Tips for Getting Around Florence, Italy

Heading to Florence and want advice on how to get around the city? Spoiler Alert: The best way to get around this little village is to walk. That said, there are some times when you may need a taxi, bus, or train to get from place to place. In this article, we’ll give you all the tips you need to get around Florence.

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Pro Tip: Planning your trip to Florence? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you need it. Walking is the best way to get around, but nobody said the city was easy to navigate—a great way to get your bearings is to join a guide for a half-day tour of Florence. Also, check out our guide to Florence for more planning resources and our best Florence tours.

How To Get Around Florence: All the Tips You’ll Need

Where is the Florence train station? If you arrive with a rental car, where do you normally drop it off or park it? What about getting to Piazzale Michelangelo or the vineyards surrounding Florence? There are a lot of questions that need to be answered, even in a highly walkable city like Florence. Here’s everything you need to know about getting around.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Florence tours to take and why.

Frequently Asked Questions about Arriving in Florence

Do People speak English in Florence?

Yes. In most main cities in Italy, if you are in the historical center, you’ll find that most people speak enough English to answer basic questions.

What’s the name of the main Florence train station?

Stazione Santa Maria Novella. It is named after the nearby church.

Is Santa Maria Novella the only train station?

No. There are a few and it’s likely that if you’re arriving by train, you’ll stop at one of the minor stations beforehand. My recommendation is to ask someone or wait until you see “Santa Maria Novella” on the screen inside the train to get off.

Is there a subway system in Florence?

No, there’s no subway system in Florence unless you are talking about the sandwich shop.

If you arrive by rental car, what do you do?

Check with your rental car agency, but every time I’ve dropped off a car in Florence I’ve left it at the parking garage in S.M. Novella train station.

Tours of Chianti and Florence

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Florence tours to take and why.

Can you drive in the center of Florence?

No, absolutely not—unless you have a resident pass. There are cameras in the historical centers of Italian cities, so you’ll get a ticket. This makes renting vehicles a little intimidating in Italy, but don’t stress too much.

If you rent a car you should have google maps activated on your phone and the map won’t lead you through a “ZTL” camera. Also, the ZTL (Zona Traffica Limitata or limited traffic zone) is extremely obvious. You’ll see a big camera and a sign that says “ZTL”.

Are there taxis in Florence?

Yes, and you’ll be able to find them everywhere. You always pay by the meter.

Is there Uber in Florence?

No, unlike Rome and other Italian cities there is no Uber in Florence. You can read more about it, including which Italian cities do have Uber, in our article about Uber in Italy.

Is Florence Easy to Navigate?

Yes, it’s pretty easy to navigate once you understand the main roads going through Florence, but I doubt you’ll have the city figured out in a few days. Your best bet is to turn on your phone data if your provider has an affordable plan, or do it the way people have been doing it since Lord Byron—get a map.

What is Oltrarno?

It means across the Arno river. Sort of like Trastevere in Rome, which means across the Tiber river. It’s a cool area with many viewpoints. Also, it’s home to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens where the Medici lived.

How do you get to Piazzale Michelangelo?

On foot, it’s about 20 minutes from Ponte Vecchio. It’s a viewpoint, so you’ll be going uphill but it’s not bad. If you have issues walking, bus 12 will get you to the top the cheapest. Otherwise, you can pay for a taxi which you’ll be able to find all over.

Do you need public transport to get to any of the main attractions in Florence?

No, you don’t need public transport. To get from the Pitti Palace, which is in Oltrarno, to the Accademia on the opposite side of the city, you’ll walk 20 minutes. You’ll pass by all the main attractions on that walk such as Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio, and il Duomo.

What if I am disabled?

If you have someone to push you, then you should be fine for all the central attractions like the Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti Palace, and more.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best Florence tours to take and why.