SD › Italy › Florence › Airport to Central Florence
Updated: April 26, 2022
By Santorini Dave
On This Page
- Taking a Taxi from Florence Airport to City Center
- Taking a Taxi from City Center to Florence Airport
- Taking a Tram from Florence Airport to City Center
- Taking a Tram from City Center to Florence Airport
- Taking a Bus from Florence Airport to City Center
- Taking a Bus to Florence Airport from City Center
- Picking Up a Rental Car at Florence Airport
- Dropping Off a Rental Car at Florence Airport
How Far is Florence Airport From City Center?
The Florence Airport (code FLR), also known as Peretola or Amerigo Vespucci Airport, is located about 8 km (5 miles) northwest of Florence city center. It is very easy to get to and from the Florence Airport by taxi, tram, bus, or rental car; the journey usually lasts 15-30 minutes. Click here for a map of the easiest route.
How Far in Advance Should I Get To Florence Airport?
The Florence Airport is small and very manageable, with only one runway. It’s generally not necessary to get to the airport more than two hours in advance of your flight time. If you already have a boarding pass and simply need to check baggage and go through security, an hour and a half should be fine.
Florence Airport Busiest Hours Monday
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Florence Airport Busiest Hours Saturday
Florence Airport Busiest Hours Sunday
Overhead signs within the airport point travelers in the direction of the taxi stand, downtown shuttle bus stop, and rental car shuttle.
The tourist information counter is located directly across from the airport’s main entrance. If you have any questions, ask here.
Taking a Taxi from Florence Airport to City Center
It takes about 15 minutes to get from the airport to Florence city center, and taxi fare generally runs about €25. There’s a standard €22 fixed fare from the airport to any point in Florence’s city center, plus a €2.70 fare supplement for trips that begin at the airport. Baggage fees and higher Sunday/holiday/nighttime rates may also apply.
A queue of taxis is generally waiting at the airport taxi stand, located around the corner to the right of the airport exit, though taxis can also be ordered by phone at 055.4242, 055.4390, and 055.4798. You can also download the It Taxi App, which allows users to order cabs and pay via mobile phone.
Taxi fare from Florence Airport to City Center
• Airport-Downtown fixed rate: €22 (€24 on Sundays/Holidays, and €25 from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.)
• Fare supplement for trips beginning at the airport: € 2.70
• Luggage fee: €1/bag (maximum 7 bags)
It is not customary to tip cab drivers in Italy, except for exceptional service, though it is common to round up fare to the nearest Euro. Many Italian cab drivers don’t accept credit cards, and most prefer payment by cash. There are ATMs located along the front of the building, en route to the taxi stand, as well as inside the airport, to the left of the elevators.
To find the taxi stand, turn right upon exiting the airport, and walk along the front of the building to the end, then turn right to access the queue.
Many taxis are usually waiting to take passengers to Florence city center. Taxis ordered by phone or via the It Taxi App can also be met here.
ATMs are located along the front of the building, en route to the taxi stand, as well as inside the building, near the elevators.
Taking a Taxi from Central Florence to the Florence Airport
Taxi trips to the airport from central Florence are charged a flat rate of €22, with additional baggage fees and higher Sunday/holiday/nighttime rates.
Taxi fare from Central Florence to the Florence Airport
• Airport-Downtown fixed rate: €22 (€24 on Sundays/Holidays, and €25 from 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.)
• Luggage fee: €1/bag (maximum 7 bags)
Taxis in Italy cannot be flagged down, they are available for hire at marked taxi stands across most major squares and tourist points in Florence. They can also be ordered by phone at 055.4242, 055.4390, and 055.4798; and via the It Taxi App, which allows users to order cabs and pay via mobile phone.
Here is a map of taxi stands in Florence. For an interactive map, click here.
A photo of a typical taxi stand in Florence. This one is at Piazza di Santa Croce. Taxi stands can be found near most of the major Piazzas in Florence.
Taking a Tram from Florence Airport to City Center
For only €1.50, Florence’s T2 Vespucci tram gets passengers from the airport to Florence’s city center in about 20 minutes. The line runs for a little over five kilometers with twelve stops, three of which are in Central Florence: Rosselli, Santa Maria Novella, and Unità (the end of the line). Most travelers to Florence will want to disembark at Santa Maria Novella (near the tram stop’s namesake cathedral and the city’s main train station) or Unità (closest to the Duomo and heart of the city).
Bus fare from Florence Airport to City Center
• Single Ticket/90 minutes: €1.50
• Carnet (Ten Tickets): €14.00
Trams depart from the airport just before 5:00 a.m. all day until just after midnight most days. Timetables and more detailed tram info can be found on the GEST website. Every tram stop has an automated ticket machine that accepts cash, credit, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
Small to medium-sized luggage can be carried on for free. Luggage larger than 80 cm x 45 cm x25 cm or greater than 20 kg requires its own ticket to ride. There is a limit of large luggage pieces per passenger. Tram tickets are the same as the ATAF city bus tickets (not the same as the Volainbus mentioned later in this article). This means that after validating your tram ticket when boarding, the tickets are good for transfers to city buses for 90 minutes, plenty of time to reach the city’s farther-flung hotels.
