponte Rosso 4, than most hotels’ garage rates. Its price starts at 2€ per hour, or 10€ for the first 24 hours, 15€ for the second, then 20€ per day; it’s 70€ for up to a week of parking.
Don’t leave your vehicle on the streets of Florence without local knowledge; if you’re towed and fined, you’ll be stuck with a hefty bill and an awful headache in getting your car back. If you are in this position, call the automobile removal office (Recupero Veicoli Rimossi). One more reason not to drive in Florence.
By Cruise
When visiting Florence by cruise ship, there are certain things you should be conscious of in advance. Cruises generally dock at at the port of Livorno, which is 95 km away from Florence’s city center Fortunately, there are many ways to get to Florence from Livorno.
The easiest way to get from the port of Livorno to downtown Florence is by train, which takes about an hour and ten minutes to reach the Santa Maria Novella main train station. Buses and cabs are also fine to use, however, they can be pricier and more time-consuming than the train ride.
What is the best way to travel in Florence?
Once you get to Florence, walking is the best way to get around. The city’s compact size allows traveling from one end to the other in about 30 minutes on foot, passing by many notable landmarks.
Final thoughts
Florence is a popular city for any Italian itinerary. There is so much history waiting for you to visit. And you can get there effortlessly, by air or train. No matter how you decide to get to Florence, be sure to confirm rates and conditions with businesses before finalizing anything, since these may vary. This is key when traveling because anything can happen, and you just never know.
We appreciate you taking the time to read this, and we wish you an amazing trip!