Getting from Florence Airport to the city centre is remarkably easy. Florence Airport – officially Aeroporto di Firenze Amerigo Vespucci and often called Peretola – lies close to the city, and most visitors have two sensible choices after landing: the T2 tram or a taxi.
The tram is inexpensive and convenient if you are travelling light or staying near its central stops. A taxi costs more but takes you directly to your accommodation, which can be worth it with luggage, after a long journey or when several people are travelling together.
Airport: Florence Amerigo Vespucci (FLR)
Best budget option: T2 tram
Tram journey: Around 20 minutes to central Florence
Standard urban ticket: €2.00, valid for 90 minutes
Most convenient with luggage: Taxi
Car rental: Usually unnecessary for a stay in Florence
Where Is Florence Airport?
Florence Airport is unusually close to the city. It lies northwest of the historic centre in the Peretola area, which is why you may see the airport referred to as both Florence Peretola and Amerigo Vespucci Airport.
Its airport code is FLR. This is important because travellers researching flights to Florence will also encounter Pisa Airport, which is much farther away and requires a different transfer.
If your ticket says FLR, you are arriving at Florence’s own airport. Reaching central Florence is therefore a relatively short final stage of your journey.
Check the airport code rather than simply the destination name on a flight search. FLR is Florence Airport. PSA is Pisa Airport, which is sometimes presented as an alternative gateway to Florence.
Florence Airport to the City Centre by Tram
For many visitors, the T2 tram is the simplest way to travel from Florence Airport to the city centre. The airport tram stop is immediately associated with the terminal area, so there is no need for a separate shuttle journey before using public transport.
The journey towards central Florence takes roughly 20 minutes. The T2 serves the important Santa Maria Novella area and continues into the centre, making it particularly useful for visitors staying within walking distance of its central stops.
Florence’s tram is modern, straightforward and integrated into the city’s public transport system. If you plan to explore the city without a rental car, it provides a very easy introduction to getting around Florence.
Our Getting Around Florence guide explains how the tram fits together with walking, buses, taxis and trains during the rest of your stay.
Choose the tram if you are travelling relatively light, want the least expensive transfer and can comfortably walk or continue by local transport from a central tram stop to your accommodation.
How Much Does the Florence Airport Tram Cost?
As of September 2026, the standard Florence urban ticket costs €2.00. It is valid for 90 minutes from validation or activation and can be used on the Florence tram and urban public transport network.
That makes the tram exceptionally inexpensive compared with a private transfer or taxi.
Tickets can be purchased using the currently available public transport ticketing options. Depending on the method, remember to validate or activate your ticket correctly when beginning the journey.
Because fares and ticketing systems can change, check the current Autolinee Toscane information shortly before travelling rather than relying on an old screenshot or travel blog.
The standard Florence urban ticket is €2.00 and is valid for 90 minutes in Florence. The fare changed on 1 August 2026, so older websites showing €1.70 may now be out of date.
Where Does the Airport Tram Take You?
The T2 connects Florence Airport with the urban tram network and central Florence. For many travellers, the most useful part of the route is the area around Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Florence’s principal railway station.
Santa Maria Novella is already on the edge of the historic centre. From here, many central neighbourhoods and attractions can be reached on foot.
The Duomo is within walking distance, as are San Lorenzo and large parts of the historic centre. The station is also a useful interchange if you need another form of local transport.
Our guide to Santa Maria Novella introduces the neighbourhood around the station and its major sights.
Should You Get Off at Santa Maria Novella?
Not automatically. The best stop depends on where you are staying.
If your accommodation is close to the station, San Lorenzo or the western side of the historic centre, the Santa Maria Novella area may be ideal. If your accommodation lies elsewhere, another central connection or a taxi may be easier.
This is particularly important with luggage. A 15- or 20-minute walk through Florence is enjoyable while sightseeing but can feel very different when pulling a suitcase over historic paving.
Before flying, save the exact address of your accommodation and check the final section from the tram. Do not assume that “city centre” means every central address is immediately beside Santa Maria Novella.
Florence Airport to the City Centre by Taxi
A taxi is the easiest door-to-door option from Florence Airport. Official taxis are available from the airport, and the journey into central Florence is relatively short under normal traffic conditions.
