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Are you planning to spend two days in Florence without renting a car and are curious to know if Florence public transportation is a good option?
Public transportation in Florence is a valid option.
Public transportation is efficient in both Florence and northern Tuscany, therefore, it serves as a reliable choice for both intra-city travel and for day trips in and around the city.
Which are the most commonly used means of public transportation?
Getting around Florence using public transportation is possibile.
A car is not necessary for your visit to Florence. You can get around the city but also visit the neighboring cities such as Pisa, Lucca, or Siena which are all well connected with Florence. In the city you can choose between the bus, the tram, or taxis. When leaving the city you can take extra urban buses or the train.
But which means of transport is the best choice in Florence? It depends where you want to go.
Here is a guide for you on the most reliable and comfortable options.
Buses in Florence

There is no shortage of buses in Florence. You can easily reach Piazzale Michelangelo (lines 12 and 13) and Fiesole (line 7).
Other major lines are the 17, which connects the Cascine Park with the neighborhood around the stadium.
The number 23 goes between the Novoli and Gavinana neighborhoods.
And the number 6 starts in Coverciano and takes you to the Torregalli Hospital in Scandicci.
Unfortunately, buses can run late in Florence or skip runs. It’s also not that easy to find one’s way at the stops when new to the city; furthermore, tourist information is not always clear or intuitive. The names of the stops are not clear and the schedules don’t always have all the stops on them. So it can be difficult to understand exactly where the bus stops are. Once on board, there are no signs of the complete course. For this reason it can be difficult to understand the routes.
The most useful buses are the number 12 and 13 which leave from via il Prato, behind the Santa Maria Novella station (Rotonda Barbetti stop) and follow a circular route to Piazzale Michelangelo and back.
Another very useful bus is the number 7 which connects the central station (the Stazione-Nazionale stop in front of the Conad supermarket in Largo Alinari) with Fiesole, a town near Florence.
If you have decided to rent an apartment outside the city center and want to reach the center by bus, get information about the stop nearest to you and where to get off.
Bus tickets cost 1,70 euro and are valid for 90 minutes from time of validation. You can purchase them in tabaccherie, at the automatic machines you can find in the tram stops or online with the “at bus” app.
It is possible to pay on board with machines that accept VISA; however, you can only pay for one ticket at a time with a card.
You can find the various bus lines and schedules here and on the “at bus” app (which isn’t very user friendly).
Public transportation in Florence: getting around by tram

The city of Florence has invested its resources in developing the tram lines in recent years. In fact the tram is now the most convenient and quickest public transport in Florence.
There are two lines:
- T1 from the Careggi Hospital to Scandicci,
- T2 from Peretola airport to the Santa Maria Novella train station.
Soon, by Fall 2024, the T2 line will be extended to Piazza San Marco.
If you plan to come to the city for the day but don’t know where to park in Florence, the tram could be the best solution as it allows you to leave your car in a parking lot located off the A1 freeway at Villa Costanza.
Indeed, the end of the line T1 is the parking lot, and from there you can easily reach the center by tram. The ride is about 20 minutes long. Your stop is the Alamanni Stazione stop.
Meanwhile with the T2 line you can get to the center from the airport. The tram leaves directly from the airport and terminates in Piazza dell’Unità, just a few steps from the Duomo, and the same line will soon take you as far as San Marco.
If you do not know where to stay in Florence, thanks to the tram lines you can book accommodations outside the center, in the Statuto neighborhood for example, or in Novoli or Isolotto, which are all well connected with the central train station of Santa Maria Novella.
The tram ticket, just as the bus ticket, costs 1,70 euro and is valid for 90 minutes once validated. You can buy them from the machines located at the tram stops, in the tabaccherie or on the “at bus” app. You can also pay with a VISA on board.
Getting around Florence by taxi

Taxis are another good option for getting around Florence. They can be especially convenient on arrival or when you’re heading to your hotel with luggage. It might also be the best choice if you want to go around during night in Florence.
As in most cities, there is a shortage of taxis, so don’t be surprised if you have to wait for the car to arrive.
You can call one of two cab companies: +39 055 4390 or + 39 055 4242. You can also use the “Taxi Move” app.
Public transportation in Florence: getting around by train
The railway system in Tuscany is well connected, so you will be able to organize day trips from Florence to neighboring cities with a regional train. You can visit Pisa, Lucca, Prato, Pistoia, Viareggio, Arezzo, and Certaldo by train. Each of these destinations has a lot to offer: art, history, and great food.
Pisa is famous for its Duomo complex with the cathedral, the baptistry and the bell tower. In Lucca you can visit the center which is still surrounded by the majestic sixteenth-century walls. You can visit Prato and Pistoia in one day and visit the churches and the charming narrow streets of the historic center. In Viareggio you can spend a relaxing day at the beach. In Arezzo you can enjoy seeing Piero della Francesca’s frescoes in the Church of San Francesco, while in Certaldo you can relax in a medieval hamlet far from the crowds.
The central train station in Florence is located directly in the center of the city and is called Santa Maria Novella. Here you can find the train schedules. Tickets can be purchased online, on the Trenitalia app, at the ticket desk in the station or with the self-service machines.
Remember to validate your printed ticket before getting on the train or to check-in with the app if you have a digital ticket.
Florence transportation with suburban buses
If you plan to leave Florence on day trips you can use the suburban buses. It’s the best way to get to Siena. The trip lasts about an hour and a half and the bus takes you directly to the historical center of Siena and drops you off in Piazza Gramsci.
Buses leave Florence from via Santa Caterina da Siena.
The bus for Siena is the number 131R (fast bus). Departure times on weekdays are 8:10, 9:10, 10:10, 11:10 and so on. Return times are at 15:10, 16:10 and 17:10.
You can purchase tickets round trip at the bust station in Florence. Remember to validate your tickets before getting on the bus or validate them on board! If you travel with an unvalidated ticket you can be fined.
Florence public transportation: pros & cons
Florence public transportation is a good alternative to using your car. By using the Florence public transportation you eliminate any concerns about car parking. Moreover, it’s a cost-effective choice as it helps you save a significant amount on parking fees.
Another advantage of taking the tram or the train is that they are not slowed by the traffic, so you can conveniently get around in a sustainable and ecological way.
The public transportation’s limitations are:
- a lack of trains in Southern Tuscany;
- little passenger information on city buses and suburban buses;
- delays and skipped runs on city buses.
Unfortunately, the use of buses can be a bit complicated for those not familiar with Florence and the region of Tuscany. It takes some time to become familiar with the bus lines and the stops; however, if you do a bit of research, you can get around Florence by bus with no difficulty.
Which means of transportation to avoid when getting around Florence?
I suggest you to avoid using the golf cars, the pedicabs, and the several electric vehicles that are present on the streets of Florence.

I know that these drivers offer taxi services to tourists.
Don’t trust this service! They overcharge and their services can’t compare with those of a taxi. Golf cars don’t have a taxi license. They should only offer tours that follow a specific itinerary or route, and so I wouldn’t recommend using them for rides.
I hope that this guide has been helpful to you.
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