For such a small, easily navigated city, Florence is also one of the easiest traversed, be it on foot (our preferred method), by public transport, or even (oh yeah!) by scooter.
Florence can and should be seen on foot. The city itself is so small that most destinations on your tourist checklist can be reached within a 20 minute stroll. Bring comfy walking shoes.
Orange ATAF buses circle around the city daily from 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. ATAF maintains over 50 bus lines in Florence. You can buy tickets at any newsstand, coin-operated ticket machine, or tobacco shop (Tabacchi) before boarding. A pack of four one-hour tickets costs €4.50. A 70-minute ticket costs €2 when you buy it on board, €1.20 if you buy it earlier, and a 24-hour ticket costs €5. A 3-day ticket is priced at €12, and a weekly pass costs €22. Be sure to use one of the on-bus orange machines to validate your ticket once on board. Penalties for riding without a validated ticket are stiff.
The ATAF information and ticket office is located near the train station and is open daily from 7 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Bus maps are free.
Hailing a cab is not a typically Florentine pursuit. Many hotels and restaurants are tucked away along pedestrian-only streets or squares that are difficult or impossible to reach by cab. This said, Florence is well served by cabs. If you're traveling with loads of luggage (something we always discourage!), cabs are convenient.
Taxi stands are in and near major squares. You may also call a taxi from a restaurant or hotel (055 42 42 or 055 43 90). Taxis charge €.85 per kilometer, with a minimum fare of €2.64. Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the minimum price jumps to €5.70. Sundays and holidays, the minimum price is €4.48, with an additional, though minimal, extra charge for initial pick-up within the central city. Taxis charge €.62 per piece of luggage, and there is a four-bag limit. A customary tip for a taxi journey in Florence is 15%.
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