Florence is unusually well set up for a car-free arrival. Firenze Santa Maria Novella (SMN) sits on the edge of the historic centre, high-speed trains connect it directly with Italy's major cities, and Florence Airport has a direct tram into town. Pisa Airport is the main alternative when its flight network or fare is better.
Arriving at Florence Airport (FLR)
Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR), often called Peretola, is only a few kilometres from central Florence. The simplest public-transport transfer is the T2 tram. GEST says the airport-to-city journey is about 20 minutes, and the Peretola Aeroporto stop is around a two-minute walk from arrivals/departures. The line continues through the Santa Maria Novella area and on to San Marco.
The tram uses Florence's normal urban fare system rather than a special airport surcharge. As of 1 August 2026 the standard urban ticket is €2.00 and is valid for 90 minutes after activation/validation.
Arriving at Pisa Airport (PSA)
Pisa Airport can make sense when it offers the better route or fare, but it is not “Florence's other airport” in the same frictionless way: you still have to travel from Pisa to Florence. The official PisaMover links the terminal with Pisa Centrale in about five minutes; Trenitalia sells combined airport-plus-rail journeys and the PisaMover portion is currently €6.50 when bundled through its channels.
From Pisa Centrale, continue by regional train to Firenze SMN. Some timetables may present through or fast-regional options, but schedules change—search the exact airport-to-Florence journey for your travel date rather than planning around a remembered departure.
If your flight timing allows it, Pisa can be a useful stop in its own right. Do not force a Leaning Tower visit with luggage and a tight connection; store bags and allow a generous margin if you deliberately combine the two.
High-speed train: often the best way from Rome, Milan, Bologna or Venice
Florence sits directly on Italy's high-speed spine. Trenitalia's Frecciarossa network links Florence with Rome, Milan, Bologna, Venice, Naples and other major cities. Current Trenitalia guidance describes Rome–Florence as a little over 1.5 hours with more than 100 daily Frecciarossa connections, while Milan–Florence has dozens of daily high-speed services.
For a multi-city Italy trip, rail usually wins on door-to-door simplicity because you arrive at SMN beside the historic centre rather than at an airport outside town. Italo also operates high-speed services on major Italian routes, so compare the timetable and fare that fit your day rather than assuming one operator is always cheaper.
Which Florence station do you want?
Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the station most first-time visitors want because it is central and walkable to much of the old city. Firenze Campo di Marte and Rifredi are legitimate Florence stations and may appear in search results, but a train stopping there is not automatically more convenient for a central hotel. Check the station name before you buy, especially during engineering works when some services can be retimed or diverted.
Flying long-haul: compare the whole itinerary
FLR has a strong European network but is not a major intercontinental hub. Long-haul travellers commonly connect through a larger European airport or arrive via Rome/Milan and continue by train. When comparing options, include connection risk and ground transfer time. A flight that looks cheaper into Milan can stop being clever once you add airport-to-station travel and another train; conversely, a well-timed long-haul arrival into Rome plus a direct high-speed train can be very efficient.
Arrival choices at a glance
| Arrival | Best for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Florence Airport (FLR) | Shortest airport transfer; European connections | Smaller route network than major hubs |
| Pisa Airport (PSA) | Alternative/low-cost routes | PisaMover + rail transfer to Florence |
| Firenze SMN by high-speed rail | Rome, Milan, Bologna, Venice and multi-city Italy trips | Book the right Florence station |
| Rental car | Rural Tuscany after Florence | ZTL/parking make it a poor central-arrival tool |
What I would choose
If a sensible flight lands at FLR, take it and use the T2. If Pisa offers a much better flight, the onward rail connection is manageable. If you are already in Rome, Milan, Bologna or Venice, start by checking high-speed rail before looking at domestic flights. And if your trip becomes a Tuscan road trip after Florence, collect the car when you leave rather than dragging it into the historic centre.
Once you arrive, continue with getting around Florence and our where to stay guide.