Getting Into Florence

Florence is served by two airports: Amerigo Vespucci Airport, just outside of Florence, and Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa. Here's how to get into the city from each, plus how to arrive by train.

Amerigo Vespucci Airport (Florence)

The Amerigo Vespucci Airport (also known as the Peretola Airport) is located in the suburb of Peretola, 4km (about 2 miles) from downtown Florence, and serves mostly domestic and charter flights.

The Ataf-Sita Volain Bus service makes the 20-minute journey between the airport and Santa Maria Novella train station a remarkable 64 (count 'em!) times a day. That's what we call Cheapo-friendly frequency.

From the airport to the train station, the bus shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. and then once an hour until 11:30 p.m. From the train station to the airport, the shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 5:30 a.m. until 8 p.m and then every hour until 11 p.m. A one-way ticket costs €5. More information can be found online, at the Ataf Web site.

A taxi from the airport into the city center costs between €15 and €20. Taxis can be found outside of the Arrivals Hall and can also be scheduled by radiotaxi: 055 4242, 055 4390, 055 4499 and 055 4798.

Galileo Galilei Airport (Pisa)

The Galileo Galilei Airport, located in Pisa, is another popular landing point for those flying into Tuscany. Though it is 80km (50 miles) from Florence, the city is easily accessible.

From Galileo Galilei Airport, the easiest way into Florence is via train. Trains between the Pisa airport and Florence's Santa Maria Novella train station run six times daily (three on Sundays). From the airport, trains run between 9:00 a.m. and 7 p.m. and from the Florence they run between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The trip takes an hour and fifteen minutes and costs €5.80. For more information visit Trenitalia Web site.

Another way into the center of Florence from Galilei airport is the airport express bus offered by Terravision. The bus service connects Pisa's airport to Florence's Santa Maria Novella train station and takes about 70 minutes. It runs at regular intervals between 8:40 a.m. and 10:15 p.m. from the airport and between 5:50 a.m. and 7:10 p.m. from Florence. Tickets are €10 (€4 for children) each way.

Arriving into the Santa Maria Novella Train Station

If you're arriving directly into Stazione Santa Maria Novella, you're arriving into the heart of Florence. You've got it made. The station is situated just north of Santa Maria Novella church and a 10-minute walk to the Duomo in the bull's-eye of Florence. Everyone hops off the train, walks out the door and straight into town.

The information office in the train station is open 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sundays.