Transportation In and Around Florence
Navigating Florence
Florence overall is a very walkable city and Europe takes immense pride in its well-developed and accessible public transportation network, which seamlessly connects its diverse neighbors and iconic landmarks. But when walking isn't possible, below are some public transit options.
Trams
The tram is an environmentally-friendly alternative to the bus and the taxi. The tram allows the students to easily reach TSH (T1) and the airport (T2) from the train station. T1 line also connects the train station with Villa Costanza, a bus station often used by our students who travel by bus around Italy.
In 2024 they are going to 2 new tram lines too and it will be possible to reach many more parts of town. More information about trams in Florence: https://en.comune.fi.it/administration/tramway/system.html
Bike Rentals
It’s possible to rent bikes and electric bikes all over Florence. They can use the Mobike app to use the Florence public bikes.
For students staying at TSH it’s also possible to use their bikes (we suggest you buy their insurance that is cheap and allows you to be covered in case someone steals the TSH bike).
We always recommend our students to be extra careful if they are not used to riding bikes (especially the electric ones): sometimes the traffic can be intense and they need to learn how to respect Italian traffic rules to be safe too.
Airport Shuttles
The Amerigo Vespucci airport is connected with the city center by VOLAINBUS, a service provided by BUSITALIA – SITA Nord. This is a shuttle service (about 20-30 minutes) between the airport terminal and the center of Florence: no intermediate stops are made except in the outskirts of the railway station. The bus stop in Florence is at via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17. The bus company is Cotral and can be called at +39-338 56789. Their website is http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en/the-passengers/transport/bus.html.
Schedule
- Weekdays - 6:00 / 20:30 (every 30 minutes)
- Holidays - 20:30 / 23:30 (every 60 minutes).
Alternately, the tram Line 2 runs between the airport and the Santa Maria Novella station. However, tickets are not sold on board, and must be purchased before boarding.
Taxis
Useful taxi apps in Italy: itTaxi & appTaxi
Taxis are white and can be hailed by phone, or found at one of the various taxi ranks dotted around the city. It's even possible to get them by SMS or Skype. Note: you cannot simply flag down a taxi on the street!
- Remember to speak slowly so the operator can fully understand your location and request!
- Customers are advised to read the information about prices displayed inside the vehicle. Consider that there may be extra charges for baggage, or for more than three people.
- Connections between the Florence airport and the hotels of the city center have a fixed price, with supplements for suitcases, weekends and holidays.
- You can pay for many taxis by credit card. Fares are on display inside the taxi.
- There are special fares for women riding alone at night from 9pm to 2 am, and a dedicated line that can be used during those hours by calling +39 055 436 1904 or +39 334 662 2550. This service is known as Taxi Rosa, or "Pink Taxi".
Taxi drivers are associated with two cooperatives:
CO.TA.FI Tel +39 055 4390 – +39 055 4499
SOCOTA Tel +39 055 4798 – +39 055 4242
Customers are advised to read the information about prices displayed inside the vehicle to make sure that the fare charged is correct. Some example charges and fares within the city boundaries:
- Preliminary fixed charge: € 3.20
- Night-time preliminary fixed charge (from 22.00 to 6.00): € 6.40
- Preliminary fixed charge on Sundays and public holidays: € 5.10
- Baggage supplement (max. 5 items): € 1.00 per item
- Florence Vespucci Airport to City center: fare of € 22-25.00 (plus baggage supplements + extra fee for night or holiday travel)
In addition to the above charges, there is also the fare clocked up on the meter, typically charged by kilometer, and other possible charges. For further information, visit the website of the Florence City Council, where you’ll also find other set fares for trips from the center to the hospitals.
Here are the official rates as published by the main taxi companies in Florence:
So.Co.Ta. (055.4242) : http://www.4242.it/
055.4390: http://www.4390.it/wp/tariffario
Use Taxi Fare Finder if you’re looking for an idea of what the fare will cost. If you’re traveling within the center, keep in mind that there is a minimum fare of 5 euro regardless, and this site doesn’t take that into account.
If you are a woman out in the city center and have to get back to your hotel or apartment alone at night, take a taxi! Be safe and get a 10% discount off the fare if you travel alone between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. – the discount isn’t automatic, so ASK FOR IT!
Navigating Italy and Europe
One of the most important things to consider when planning your travel is to book your transportation in advance. This will ensure that you have a guaranteed spot on the train, bus, or plane and will also save you money.
Depending on your destination, you may have multiple options such as trains, buses, and planes. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that best suits your needs. For example, trains are a great option for short distances as they are often faster than driving and more convenient than flying, while buses are often the cheapest option.
Additionally, consider using apps like Google Maps and other transportation apps, to check multiple options and compare prices, it can save you a lot of time and money.
Finally, before you leave, make sure you have all the necessary documents and tickets, including your passport or ID card, and double-check your itinerary to make sure you don't miss your connection. With these tips and tricks, you'll be able to book your transportation and travel around Europe with ease.
Trains
Travel by rail in Italy is fast, cheap, reliable, and an excellent choice for travel within Italy. Italy has two types of trains: slower regional trains, which service most places, and the newer fast trains, which connect several large hubs across Italy.
Regional Trains
You can buy regional train tickets online, but it is often more convenient to buy them at the station. Just be sure to show up about an hour early to secure a ticket and comfortably validate it and find your train. Physical tickets must be validated at the machines in the terminal before you depart, and are good for four hours of travel after validation. Always validate your ticket BEFORE getting onto the train to avoid hefty fines!
If you choose to purchase online, be sure to have a screenshot handy of your ticket in case your wifi/data is not reliable when they come around to check tickets: it is typical to check tickets after the train has started moving, and service can be spotty.
If you need to reschedule your ticket, this can usually be done online for virtually purchased tickets, or at a nearby ticket booth.
High Speed Trains
For high-speed trains (i.e. Trenitalia's Frecciarossa trains and Italo Treno's high speed trains) you must book a ticket in advance for a specific seat and train car. These tickets do not need to be validated, unlike regional train tickets. Note: It is important to ensure you buy tickets from the official train websites (Trenitalia: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html Italo Treno: https://www.italotreno.it/en) and not third party groups.
Read more about the difference between the two types of trains here, or check out our handy video guide.
Buses
Italian metro bus tickets can be bought at pretty much any tabaccheria, or for around 2€ once you board the bus from the driver. If you plan to take the bus often during your stay, it can be convenient to purchase several tickets at a time and then validate them as needed. Bus and tram stops in popular cities also sometimes have.
A bus ticket is valid from the moment it is validated, and lasts for the amount of time listed on the ticket. In Florence, typically this is 90 minutes, but outside of the city this decreases to 70 minutes. Tickets differ between regions, so be sure to read the information on your ticket. You MUST validate your bus tickets on the bus AS SOON as you get on to avoid a huge fine!
The official ATAF website has timetables and bus routes available for you to plan your trip: Google Maps can also be helpful, but is less accurate. Find the timetable at http://www.ataf.net/en/.