Florence, Italy — Travel Tips
Getting There By Air
Airlines offering flights to Florence from the UK include British Airways, Alitalia, easyJet and Jet2.com.
Galileo Galilei (PSA)
Tel: (050) 849 111 or 849 300 (flight information).
Website: www.pisa-airport.com
Pisa's airport, Galileo Galilei, is the international gateway to Florence. Situated 80km (50 miles) from Florence, it provides easy access to the city by road or rail.
Airport facilities
Facilities include a bank, bureau de change, ATMs, a ground floor nursery and restaurants, shops within La Corte mall, a beauty salon, tourist information and a post office. Car hire operators, including Avis, Europcar, Liberty Rent International, and Sixt Rent a Car, are available in the arrivals hall. There is a dedicated Galilei Business Center where fully equipped rooms can be booked for meetings and seminars. There is also a Galilei VIP Lounge.
Transport to the city
The most hassle-free option for tourists heading to Florence is to take the train. The station, Pisa Aeroporto, is just a short stride from the airport and tickets are available for purchase on the concourse. Trains depart more or less every hour, between 0641 and 2220 (journey time -1 hour 20 minutes). On departing Florence, trains leave between 0627 and 2207.
Terravision (tel: (050) 26080; www.terravision.eu) offers a shuttle bus service to Florence’s Santa Maria Novella train station. It runs 24 hours, and the journey takes 1 hour 10 minutes. Taxis can be found outside the main exit or ordered by telephone (tel: 050 541 600). The journey time varies depending on traffic and prices are high – expect to pay €160.
Amerigo Vespucci (FLR)
Tel: (055) 306 1300.
Website: www.aeroporto.firenze.it
Florence City Airport underwent modernization in 2006 and is situated just 5km (3 miles) from Florence city center.
Airport facilities
Tourist information, banking and exchange facilities are available during office hours and there is a cafe and snack bar. Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Italy by Car, Maggiore and Winrent provide car hire. The Masaccio Lounge on the first floor of departures has a self-service bar, newspapers, satellite TV, telephones, and a computer with internet connection.
Transport to the city
The Vola in Bus (tel: 800 424 500; www.ataf.net) shuttle service departs approximately every 30 minutes between 0600-2100, and then less frequently until 2300. Tickets are available for purchase on board. The shuttle drops passengers off at Florence's central Sita bus station (journey time – around 20 minutes).
Taxis (tel: 055 4242 or 4390) charge a fixed fee of €16 (journey time - 30 minutes, depending on traffic) to the center.
Approximate flight times to Florence
From London - 2 hours 15 minutes; from New York - 12 hours 30 minutes; from Los Angeles - 18 hours 50 minutes; from Toronto -12 hours 50 minutes and from Sydney - 21 hours 25 minutes.
Getting There By Road
Italy has an excellent network of motorways (autostrade). The main north-south link is the Autostrada del Sole, which links Milan with Reggio Calabria in the toe of Italy. Speed limits on motorways are 130kph (81mph) for cars of 1100cc or more and 110kph (68mph) for smaller cars. All motorways are tolled. Alternatively, opt for the toll-free strade statali, which are often fast, multi-lane carriageways. The speed limit is 110kph (68mph). Small country roads outside Florence are worth exploring to wind through the bucolic Italian countryside. Undimmed headlights are prohibited in towns and cities but are compulsory when passing through tunnels, and headlights must be switched on at all times on autostrade and strade statali. The minimum age for driving a car is 18 years. On-the-spot fines for speeding and other driving offenses are heavy. All vehicles must carry a red warning triangle, available at border posts, and a yellow or orange reflective jacket (or two) which must be worn at night or in bad visibility if your car breaks down on a motorway. There is an on-the-spot fine for failing to wear it. UK driving licenses and EU licenses are valid in Italy (UK green licenses must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit). A Green Card and motor insurance certificate are strongly recommended. A driving license or a motorcycle driving license is required for motorcycles over 49cc and crash helmets are compulsory. Petrol stations in town close between 1300 and 1500, though some now offer a self-service option payable by credit card. The AA or RAC in Britain and the AAA in America have reciprocal agreements with the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) (tel: (06) 491115; www.aci.it), who provide a useful advisory service as well as dealing with breakdowns.
Emergency breakdown services
ACI 803 116.
Routes to the city
Italy's central road artery, the A1, links Florence to Milan, Bologna, Rome and Naples. Depending on the direction of approach, access is via the first exit marked 'Firenze' (Nord or Sud). From there, signs for the city center are marked (centro). The Autostrada del Mare (A11) is the main road to Pisa and the coast, linking the city to Tuscan towns such as Lucca, Prato and Siena.
Driving times to the city
From Bologna - 1 hour; Rome - 2 hours; Milan - 3 hours.