Florence uses predetermined airport fares for journeys between the airport and central Florence, with possible supplements according to the applicable tariff rules. The exact total can therefore depend on circumstances such as luggage, time or day.
The principal advantage is convenience. You leave the terminal, load your luggage and arrive directly at your accommodation rather than changing from airport transport to a walk through the city.
For two or more travellers, the difference in cost per person also becomes less significant.
Choose a taxi if you have substantial luggage, arrive late, are travelling with several people, have limited mobility or simply want the easiest possible journey from the airport door to your accommodation.
How Much Is a Taxi from Florence Airport?
Florence has a predetermined taxi fare between the airport and the city centre rather than leaving the entire journey to the meter. The municipal tariff introduced a base airport–centre fare of €28 for weekday journeys, with higher predetermined amounts for holidays and night travel.
Additional supplements can apply, including luggage charges. Because taxi tariffs can be revised, check the current official Comune di Firenze tariff shortly before your trip if the exact price matters to you.
The important practical point is that an airport taxi is not an open-ended long-distance transfer. Florence Airport is close to the city, and the municipality regulates the relevant fares.
If choosing a taxi, use the official airport taxi rank. Check the current displayed airport tariff and any applicable supplements rather than accepting an unsolicited transfer offer inside or around the terminal.
Tram or Taxi from Florence Airport?
| Consideration | Tram | Taxi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Very low | Higher |
| Journey | Around 20 minutes to central Florence | Direct to your address; traffic dependent |
| Luggage | Easy with light luggage | Best with heavy luggage |
| Final walk | Usually required | Usually none or minimal |
| Several travellers | Still cheapest | More attractive when cost is shared |
| Late arrival | Check current operating hours | Often more convenient |
| Door to door | No | Yes |
Which Option Would We Choose?
For one person with a small suitcase staying near the tram route, we would normally choose the tram. It is inexpensive, predictable and removes any concern about road traffic.
For two people with substantial luggage travelling to an apartment farther from the tram, a taxi becomes much more attractive. After a flight, the additional convenience may be worth considerably more than the saving offered by public transport.
There is no virtue in making arrival unnecessarily difficult. The cheapest option is not automatically the best option after several hours of travelling.
Light luggage + convenient tram stop = tram.
Heavy luggage + several travellers + door-to-door comfort = taxi.
Florence Airport to Santa Maria Novella Station
If you are continuing your journey by train, the T2 tram is particularly convenient because it connects the airport with the Santa Maria Novella station area.
Firenze Santa Maria Novella – usually abbreviated to Firenze SMN – is the city’s principal railway station. High-speed and regional trains connect Florence with destinations throughout Italy and Tuscany.
If you are changing to a train, allow sufficient time between your flight and railway departure. Baggage reclaim, flight delays and the journey from the airport can all affect a tightly planned connection.
Do not buy an inflexible onward train simply because the scheduled flight arrival appears to leave enough minutes on paper.
Florence Airport to the Duomo
The Duomo lies in the pedestrian heart of Florence, so there is no tram stop directly in front of Florence Cathedral.
Using the tram, travel into central Florence and complete the final section on foot. This is entirely normal: once you reach the historic centre, walking becomes the most useful form of transport.
A taxi can take you closer to your accommodation or destination, although vehicle access within the historic centre is affected by pedestrian areas and traffic restrictions.
If your first instinct after arriving is to rent a car to solve these journeys, resist it. Florence is far easier without one.
Florence Airport to Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio
Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio lie east of the central tram corridor. Both neighbourhoods are very walkable once you are there, but arriving with luggage changes the calculation.
You can take the tram into central Florence and continue on foot or by local transport. Alternatively, a taxi from the airport provides a straightforward door-to-door journey.
Our guides to Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio explain why this part of Florence works particularly well as a base: the historic centre remains within walking distance, while the neighbourhoods retain a strong local character.
The Firenze Casa Florence apartment is near Piazza d’Azeglio, between Santa Croce and Sant’Ambrogio. With only light luggage, tram plus a final connection is possible. With suitcases, a taxi directly from Florence Airport is usually the more comfortable arrival because it avoids crossing part of the historic centre with luggage.
Florence Airport to the Oltrarno
If you are staying in Santo Spirito, San Frediano or elsewhere in the Oltrarno, the same basic choice applies.
Public transport is perfectly possible, but the final route from the tram may involve additional walking or a connection. A taxi becomes more appealing when you have luggage.
