Arrival brief · Florence FLR
FLR Arrival Guide: Florence Airport (& Train) to the Centre, Without the Traps
Florence's airport is small and close to the city, and the arrival is easy — the T2 tram runs straight to the centre. Many visitors also arrive by train; either way there's little to defend against.
2026-08-23
What to expect after landing
Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci (FLR) is a small airport close to the city, and the arrival is quick and honest — no tout culture, clear signage, and a modern T2 tram straight to the centre. Buy and validate a tram ticket, or take the fixed-fare official taxi. Many visitors also reach Florence by train into central Santa Maria Novella (SMN) — equally easy.
Option 1 — T2 tram (easy and cheap)
The T2 tram runs from outside the terminal to the city centre (Unità, by Santa Maria Novella station) in about 20 minutes for a couple of euros. Buy from the machine and validate on board. The simple choice if you’re travelling light.
Option 2 — Taxi (fixed fare, honest)
The official white taxi rank charges a fixed flat fare to the centre, with posted day/night/holiday rates and a small per-bag supplement — honest and easy with luggage. No meter haggling for the standard trip.
Arriving by train
Flying into Pisa (PSA) or Rome and taking the fast train to SMN is a common, cheap alternative that drops you in the centre. Book from Trenitalia/Italo, validate regional tickets before boarding, and keep valuables secured in the station crowds.
What it looks like
There’s essentially no scam at FLR — it’s small and honest. The only notes are the everyday city ones once you’re in the centre: keep your bag secured on the busy tram and around SMN station, and buy museum tickets official rather than from queue touts.
Do this instead
Take the T2 tram (validate your ticket) or a fixed-fare official taxi into the centre, or arrive by train into SMN. Keep your bag in front in the station and tram crowds. That’s the whole arrival — then enjoy one of the world’s great art cities.
Late-night arrivals
The tram runs until late evening (check the last departure); after that, the official fixed-fare taxi with its legitimate night surcharge is the simple option. Florence is very safe at night — take the tram or an official taxi straight to your hotel.
Quick answers
What's the best way from Florence airport to the city centre?
The T2 tram is the easy choice — it runs from right outside the terminal to the city centre (Unità, near Santa Maria Novella station) in about 20 minutes for a couple of euros. Buy a ticket from the machine and validate it on board. A taxi charges a fixed flat fare to the centre (with posted day, night, and holiday rates and a small bag supplement) and is honest and simple with luggage. Both are straightforward; there's no tout problem at FLR.
Are taxis at Florence airport honest?
Yes — Florence airport taxis run on official fixed flat fares to the city centre, with the rates (including night/holiday surcharges and a per-bag supplement) posted at the rank and set by the city. Use the official white taxi rank outside arrivals, confirm it's the flat centre fare, and it's an honest ride. There's no meter haggling for the standard airport-to-centre trip. The tram is cheaper if you're travelling light.
Should I fly into Florence or arrive by train?
Both work well. Florence's own airport (FLR) is small; many visitors fly into Pisa (PSA) or Rome and take the excellent, fast trains to Florence's central Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station instead — often just as quick overall and very cheap. If you arrive by train, you're right in the centre. Whichever you choose, book train tickets from the official operators (Trenitalia/Italo), validate regional tickets before boarding, and keep your valuables secured in the SMN crowds.
What if I land at Florence late at night?
The tram runs until late evening (check the last departure for your arrival time); after that, the official fixed-fare taxi (with a legitimate night surcharge) is the simple choice. Florence is very safe at night, so a late arrival is low-stress — take the tram if it's still running or a taxi from the official rank straight to your hotel. Keep your bag secured on the tram and around the station as normal.