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Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport is located in the Peretola district, northwest of the city center, and has good transport links to Florence. Thus, you can reach the center (Santa Maria Novella station) by VOLAINBUS bus in just half an hour. The express route runs at 20-minute intervals from 05:30 to 20:30 and every hour from 20:30 to 00:30 from Monday to Sunday.
From the city to the airport, the bus leaves from the bus stop at via Santa Caterina da Siena, 17. Departures are every half hour from 05:00 to 20:00, and every hour from 20:00 to 00:10. A one-way ticket costs €6 and a round-trip ticket costs €10, and can be purchased from the driver or at the ticket office at the airport. You can also buy tickets at the ticket office of the carrier (BUSITALIA — SITA Nord) in the Santa Maria Novella station.
A cab to the city will cost more — on average €15.
Keep in mind: if there are no affordable flights to Florence for your dates, you can look for flights to other Italian cities that are nearby. For example, you can travel from Bologna to Florence by train in less than an hour. And the Florence train station is located in the city center.
Hotels in Florence are not cheap: a room in a four-star hotel in the city center will cost you at least €170-190 per night. And this is in the presence of seasonal discounts. Usually, prices start from €250/night for a room.
It's cheaper to stay in a hostel (from €19/night for one person) or rent a room from a local (from €27/night).
Florence is the capital of Tuscany, so all the best of the region can be found here (for example, tasting the delicious Tuscan cuisine and, of course, its famous wines). We'll tell you the best (and cheapest) places to discover the local culinary masterpieces.
As the name suggests, this small establishment specializes in Tuscan wines, to which you will be offered snacks in the form of cheeses, ham and anchovies. But besides that, you can order salads, sandwiches and traditional Italian bruschetta. The average price for an order is €10.
Address: Via dell'Ariento, 16, a five-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella and Piazza del Duomo.
This small restaurant is located behind the Mercato Centrale market and looks rather inconspicuous. But here you can taste real homemade food cooked according to the best Tuscan recipes because the place has been owned by the same family for more than 60 years!
The trattoria menu includes potato ravioli with meat sauce, fish, vegetable soups, appetizing steaks and much more. The menu changes every day.
It should be taken into account that there are quite a lot of visitors here, and there is no reservation, so sometimes you have to wait until a table is free.
The average price for an order is €10. The restaurant accepts cash only.
Address: Via Rosina, 2r (corner of Piazza del Mercato Centrale). Open Monday through Saturday from 12:00 to 15:30.
Il Vinaino
Here you can also taste local wines "in company" with classic Italian tagliatelle noodles with mushrooms or meat sauce. Average cost of an order for one is €10.
The Facility's address is 124 via Palazzuolo (near the central station).
Oibò
This cafe is a great place for breakfast or lunch at quite adequate prices. For example, a portion of lasagna costs €8 and vegetable soup with cheese toast is €7. You can also come here between 19:00 and 22:00 for an aperitivo buffet and order any drink for €8, with free access to the buffet.
Bar address: Borgo de' Greci, 1.
This family restaurant is located on Via Pisana, 2 and offers the best traditional Italian cuisine. It is open from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 14:30 and from 19:00 to 22:00.
All public transportation in Florence is managed by a single transportation company — ATAF, which provides a common system of tickets and passes for buses and streetcars.
For example, a 90-minute ticket costs €1.40 (when purchased at a kiosk/automatic machine) or €2 (when purchased on the bus). A night bus ride (from 20:00 to 03:00) costs €4.
A tourist will find it more profitable to buy a pass for 24 hours (€5), 3 days (€12) or a week (€18). Tickets and passes can be purchased at the Santa Maria Novella train station in the ATAF lounge or at tobacco and newspaper stands around the city.
Hint: you can combine the pleasant with the even more pleasant and take a trip around Florence, for example to Siena and Pisa. The easiest way is by bus, especially since the bus station is very close to the Santa Maria Novella train station.
The trip to Siena will take an hour (ticket costs €7.80), while Pisa or the Tyrrhenian coast is better by train (1-1.5 hours, ticket costs from €8).
In Florence, you can have an interesting time without spending a fortune. Don't believe me? Then here's the proof: Florence's attractions that you can see for free:
Entrance to the cathedral is free. It is open to tourists from 10:00 to 17:00 Monday through Friday, from 10:00 to 16:45 on Saturday and from 13:30 to 16:45 on Sunday and religious holidays. Climbing the bell tower as well as visiting the crypt costs €10.
You can get here from Santa Maria Novella station by bus number 12 (stop Piazzale Michelangelo). You can visit the Basilica, which is open Monday through Friday from 09:30 to 13:00 and from 15:30 to 19:00, and on Sunday from 08:15. Or you can just enjoy the view of the city, as the abbey is located on one of the highest points in Florence.
This square has a rich history: it was the seat of the government of the Republic of Florence (Signoria), where executions took place and state affairs were decided. Today, visitors come here to admire the statues that adorn the square (a copy of Michelangelo's famous David Michelangelo's "Hercules" at Palazzo Vecchio and Donatello's "Judith") and the Neptune Fountain.
The square is a 15-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella Station.
The gallery exhibits contemporary art: paintings, installations and other works.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00.
It's worth a visit for the marvelous beauty of the frescoes that decorate the interior of the pharmacy, which is more like a museum (you bet, because it was founded by Dominican friars in 1221!). And you can also buy some fragrant souvenir as a keepsake (the pharmacy has a wide range of natural perfumes and cosmetics made according to ancient recipes).
Address: Via della Scala, 16 Firenze. Opening hours: from 09:00 to 20:00 daily.
Enthusiastic local guides organize a free daily tour of the city for tourists. There are two options to choose from: a tour dedicated to the Renaissance (Church of Santa Maria NovelCathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower, Piazza della Signoria, Church of Santa Croce) and the Medici family (Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Palazzo Vecchio, Old Bridge, Palazzo Pitti). Starts at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm respectively, groups gather in front of the church of Santa Maria Novella. Pre-registration is not necessary.
