Getting to Florence by air usually means flying to Pisa International (Galileo Galilei) (PSA) or the smaller airport of (FLR) on the western edge of the city. Flights to Pisa tend to be cheaper than those to the much smaller Florence Peretola airport, largely due to the many budget carriers operating out of Pisa. Florence Airports information can be found below. Slightly further away but still within easy striking distance of Florence is Bologna Airport (Guglielmo Marconi).
Florence Peretola (Amerigo Vespucci)
Tel: 055 30615
www.aeroporto.firenze.it
A Volainbus bus service from the airport runs every half an hour from 6am to 11.30pm and costs around €4.00. Buy your tickets on the bus. Taxis cost around €20.00 and take a little less time than the bus (around 20 minutes in normal traffic).
Pisa International (Galileo Galilei)
Tel: 050 849111
www.pisa-airport.com
You can reach Florence directly from Pisa Airport by bus or train. The Terravision bus service leaves from outside the terminal area and takes around 70 mins. Buy tickets at the Terravision stand in the airport terminal, on board Ryanair flights or online at http://www.terravision.eu/ for €8.00 one way, €12.00 round trip. The drop off/pick up point is Santa Maria Novella train station which is within walking distance of many hotels, or alternatively there are usually plenty of taxis outside the station. Departures from Pisa Airport begin at 8.40am with the last bus at 12.20am but best to check with on the website as these times can change periodically. In between these times, buses depart roughly every hour to hour and half, often connecting with incoming flights.
Trains run directly from the airport to Florence’s main train station Santa Maria Novella and take around the same time as the Terravision bus. Tickets are slightly cheaper (€5.00) but be warned, if your flights arrive or depart early is it probably safer and easier to get the bus as trains only run regularly between 10.30am and 5.45pm. Outside these times there are few trains and no trains at all after 10pm. Coming from Florence the first train to Pisa Airport is not until 11am.
Hire cars are available at the airport. From the airport there is easy access onto the main dualled Firenze-Pisa-Livorno road which is well signposted. Expect journey times to be around an hour into central Florence.
Bologna Airport (Guglielmo Marconi)
Tel: 051 6479615
www.bologna-airport.it
A bus leaves from outside the terminal building every 15 minutes for Bologna Centrale train station and takes around 30 minutes. Buy tickets from machines in the terminal or on the bus for €5.00. A taxi will cost between €15.00 and €20.00. Trains from Bologna Centrale to Florence Santa Maria Novella are frequent and fast, taking between 50 and 90 minutes depending on which type of service you opt for. Prices vary for different trains but don’t expect to pay more than €20.00 one way even on Eurostar (the fastest) or Intercity services. Reservations are compulsory on Eurostar and be warned that trains can sometimes be full in rush hour.
Hire cars are available at the airport. From the airport there is easy access onto the main A1 Florence motorway. Expect journey times to be around an hour and half or longer in rush hour.
Links to major airlines operating from Pisa, Florence and Bologna
Easyjet www.easyjet.co.uk
British Airways www.britishairways.com
Aliltalia www.alitalia.com
Meridiana www.meridiana.it
|