In a nutshell
- Direct flights to Florence are available from a handful of European hubs — including Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich.
- The best alternative for getting to Florence is Pisa Airport — closest to the city and well served by budget airlines.
- Bologna Airport has the most flight connections of the three and is a solid second choice.
- From Pisa, you’re looking at 1 hour to Florence; from Bologna it’s about 1.5 hours — both totally manageable.
All Airports Around Florence on One Map
For a quick overview, we’ve put together a map showing the airports you can use when traveling to Florence.
Beyond Florence Airport, which has relatively few direct flights, you should also consider Pisa and Bologna airports — both are solid options for getting to Florence without breaking the bank.
Land in Florence, Pisa, or Bologna?
Most visitors to Florence don’t actually land in Florence — they fly into Pisa or Bologna instead. Both airports offer far more routes and far cheaper fares.
Pisa is the closest airport, about 60 kilometers from Florence. From there, you can reach the city center in about an hour.
So if you can’t find direct flights to Florence, start by checking connections to Pisa.
Bologna Airport has even more flight connections, though it’s about 100 kilometers away. From there, budget around 1.5 hours to continue on to Florence.
Florence Airport
Florence Airport — officially called Amerigo Vespucci — sits right on the edge of the city, in the Peretola neighborhood.
Because it’s fairly small and can only handle a limited number of arrivals and departures per day, direct flights are available from relatively few European hubs, including Düsseldorf, Munich, and Frankfurt.
From other cities, you’ll need a stopover — for example, in Amsterdam.
The runway is also quite short, which means planes are sometimes diverted or grounded in bad weather. If you’re visiting Florence in winter and flying in and out of Florence Airport, you’ll need to factor in that risk.
Our verdict: We recommend flying directly to Florence only if you’re departing from Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, or Munich and traveling in summer.
Transfer from Florence Airport to the City
Getting from Florence Airport to the center is quick and easy — it’s only 4 kilometers as the crow flies, and you have a couple of good options.
- By tram: Tram line T2 takes about 20 minutes to reach the city center. A ticket costs €1.50. When you exit the terminal, head left toward the tram stop.
- By taxi: A ride from the airport to a centrally located hotel costs around €30. This can be worth it — the taxi drops you right at your hotel, while the tram ends at the main train station.
Our tip: If you’re landing at Florence Airport and want to take the tram, book your hotel in Florence in the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood, where the tram’s final stop is. That way, you won’t have to drag your suitcase through the crowded historic center to reach your hotel.
Pisa Airport
Pisa Airport — officially Galileo Galilei — sits right on the edge of the city famous for its Leaning Tower.
It’s a compact airport served predominantly by budget airlines, which means fares are often seriously competitive.
Direct flights to Pisa operate from Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, and Memmingen a few times a week.
Transfer from Pisa Airport to Florence
Getting from Pisa Airport to Florence is quick and straightforward. No matter how you travel, the total journey takes around an hour. You have three options:
- By shuttle bus — Sky Bus Line: The bus runs roughly every 40 minutes from Pisa Airport to the center of Florence. Tickets cost around €15 and are best purchased in advance online. Since the bus runs frequently, a delayed flight isn’t the end of the world.
- By train: The automated monorail Pisa Mover gets you to the main train station in 5 minutes. From there, trains to Florence run constantly and the journey takes about an hour. Train tickets to Florence cost around €9.
- By rental car: Rental cars in Pisa are often cheaper than in Bologna or Florence, so it’s worth comparing deals on Discovercars. Pisa Airport is right next to the highway, so you can reach Florence in about 45 minutes.
Bologna Airport
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport is the largest of the three airports and your best bet if you want the most flight options.
From Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne, or Nuremberg, daily flights to Bologna run in summer, with somewhat fewer connections in winter.
Transfer from Bologna Airport to Florence
Bologna Airport is located a bit outside the city. You have three options for getting from here to Florence:
- By Appennino Shuttle: The bus runs every two hours from Bologna Airport directly to Florence’s main train station. Tickets cost €20 per person.
- By rental car: Several car rental companies operate at the airport. The drive from Bologna to Florence takes about 1.5 hours. A rental car in Tuscany is really only worth it if you’re also planning a road trip through Tuscany.
- By train: From the airport, take the Marconi Express — the automated monorail that connects the airport to the main station. From there, trains to Florence run every half hour. The high-speed train takes about 40 minutes and costs around €30.
If you’re just doing a city trip to Florence and don’t need a rental car, we’d suggest checking the Appennino Shuttle schedule first.
Since the bus only runs every two hours, make sure your flight isn’t delayed. It’s best to book your tickets shortly before you travel — they’re usually still available at that point.