Once you have checked in, the situation changes completely. Neighbourhoods such as Santo Spirito and San Frediano are best explored on foot.
Florence Airport to Fiesole
Fiesole lies in the hills north of Florence and is not directly served by the airport tram. Travelling there by public transport involves reaching Florence and then continuing towards Fiesole.
For a visitor arriving with luggage, a taxi can therefore be considerably simpler than combining several stages of public transport.
Once settled, however, Fiesole has regular public transport connections with Florence and can work very well without a car. Our Florence to Fiesole Walk also provides a completely different way of experiencing the relationship between the city and its surrounding hills.
What If Your Flight Arrives Late?
For an evening arrival, check the current T2 operating hours for your particular date. Public transport timetables can change, and special operating arrangements may apply.
If your flight is delayed beyond the convenient tram period, a taxi provides the obvious alternative.
Late arrival is also one situation where simplicity deserves extra weight. Navigating an unfamiliar city with luggage at the end of a long travel day is rarely the best moment to save a few euros through a complicated connection.
What If Your Flight Leaves Early?
The same reasoning applies in reverse. Check the first available tram against the time you need to be at the airport rather than merely against your flight’s departure time.
Remember that you still need time for check-in, baggage drop and security.
For a very early flight, arranging a taxi may be the more dependable and comfortable solution. Your accommodation provider can often advise on the most practical arrangement for departure.
Do You Need to Book the Airport Tram?
No advance seat reservation is normally required for the Florence tram. It functions as urban public transport rather than an airport express train with assigned seats.
You simply need a valid ticket for the journey.
This makes the tram particularly convenient if your flight is delayed: you are not tied to a specific airport transfer departure.
Do You Need to Book a Taxi in Advance?
For a normal daytime arrival at Florence Airport, visitors can use the official taxi rank. A pre-booked transfer is therefore not essential for most travellers.
Advance arrangements can still be useful if you have special mobility requirements, unusually large luggage, a larger group or another reason to need a specific vehicle.
For most independent travellers, however, the decision between tram and taxi can simply be made according to luggage, destination and arrival time.
Should You Rent a Car at Florence Airport?
If you are spending your first days in Florence itself, usually not.
Central Florence is compact, much of the historic centre is restricted to traffic, and parking creates an additional problem rather than solving one. Our guide to Florence Without a Car explains why walking and public transport are generally the better combination.
If you later want to explore rural Tuscany, rent a car when you actually need it rather than keeping one parked during your Florence stay.
A car becomes genuinely useful for countryside itineraries such as Chianti or the Val d’Orcia. Many city-based excursions, however, work perfectly well by train or bus.
Do not rent a car at the airport simply because Tuscany is part of your holiday. Spend your Florence days without one and rent only for the countryside portion of your trip if your itinerary actually requires it.
What About the ZTL?
Florence’s historic centre contains a Zona a Traffico Limitato, or ZTL, where access by unauthorised vehicles is restricted.
This is another reason airport car rental is a poor choice for most city stays. Driving towards a central accommodation address without understanding the restrictions can create unnecessary complications.
If you genuinely need to arrive by car, obtain precise parking and access instructions from your accommodation before entering central Florence. Do not rely solely on your navigation system.
Travelling with Children
Families should base the decision on luggage and energy rather than price alone. A tram journey is simple, but managing several suitcases, hand luggage and tired children can change what feels convenient.
A taxi removes the final walk and allows everyone to reach the accommodation directly. For a family, the additional cost may be relatively modest when considered per person.
If the children are older and everyone has manageable luggage, the tram remains an easy option.
Travelling with Limited Mobility
Florence’s tram provides accessible urban transport, but the entire journey must be considered rather than only the airport section.
The important question is what happens after you leave the tram. Historic paving, distance to the accommodation and steps at the destination can matter more than the airport transfer itself.
If walking the final section would be difficult, a taxi is generally the simpler door-to-door solution. When specific assistance is required at the airport, arrange it with the airline or airport according to the current procedures before travelling.
Travelling with Large Suitcases
This is the situation where many otherwise enthusiastic public-transport users choose a taxi.
Florence is wonderfully walkable without luggage. With a large wheeled suitcase, historic paving and crowded streets make the same route less enjoyable.
