Getting Around Florence

The city centre has some narrow streets, and in my opinion it's best to visit the town on foot. But there are public transportations going everywhere all the time, so it's very easy to use them. I especially liked the small buses that cover the whole medieval centre.

I bring this tip for the buses that link Florence with the Airport and with other cities such as Siena. In this particular case, it's better to go to that city by bus rather than by train.

The Bus station is opposite the train station and a few meters away from one of the Tourism Office in Florence.

For the bus to the Airport:
- www.aeroporto.firenze.it/EN/index.php?percorso=contents&jk=17&curr=0

This is the station where the buses to Siena leave from.

Some road distances from Florence to:
- Rome: 285 kms.
- Paris (France): 1.146 kns.
- Warsaw (Poland): 1.570 kms.
- Madrid (Spain): 1.688 kms.

The website gives you some other road distances together with driving times and best routes.

Aeroporto di Firenze-Amerigo Vespucci (Florence-Amerigo Vespucci Airport).

Once you arrive in Florence by plane, I recommend to take the bus called Volainbus which, in about 20-25 minutes, will take you to the centre of the city. The bus station in Florence is opposite the railway station. From that place, all the main sights are within a walking distance (apart from where your accommodation is). The Tourism Office is also a few meters away.

It runs every 30 minutes:
- www.aeroporto.firenze.it/EN/index.php?percorso=contents&jk=17&curr=0
- www.ataf.net

Italy has an excellent train network. The railway station is in the city centre, from it, the most important sights of Florence are very close, and one of the Tourism Offices is in front of it, just crossing Piazza della Stazione.

The principal public transportation netwrok within the city is run by the ATAF and Li-nea bus company, with tickets available at local tobacconists, bars and newspaper stalls.

Trenitalia runs trains between the railway stations within the city, and to other destinations around Italy and Europe. The central station, Santa Maria Novella Station, is located about 500 metres NW of Piazza del Duomo.

The centre of the city is closed to through-traffic, although buses, taxis and residents with appropriate permits are allowed in. Within the city walls places can easily be reached by foot

As soon as you reach florence, decide the number of days you are here and buy a ataf bus tickets (biglette) which you can get in any ciggarette/book shops (tabacchi).

From Florence, you can reach majority of places via trains and buses. You can you go to PISA, an hour journey from here. Convenient is train appx 6 euros. Best time to go this place is second half of the day.

Winter season - Abetone, a hill station which is near by florence. This is just 1.5 hours journey. Only way to reach is Bus. (Check out the timings and book the tickets up and down) Here get in wrinch to get a beautiful view. You can do skeeing and have fun.

Summer - Varriggio, a sea shore.

Chinqueteri - This is a five islands, you get a beautiful scenaries and a good place to see.

I used the taxis in Firenze twice while I was there. Just to get to and from my B&B. They are a bit expensive, but if you have luggage with you and need to travel a bit of distance (I was going between my B&B, which was just on the other side of the River Arno, to the train station S.M Novella.), then it is an easy way to travel.

But I do suggest using taxis only when you really need them, as like I said, they can be expensive.