Taking a Tram from City Center to Florence Airport
For only €1.50, Florence’s T2 Vespucci tram gets passengers from Florence’s city center to the airport in about 20 minutes. The line runs for a little over five kilometers with twelve stops, three of which are in Central Florence: Rosselli, Santa Maria Novella, and Unità (the start of the line). Most travelers heading to the airport will want to board at Santa Maria Novella (near the tram stop’s namesake cathedral and the city’s main train station) or Unità (closest to the Duomo and heart of the city).
Bus fare from City Center to Florence Airport
• Single Ticket/90 minutes: €1.50
• Carnet (Ten Tickets): €14.00
Trams depart from the Unità from just after 4:30 a.m. all day until after 12:30 a.m. most days. Timetables and more detailed tram info can be found on the GEST website. Every tram stop has an automated ticket machine that accepts cash, credit, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Tickets can be purchased in advance any of the 1000+ ATAF vendors in the city (mostly at newspaper kiosks and tobacco shops), the ATAF point inside Santa Maria Novella train station.
Small to medium-sized luggage can be carried on for free. Luggage larger than 80 cm x 45 cm x25 cm or greater than 20 kg requires its own ticket to ride. There is a limit of large luggage pieces per passenger. Tram tickets are the same as the ATAF city bus tickets (not the same as the Volainbus mentioned later in this article) and are good for 90 minutes after the initial validation. This means that if you are staying at a hotel outside the main city center, you can board a bus, validate the ticket, and use that same ticket to board a tram to the airport.
Taking a Bus from Florence Airport to City Center
Volainbus operates a shuttle bus that takes passengers directly between the Florence Airport and the city center. Buses leave the airport every half hour from 5:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m., then hourly until 12:30 a.m. Transit time is around 20 minutes.
Early morning (5:30, 6:00, and 6:30 a.m.) and night shuttles (9:30, 10:30, and 11:45 p.m., 12:30 a.m.) take passengers to the main doors at Santa Maria Novella train station. All other shuttles drop passengers off at the nearby bus terminal, located at at Via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17. There are plenty of taxis available for hire at both of these locations, though it is only a 15-20 minute walk to most hotels and points of interest in central Florence.
Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver at no extra charge (cash only), or inside the airport at Giunti’s Bookstore. There are ATMs located along the front of the building, en route to the bus stop, as well as inside the airport, to the left of the elevators.
Bus fare from Florence Airport to City Center
• One Way: €6
• Round-Trip: €10
• Children under 3: Free
Shuttle bus timetables and station maps can be found here.
To get to the shuttle bus pick up location, turn right upon exiting the airport, and walk along the front of the building. At the end of the building, follow the sign pointing ahead and slightly to the left to the covered shuttle waiting area.
Bus tickets can be purchased inside the airport at Giunti’s Bookstore near the building entrance. They can also be purchased directly from the driver at no extra charge (cash only).
Taking a Bus from Central Florence to the Airport
Volainbus operates a shuttle bus that takes passengers directly between central Florence and the Florence Airport. This shuttle operates every half hour from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., then hourly until midnight. Transit time is around 20 minutes.
Early morning (5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 a.m.) and night shuttles (9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 p.m., midnight) pick up passengers just outside the main doors at Santa Maria Novella train station. All other shuttles leave from the nearby bus terminal, located at at Via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17.
Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver at no extra charge (cash only), inside the train station at the AGENZIE 365 near the Trenitalia ticket office, at the bus terminal’s BUSITALIA-SITA ticket office, and anywhere that ATAF bus tickets are sold.
Bus fare from Florence City Center to the Florence Airport
• One Way: €6
• Round-Trip: €10
• Children under 3: Free
Shuttle bus timetables and station maps can be found here.
A VolaInBus shuttle waits at the bus station to take passengers to the airport. This is where to catch the bus from 7am until 9pm.
Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver at no extra charge (cash only), or just inside at the bus station’s ticket office.
Early morning (5, 5:30, and 6am) and night shuttles (9, 10, and 11pm, midnight) pick up passengers in the “gallery” area just outside the main doors at Santa Maria Novella train station.
Picking Up a Rental Car at Florence Airport
Airport rental cars can be picked up at Palagio degli Spini, accessed from the airport via a free shuttle bus. Buses run every 20 minutes or so, and the shuttle bus stop is located just outside the terminal.
Upon exiting the airport, turn left to access the free shuttle bus to car rental.
Dropping Off a Rental Car at Florence Airport
Rental cars are not returned to the car park at Florence Airport, but to Via Palagio degli Spini, located a short distance away. After returning your car, take the free shuttle bus to the Florence Airport; this runs every 20 minutes or so.
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