If your accommodation is immediately convenient to the tram, use it. If the tram leaves you with a substantial final walk, consider whether the saving is worth beginning your Florence stay by dragging luggage across the centre.
What About Pisa Airport?
Pisa International Airport is a completely different airport, around 80 kilometres from Florence. If your flight arrives at Pisa rather than FLR, the T2 Florence airport tram is not relevant.
Pisa can still be a useful gateway to Florence because of its transport connections, but the transfer requires a longer journey, typically involving rail or another intercity connection.
Always check the airport code when comparing flights. A cheaper flight to Pisa may still be worthwhile, but it should not be compared with Florence Airport as though the two arrival experiences were identical.
FLR: Florence Airport – close to the city, with direct T2 tram access.
PSA: Pisa Airport – farther away and requiring a separate journey to Florence.
Your First Hour in Florence
Arrival does not need to become part of the sightseeing itinerary. Get to your accommodation, leave your luggage and give yourself a moment to settle in.
Once you are free of suitcases, Florence changes immediately. The historic centre is compact enough that your first exploration can begin on foot without another transport plan.
If this is your first visit, our First Time in Florence guide explains how to approach the city without trying to see everything at once.
For choosing the most practical base before you arrive, see Where to Stay in Florence – Neighbourhood Guide.
Our Recommended Florence Airport Strategy
If you are travelling alone or as a couple with manageable luggage and staying conveniently for the T2, take the tram. It is inexpensive, frequent and brings you quickly into Florence.
If you are carrying large suitcases, travelling as a small group or staying some distance from the tram route, take a taxi. The airport is close enough to Florence for door-to-door transport to remain a practical option rather than an extravagant one.
Do not rent a car merely to reach the city. Once you have checked in, explore central Florence primarily on foot.
That is really all the planning most visitors need.
Take the T2 tram for value and simplicity, choose a taxi for luggage and door-to-door convenience, and save the rental car for Tuscany only if you actually need one.
Questions & Answers About Florence Airport to the City Centre
How do I get from Florence Airport to the city centre?
The two most practical options are the T2 tram and an official taxi. The tram is inexpensive, while a taxi provides direct door-to-door transport.
How long does the tram take from Florence Airport to the centre?
The T2 journey from Florence Airport to central Florence takes roughly 20 minutes. Allow additional time to reach your accommodation from the tram stop.
How much is the Florence Airport tram?
As of September 2026, the standard Florence urban ticket costs €2.00 and is valid for 90 minutes. It can be used on Florence’s tram and urban transport network.
Is there a train from Florence Airport to the city centre?
No direct airport railway is needed. The T2 tram connects Florence Airport with central Florence and the area around Santa Maria Novella railway station.
Is a taxi from Florence Airport expensive?
Florence Airport is close to the city, and predetermined municipal airport fares apply to the airport–centre journey. Supplements may apply, so check the current official tariff.
Is the tram easy with luggage?
Yes, particularly with a small or medium suitcase. The more important question is how far you need to walk from the tram to your accommodation.
Should I take the tram or a taxi from Florence Airport?
Choose the tram for low cost and convenience when travelling light. Choose a taxi for heavy luggage, several travellers, limited mobility or direct door-to-door travel.
Do I need to book the Florence Airport tram in advance?
No. It is part of Florence’s urban public transport system and does not require an advance seat reservation.
Do I need a rental car from Florence Airport?
Usually not if you are staying in Florence. Walking and public transport are more practical in the historic centre, while a rental car is better reserved for countryside excursions where it adds genuine freedom.
Is Florence Airport the same as Pisa Airport?
No. Florence Airport uses the code FLR and lies close to the city. Pisa Airport uses the code PSA and requires a much longer onward journey to Florence.
Further Reading on Firenze Casa
- Getting Around Florence
- Florence Without a Car
- First Time in Florence
- Where to Stay in Florence – Neighbourhood Guide
- Santa Maria Novella
- Florence Walking Routes
- Tuscany Day Trips from Florence – Complete Guide
References
- Toscana Aeroporti – Florence Airport official passenger and transport information.
- GEST – Florence tram network and T2 service information.
- Autolinee Toscane – Florence urban fares, tickets and public transport information.
- Comune di Firenze – official taxi tariffs and urban mobility information.
- Comune di Firenze – ZTL and traffic regulation information.
