All About Florence
Guide Sections
Getting There
By Air
Florence's Amerigo Vespucci Airport (+39 055 373 3498 / http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/) is just six miles northwest of downtown, but handles a limited number of airlines. It has recently been renovated to accommodate more passengers and more airlines. They include:
Air France ( +1 800 871 1366 / http://www.airfrance.com/) Alitalia ( +1 800 223 5730 / http://www.alitalia.com/) Austrian Airlines (+1 800 843 0002 / http://www.aua.com/) Belle Air ( +355 42 40 194 / http://www.belleair.al/) Brussels Airlines (+1 516 740 5200 / http://www.brusselsairlines.com/) Carpatair (+44 208 602 7077 / http://www.carpatair.ro/) Continental ( +1 800 231 0856 / http://www.continental.com/) Flybaboo ( http://www.flybaboo.com/) KLM ( +1 800 374 7747 / http://www.klm.nl/) Lufthansa ( +1 800 645 3880 / http://www.lufthansa.com/) Meridiana (+39 0789 52682 / http://www.meridiana.it/) Sterling Airlines ( +44 0870 787 8038 / http://www.sterling.dk/) Swiss Airways ( +1 877 359 7947 / http://www.swiss.com/)
From the Airport
Bus: ATAF (+39 055 56 501 / http://www.ataf.net/) provides bus service every 30 minutes between 6a-11:30p. The ride takes about 20 minutes, depositing passengers at the Santa Maria Novella Rail Station. Cost: EUR4.50.
Taxis: Taxis can be found just outside the arrival terminal. Rides to downtown last 15-20 minutes and cost approximately EUR 20-30.
Rental Cars: There are several rental dealers at the airport with offices in the downtown area near Santa Maria Novella train station.
Avis (+1 800 831 2847 / http://www.avis.com/) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131 / http://www.hertz.com/) Europcar (+39 041 541 5654 / http://www.europcar.com/) National (+1 800 227 7368 / http://www.nationalcar.com/)
By Train
Ferrovie Dello Stato, or FS (http://www.trenitalia.it/), the Italian state railway, enjoys a sound reputation for efficiency. Since Florence is on the main Rome-Milan Line, riders are offered a variety of daily options, including Intercity trains (IC), known for their express service. Santa Maria Novella, the city's main train station located in the north end of Florence, handles most of the rail traffic. Rifredi, a much smaller station, offers a limited number of rail choices.
By Bus
Lazzi Eurolines (+39 055 363 041) handles international travel connecting Florence with major European cities such as Brussels, Barcelona, Paris and Prague. Its station is located adjacent to the Santa Maria Novella train station. Domestic travel is provided by SITA (+39 055 294 9555 / http://www.sita-on-line.it/) to locations such as Lucca, Volterra, Pisa, Siena, Empoli and more.
By Car
Autostrada 1 (A1), Italy's major highway, juts into Florence from Bologna from the north, and continues south to Rome. E76 connects Florence with Pisa and the Ligurian Sea to the west.
Getting Around
The Azienda Transporti Area Florentina, or ATAF (+39 055 56501 / http://www.ataf.net/), manages Florence's bus transportation. It services all the major tourist attractions, operating between 5a-1:30a. Fares: 70-minute ticket EUR 1.20; one-day ticket EUR 5; three-day ticket EUR 12; seven-day ticket EUR 22.
Cars
Cars are not recommended. Most of Florence's narrow streets are limited to locals with properly marked vehicles and filled with locals zooming around on scooters. And if you dare to drive you will quickly learn that the Renaissance never gave thought to parking.
Taxi
Taxis can easily be hailed at stands found at hotels and major squares throughout the city. A minimum fare starts at EUR 4.
Walking
Walking rates as the best means for negotiating Florence's narrow maze of cobblestone alleys and streets. Downtown is very compact with most of the major tourist attractions located within several blocks of each other. Be sure, however, to carry a map.
Motorini
Mopeds, if anything, will make you look like a local. Riders must be 18 and helmets are mandatory. Alinari (+39 055 280 500), Maxirent (+39 055 265 420), and Massimo (+39 055 573 689) are good rental sources. Expect to pay around EUR 30 per day.
Flying Into Pisa (PSA)
Pisa's Galileo Galilei (+39 050 849 300 / http://www.pisa-airport.com/) (PSA) is the larger of the two airports that service Tuscany, but is situated 58 miles west of Florence. Major airlines include:
Air France ( +1 800 871 1366 / http://www.airfrance.com/) Alitalia ( +1 800 223 5730 / http://www.alitalia.com/) British Airways ( +1 800 247 9297 / http://www.ba.com/) Continental (+1 800 525 0280 / http://www.continental.com/) Delta ( +1 800 221 1212 / http://www.delta.com/) easyJet ( +44 870 600 0000 / http://www.easyjet.com/) Lufthansa ( +1 800 645 3880 / http://www.lufthansa.com/) RyanAir ( http://www.ryanair.com/) Sky Europe (+421 2 4850 4850 / http://www2.skyeurope.com/) TUI (+49 511 2200 4713 / http://www.tuifly.com/ ) United ( +1 800 538 2929 / http://www.united.com/) US Airways ( +1 800 622 1015 / http://www.usairways.com/)
Trains & Coaches from Pisa to Florence Riding the train is a good travel option to Florence. The Pisa Aeroporto station provides a train about one every hour between 6:30a-10:30p. Rides last an hour and a half. One-way fare: EUR 5.40.
A new coach service from Pisa to Florence is offered by Terravision (http://www.terravision.eu/florence_pisa.html/), with trips taking just 70-80 minutes and costs EUR 8 one-way.
Rental Cars: Avis (+1 800 831 2847 / http://www.avis.com/) Hertz (+1 800 654 3131 / http://www.hertz.com/) Europcar (+39 041 541 5654 / http://www.europcar.com/) Thrifty (+1 800 367 2277 / http://www.thrifty.com/)
The drive to Florence on the E76 takes about 45 minutes.
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