Public Transport in Florence - Walking, Trams & Buses

In Florence, the fastest way to get around is usually on your own two feet. The historic centre is so compact that many visitors never once board a tram or bus during their entire stay. Public transport becomes worthwhile once your destination lies beyond the old walls, the airport, Piazzale Michelangelo, or a neighbourhood on the outskirts. A car, meanwhile, is more hindrance than help in the centre.

On foot through the historic centre

The Centro Storico can be covered almost entirely on foot, and the distances are shorter than the map suggests. From the Duomo on Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Signoria it's about 8 to 10 minutes south along Via dei Calzaiuoli, and roughly 10 minutes to the Ponte Vecchio. The entrance to the Uffizi Gallery sits at the south end of Piazza della Signoria, only about 3 minutes from the Ponte Vecchio along the Lungarno Archibusieri.

• Bring comfortable shoes. Large parts of the historic centre are cobbled, so flat, sturdy soles are far more comfortable than thin trainers or heels.
• Distances are short. Because the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria sit so close together, you can combine several highlights in one morning without using any transport at all.
• Crossing into the Oltrarno. The southern bank of the Arno around Oltrarno is also just a few minutes' walk from the centre, across one of the bridges.

For an orderly first walk through the core, see Centro Storico.

Trams, the backbone for outlying destinations

Florence has three modern, low-floor tram lines. T1 links Villa Costanza and Scandicci in the west with the Careggi hospital district, T2 connects the airport to the area around the main railway station, and T3 runs between Fortezza and Stazione Leopolda. None of the lines are really designed for the centre itself, they mainly serve the outer districts and the airport.

• Operating hours. Trams run daily from roughly 5:00 to 0:30, extended to around 2:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Frequency. During the day, trams arrive every 4 to 5 minutes at peak times, every 7 to 10 minutes in the evening and late at night, and about every 16 to 18 minutes overnight at weekends.
• To the airport. T2 covers the route from Amerigo Vespucci Airport to Piazza dell'Unità near Santa Maria Novella in around 20 minutes, details in the guide Airport to the city centre.

One thing worth knowing: a section of T1 between Leopolda/Porta al Prato and Alamanni Stazione has been closed since 7 July 2025 for track works. Operator AT runs a replacement bus service there (Sun-Thu 4:30-0:30, Fri/Sat until 2:00) roughly every five minutes until 20:00 and about every eight minutes after that. If your route runs along this corridor, expect to change.

City buses and the classic ride to Piazzale Michelangelo

A dense bus network complements the tram lines across the city. The most useful route for visitors is the one up to the viewpoint of Piazzale Michelangelo above the Arno: bus routes 12 and 13 run in opposite directions to get you there, taking roughly 15 to 30 minutes from the station or the centre depending on traffic (often around 29 minutes). If you're happy to walk, you can also climb the hill on foot, the view is covered on the Piazzale Michelangelo page. Trams and buses share the same fares and the same tickets.

Tickets, prices and where to buy them

Under the AT fare system, every passenger pays the same price, there's no separate tourist fare.

• Single ticket - €1.70. Valid for 90 minutes on buses and trams, with unlimited transfers. This is the price if you buy in advance, from a machine, a kiosk (tabacchi), or an app.
• More expensive on board. Bought directly from the driver on a bus, the same ticket costs €3.00, or €2.00 plus fees by SMS, buying in advance is always cheaper.
• 10-ride carnet - €15.50. Worth it if you'll be taking several trips.
• Longer stays. A monthly pass costs €38.70, three months €104.50. There are no classic day or weekly tickets under the AT fare system; single tickets, carnets and monthly passes are the standard options.
• Validate your ticket. Tickets must be stamped before or when boarding, otherwise the journey counts as invalid. Discounted ISEE passes are tied to Italian income certificates and aren't relevant for visitors.

Driving and the ZTL, why it's not worth it

The historic centre is a camera-enforced restricted traffic zone (ZTL), split into sectors (A, B, O, F, G). It's active Mon-Fri 7:30-20:00 and Sat 7:30-16:00, and suspended on Sundays and public holidays. For visitors with a hire car, it's the most expensive trap in the city.

• Fines. Unauthorised entry costs roughly €80 to €335 depending on the offence, with a typical standard fine around €80 to €83 per camera passed. Since 2026, every single camera you pass can trigger its own fine, several infringements add up fast.
• Exemptions. Residents with a permit may drive in, as can hotel guests whose number plate the hotel registers in advance with the traffic authority (a whitelist). For apartments or private accommodation, a temporary permit can be requested through the city council (servizi.comune.fi.it).
• Park-and-ride instead of the centre. The Villa Costanza car park on the A1 near Scandicci has its own motorway exit and sits right on the T1 tram line, which reaches Santa Maria Novella in around 22 minutes. Parking costs €2 for up to 4 hours, €5 for up to 10 hours, open around the clock. Further parking, some of it free, can also be found along the T1 line.

If you're arriving by train, you have it easiest: Santa Maria Novella sits right in the centre, about 10 minutes' walk (roughly 750 m) from the Duomo. More on arriving in the city in the guide Getting to Florence.

Taxis and getting around at night

Taxis wait at fixed ranks or are called by phone or app, you don't hail them from the roadside in Florence. The two Florentine taxi cooperatives can be reached on 055 4242 and 055 4390, both also bookable through the appTaxi app. A fixed fare applies for the airport route: €22 from Vespucci Airport to the centre on weekdays during the day, €25 on Sundays, public holidays and at night (22:00-6:00), plus around €1 per bag for luggage.

There's no continuous night service. Trams run until around 0:30, extended to about 2:00 at weekends; after that, it's taxis. If you need step-free access, the tram is the most comfortable option: it's fully low-floor with level boarding at every stop, and T1 stations have lifts, tactile paving and raised platforms. City buses are also accessible, with kneeling floors, ramps and wheelchair spaces, especially the newer electric buses.