Florence is one of Europe's most walkable cities, and inside the centre you barely need transport at all. Here is the simple version: when to walk, how to reach the airport, and how to get out of town for day trips.
Getting Around Florence
Walk - it's almost always best
The historic centre is small and largely pedestrian, with Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria closed to traffic. Almost every major sight is a 15-20 minute walk from the next, and the walking is the experience. For getting around the centro, comfortable shoes beat any transit pass. Wear them.
The tram (Tramvia)
Florence's modern tramway runs on dedicated tracks that avoid traffic. The line most visitors use is the T2, which connects Florence Airport (Peretola) directly to the edge of the centre near Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes. A single ticket costs EUR 1.70 and is valid for 90 minutes, with unlimited transfers in that window.
Buses
City buses, run by Autolinee Toscane, fill in where the tram and your feet do not reach - for example, bus 12 or 13 up to Piazzale Michelangelo if you would rather not climb. Buy tickets via the AT Bus app, at machines, at tabacchi shops, or by tapping a contactless card on board, and always validate on boarding.
Taxis
Taxis are metered and useful at night, with luggage, or for the hill. You generally cannot hail them on the street; find a taxi rank (at the station, Duomo, and main piazzas) or book by phone or app. Fares within the centre are short and reasonable shared between two or three people.
Trains for day trips
Florence's main station, Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN), is the gateway to Tuscany and beyond. Regional and high-speed trains reach Pisa (about 1 hour), Lucca (about 1h 20m), Siena (about 1.5 hours), and Bologna (about 35 minutes by high-speed). The Cinque Terre takes roughly 2.5-3 hours each way with a change at La Spezia. The Chianti wine country, 30 minutes south, is best reached by car or organised tour rather than train.
When you might rent a car
Never for the city itself - the centre is a restricted traffic zone (ZTL) with heavy fines for unauthorised driving, and parking is a headache. A car only makes sense for exploring the Chianti or rural Tuscany, and even then, pick it up on the way out of town.
FAQ
- Do I need public transport in Florence?
- Rarely inside the centre - it is small and pedestrian, and walking is the best way to see it. You will mainly use transport for the airport (the T2 tram), the climb to Piazzale Michelangelo (bus 12/13), and day trips by train.
- How do I get from Florence airport to the city centre?
- Take the T2 tram from the Peretola Aeroporto stop, a two-minute walk from the terminal, directly to the edge of the centre near Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes. A single ticket is EUR 1.70.
- Should I rent a car in Florence?
- Not for the city. The historic centre is a restricted-traffic ZTL with automatic fines and almost no parking. A car only makes sense for exploring the Chianti or rural Tuscany, picked up as you leave town.
Make it your trip
Save these places and build your own Florence itinerary in TripBox.