Coach services
International coaches depart from Piazza della Stazione (tel: (055) 215 155; www.lazzi.it), next to Santa Maria Novella train station. In collaboration with Eurolines (tel: (055) 5128 419; www.eurolines.it), the station operates an extensive coach service to major European cities, including Antwerp, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Paris and Prague. For domestic travel, the blue SITA (tel: 800 373 760; www.sitabus.it) coaches arrive and depart from Sita Bus Station, Via Santa Caterina da Siena. The fast service to Siena (journey time – 1 hour 15 minutes) is the most direct way for travelers to reach Florence's medieval neighbor. There are also services to Arezzo, Poggibonsi and the wine towns of Chianti (Castellina, Radda and Gaiole).
Getting There By Rail
Rail Services
The Italian state railway is Ferrovie dello Stato (tel: 89 20 21 or 06 6847 5475; www.trenitalia.com), which is reliable and fairly priced, although hefty supplements can be added depending on the type of train (Diretto, Inter-Regionale or InterCity and InterCity Plus). By law, passengers must validate their train tickets, by stamping them in the yellow machines on the platform before boarding - failure to do so can result in a large fine. Services operate from the central train station in Florence, Santa Maria Novella or Firenze SMN, 1 Piazza Unita'Italiana, which is known as Piazza della Stazione. Situated in the north of the city, the station takes its name from the nearby church and provides a good orientation point. Facilities include an all-night pharmacy, a bureau de change, left-luggage and an accommodation booking service. The squat building at the far end of the station complex is a tourist information office (tel: (055) 21 22 45).
Rail Operators
Florence is on the main Rome-Milan line, which ensures a fast service to Italy's tourist centers. Services include the EuroStar Italia, with links to Milan (journey time - 2 hours 20 minutes) and Rome (journey time - 1 hour 40 minutes) and the express service, which serves Naples (journey time - 3 hours 15 minutes). For rail access to ports, there are regular direct trains to Venice (journey time - 2 hours 40 minutes) and to Genoa, usually changing at Pisa (journey time - 3 hours 41 minutes). Direct trains takes 20 minutes less. International train services link Florence to more than 40 other European destinations, including Paris, Zurich, and Munich.
Getting Around in Florence, Italy
Public Transport
The best way to get around Florence is to walk as the city center is so compact. However, there is a comprehensive bus network run by Azienda Trasporti Area Fiorentina (ATAF) (tel: 800 424 500; www.ataf.net) from around 0600-2325, though not on every route. Tickets are valid for 70 minutes, allowing the holder to change buses or make a return journey within the hour. Tickets are available for purchase at newsagents, most coffee bars at the Sala Clienti Ataf in Piazza Stazione and at automatic ticket dispensers. They are also sometimes sold on board the bus, but at a marked-up price.
Travelers must validate their tickets by punching them in the machine on board the bus. A number of bus passes are available, including a 24-hour pass and a three-day pass. These are also available at newsagents, coffee bars and automatic ticket dispensers.
Taxis
Taxis can be hailed on the streets, although they rarely stop. It is better for tourists to head for local taxi ranks (located outside the train station and at most tourist destinations) or telephone for one in advance. Taxis are operated by Radio-Taxi (tel: (055) 4242 or 4390 or 4499 or 4798; www.comune.firenze.it). There are additional supplements charged for luggage (maximum four pieces), calling a taxi, night-time travel or traveling on a Sunday. A tip of 10-15% of the fare is customary.
Driving in the City
Due to its compact size and severe traffic restrictions in the historical center, there is little point in driving to Florence. Visitors staying in luxury hotels however are allowed to drive their car in but only for the purposes of parking.
For visitors making a day trip to Florence by car, you can park in the areas delineated by blue lines, but you'll need to pay. Watch out for scams by fake parking attendants. Sightseers determined to spare their pins but not their pennies could try the underground car park at Santa Maria Novella; check the Firenze Parcheggi (tel: (055) 5030 2209; www.firenzeparcheggi.it; in Italian) site for other car parks. Otherwise, visitors should park at Parterre, near the Piazza della Calza, or Oltrana near Porta Romana.
Car Hire
Several major car hire companies have offices in the city, including Avis, (tel: (055) 3437034; www.avisautonoleggio.it), Hertz, (tel: (055) 239 8205; www.hertz.it), and Italy by Car, (tel: (055) 287 161; www.italybycar.it).
In order to hire a car, drivers must be at least 23 years old, depending on company policy. All drivers without an EU license must carry an International Driving Permit. Despite the popularity of motoring holidays, car hire in Italy is expensive. Basic insurance is usually included in the price with further insurance an optional extra, although the terms of this should always be checked.
Bicycle Hire
To blend in with the cruising Romeos, visitors can hire a scooter or moped from Alinari, (tel: (055) 280 500; www.alinarirental.com). The minimum age for renting a scooter or motorbike is 18 years. The company also has mountain bikes for hire.
There is also a Bici e Baci (tel: (055) 783 882; www.muoversiafirenze.it) bicycle rental scheme run by the local council. Bikes can be hired at various points in the city center, including Santa Maria Novella train station. Hire times range from one hour to a full day.
