Florence Airport, Peretola

Florence Airport (FLR), officially Amerigo Vespucci Airport, serves Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Located just 4 km northwest of the city center in Peretola, it's one of Italy's most conveniently located airports—you can be in the historic center within 20 minutes.

The airport has a single terminal that underwent renovation. Small but functional, handling primarily domestic and European routes.

Note: Due to runway length limitations, many long-haul travelers use Pisa (PSA), 80 km away.

Key airlines: Vueling, Volotea, easyJet, British Airways, Air France, and various European carriers.

FLR is remarkably close to Florence:

• To Florence Santa Maria Novella (train station): 6 km, 15-25 minutes
• To Florence Duomo: 5 km, 15-20 minutes
• To Piazzale Michelangelo: 9 km, 25-35 minutes
• To Pisa: 80 km, 1.5 hours

Uber does not operate in Florence. Use taxis.

Taxis from the rank:

• To city center (SMN station): €25-30 fixed rate (~$27-33 USD)
• To Duomo area: €25-30
• White official taxis only

Fixed rates to city center are displayed.

Tramvia (Tram) Line T2

Tram T2 connects directly to Florence center:

• Route: Airport → Santa Maria Novella station
• Journey time: 20 minutes
• Frequency: Every 5-7 minutes
• Cost: €1.70

This is the best option—fast, frequent, and cheap.

SITA Bus

Volainbus shuttle to Santa Maria Novella:

• Journey time: 25 minutes
• Cost: €6
• Less convenient than the tram now

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Short Stay	€30/day	Terminal adjacent
Long Stay	€12/day	Shuttle available

FLR has limited dining:

Terminal:

• Italian café/bar
• Quick service options
• Limited choices

The airport is small; better to eat in Florence.

Network: FLR Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Adequate
• Registration may be required

SIM cards from:

• Limited airport options
• Better to buy in Florence city (TIM, Vodafone, Wind Tre)

ATMs in the terminal.

Currency: Euro (€)

• Duty-free (limited)
• Italian products
• Basic retail

Very small airport; minimal shopping.

VIP Lounge

• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or €35 walk-in
• Amenities: Snacks, drinks, WiFi

Small lounge matching the airport's size.

Hotels in Florence historic center are just 15-25 minutes from the airport. There's no need for airport hotels.

Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance—perhaps the world's greatest concentration of art and architecture in a walkable historic center:

Essential Florence (with travel time from airport):

• Duomo (Cathedral): 20 min—Brunelleschi's dome, climb for views
• Uffizi Gallery: 25 min—Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael—book ahead!
• Galleria dell'Accademia: 25 min—Michelangelo's David
• Ponte Vecchio: 25 min—medieval bridge with jewelers
• Piazza della Signoria: 25 min—outdoor sculpture gallery, Palazzo Vecchio

Must-see museums:

• Uffizi: Renaissance masterpieces (book weeks ahead in high season)
• Accademia: The David is worth the queue
• Palazzo Pitti: Medici palace, Boboli Gardens
• Bargello: Sculpture museum, Donatello's David
• San Marco: Fra Angelico frescoes

Churches (free or cheap, often overlooked):

• Santa Maria Novella: Gothic-Renaissance masterpiece
• Santa Croce: Florentine Pantheon (Michelangelo, Galileo buried here)
• San Lorenzo & Medici Chapels: Michelangelo's tombs
• Baptistery: "Gates of Paradise" bronze doors

Views & neighborhoods:

• Piazzale Michelangelo: 30 min—iconic Florence panorama
• San Miniato al Monte: Above Piazzale, beautiful church
• Oltrarno: Artisan neighborhood across the river
• Fiesole: 35 min—hilltop town with Roman theater

Food & drink:

• Bistecca alla fiorentina: Massive T-bone steak, charred rare
• Lampredotto: Tripe sandwich—local street food
• Ribollita: Tuscan bread soup
• Schiacciata: Florentine flatbread
• Gelato: Vivoli, Gelateria dei Neri, Perché No!
• Chianti wine: Tuscany's famous red

Day trips from Florence:

• Siena: 1.5 hours—medieval rival, Piazza del Campo
• San Gimignano: 1.5 hours—medieval towers, UNESCO
• Pisa: 1.5 hours—the Leaning Tower
• Chianti wine region: 1 hour—vineyards, tastings

Local tips:

• Book Uffizi and Accademia: Essential in high season
• Firenze Card: Museum pass worth it for multiple days
• Summer heat: July-August is brutal; go early morning
• Crowds: Tourism is overwhelming; consider shoulder season
• No cars in centro: Historic center is largely pedestrian
• Aperitivo culture: Evening drinks with snacks
• Artisan workshops: Oltrarno has traditional craftsmen
• Leather markets: San Lorenzo market for leather goods
• The Renaissance literally started here—every corner is history