Florence

Florence has fairly wet winters and quite hot summers.

From November through March, rain is common, and even though temperatures rarely drop below 41°F, the high humidity can make it feel really cold.

In July and August, it’s seriously hot and muggy — temperatures barely dip below 95°F, which makes sightseeing pretty exhausting.

The best months to visit are definitely April through June and September through October. We especially recommend traveling in May!

That said, the second half of August can also be worth considering: it cools down a bit, most tourists have already left, and hotels are a little cheaper before the September rush kicks in.

We’ve put together even more tips in our detailed guide on the best time to visit Florence.

Florence’s airport sits on the northern edge of the city, but it’s quite small and only served by a limited number of direct international flights.

The runway is also fairly short, which means planes can only land under good weather conditions. If it’s windy or foggy, your flight may be diverted or canceled on short notice.

For this reason, we’d recommend flying directly into Florence only in summer, when the chances of good weather are high.

At other times of year, it’s worth flying into Pisa or Bologna instead — both are well connected to Florence by train and shuttle bus.

We’ve also written a detailed guide on getting here:

The best ways to get to Florence by plane

From Florence Airport to the City Center

Florence’s airport is right on the edge of the city and super well connected to the center.

By Tram

Tram line T2 runs directly from the airport to the main train station in the city center. The stop is right in front of the terminal, and the line ends at Piazza dell’Unità, right in the heart of the city.

The ride takes about 20 minutes and costs the same as a regular ticket — €1.50 per person. You can buy tickets at the machine at the stop or at the kiosk inside the airport.

By Taxi

A taxi is much more expensive, but it takes you straight to your hotel. A ride to a centrally located hotel costs around €25. When you exit the terminal, the taxi stand is to the right of the building.

From Bologna Airport to Florence

Bologna is about 120 kilometers from Florence, on the other side of the Apennines — but there are plenty of connections.

By Shuttle Bus

The Appennino Shuttle runs several times a day from Bologna Airport to Florence’s main train station.

The ride takes about 90 minutes and costs €20 per person. It’s not cheap, but it’s the fastest and most comfortable option.

Heads up: The bus fills up quickly, so book your ticket online in advance.

By Train

From Bologna Airport, the Marconi Express monorail gets you to Bologna’s main train station in just seven minutes. From there, high-speed trains to Florence run throughout the day — the journey takes about 40 minutes.

From Pisa Airport to Florence

From Pisa, the easiest option is the train. Pisa is about 60 km from Florence.

From the airport, take the fully automated PisaMover to Pisa’s main train station — it only takes a few minutes. From there, regional trains to Florence run roughly every half hour. The journey takes under an hour, and a ticket costs around €8.

The coast is about 100 kilometers from Florence. A direct train runs from the main train station to Viareggio, the nearest beach resort — the trip takes roughly one hour.

The easiest option is tram line T2, which runs directly from the airport into the city center. The ride takes about 20 minutes and a ticket costs €1.50.

Hotel rooms in the old town start at around 100 euros per night. Museum admission for the big-name sights runs about 10–15 euros.

Food prices vary a lot depending on where you eat — the area around the cathedral is the priciest.

Here are some typical prices in Florence:

Main course at a restaurant: 12–15 euros
Slice of pizza to go: 3–4 euros
Espresso: 1 euro
Beer at a bar (0.5l): 4–5 euros
Cocktail: 6–8 euros
Museum admission: 7–15 euros
Bus ticket at a kiosk: 1.20 euros
Water at a kiosk (0.5l): 1 euro

Card payments are accepted pretty much everywhere, and you’ll find ATMs throughout the city.

If you’re short on time and want to hit the main highlights, plan for at least 3 full days.

Ideally, though, one week is the sweet spot. That gives you enough time to properly explore the big museums like the Uffizi or Palazzo Pitti, catch the stunning viewpoints in the hills around the city, and still squeeze in a day trip or two into the Tuscan countryside.

Both, honestly! Florence and Rome are absolutely worth visiting as city break destinations in Europe — and they’re not far apart at all. A high-speed train connects them in about 1.5 hours, so you can easily base yourself in one city and take a day trip to the other.

Parking in Florence is seriously tough — spots are scarce even for residents. We’d strongly recommend arriving by public transportation if you can.

If you do drive, try to book a hotel with its own parking. In the old town, expect to pay around €25 per day.

A more affordable option is the Parterre parking garage at Piazza della Libertà, which costs €15 per day. From there, it’s about a 10–15 minute walk to the old town.