Buses to and from Florence Peretola Airport (FLR)

Florence is a small international airport, but one of the two most important ones in Italy’s Tuscany region. It is situated in the territory of Sesto Fiorentino, approximately 4 km to the north-west of Florence. Other names which are commonly used are Amerigo Vespucci, and Peretola. Passengers can use various transportation options to reach the airport, or reach any other destination from the location, and these include bus services. The Florence buses are offered by the companies of Sita/ATAF and Lazzi-Cap.

Traveling by bus is the most inexpensive transportation option, and most passengers find the bus services to be comfortable and convenient. This is especially the case if you don’t have much luggage with you. The Sita/ATAF Bus Service, also known as ‘Fly by Bus’, travels between the airport and the central railway station in Florence. This station is called the Santa Maria Novella Railway Station, and buses are available from the airport to this destination every half an hour. The first bus departs at 06:00, and following services are available every 30 minutes up to 20:30. From then on there is an hourly bus service up until 23:30. A trip to the central station is only 20 minutes from the airport.

Similarly, passengers can use this bus service to reach the airport from the railway station. There is no actual train station located on the airport’s site, therefore, if you are arriving by train, or continuing your journey by train, you can use the ATAF bus services to reach the train station or airport. Buses depart from the Santa Maria Novella Railway Station for the airport every half an hour from 05:30 up until 20:00, and from then on there is an hourly bus service up until 23:00.

Bus tickets can be purchased at the airport from the convenient ticket machines, and all tickets must be validated on board the buses. When traveling to the airport, tickets can be purchased from the ticket booth at the station, or from any shop or tobacconist which sells them. A one-way ticket to or from Florence Airport is around €4.00.

Further information on the services offered by Sita/ATAF are available online, from their websites at http://www.ataf.net/ and www.sita-on-line.it. ATAF’s contact number is 800/424500, and Sita’s number is 800/373760.

Interurban bus routes are available from Lazzi-Cap, traveling between Prato Railway Station, Florence Airport and the Santa Maria Novella Railway Station. This company can be contacted for more information at their telephone number: +39 055 214637 or 351061. They also provide online access, which is available from the airport official website.

The train station is considered to be in the heart of Florence, and from here passengers can reach any other destination desired, whether it be in Florence itself, or in one of the neighboring regions. The Sita Buses travel to many destinations in Tuscany, with their cost practically the same as the train services. In some cases it is better to use the bus services than the train, for example when traveling to Sienna, as the bus will deliver you directly to the center of town, whereas Sienna’s train station is on the outskirts of the town. Therefore it may be a more convenient and direct trip if you take the Sita Bus.

From Santa Maria Novella train station buses depart for all areas within Florence as well. Although many of Florence’s main attractions and sights are within walking distance of one another, and a large part of Florence is zoned for pedestrians only, the buses always come in useful at some time or another. The local buses in Florence are operated by ATAF and LI-NEA, which together form the main transportation system of the city. All the buses are bright orange, and most of them are in operation up until 21:30. Some of the more popular routes continue to run up until 01:00. Bus tickets can be purchased from the ATAF ticket office at the station, or from any tobacconist, newsstand, bar or shop displaying the orange ATAF sticker on its door or window. Bus timetables are also available at the station. A tobacconist is indicated by a large ‘T’ on a black sign on the outside of the shop. Bus tickets should mostly be purchased in advance of your trip, and they must be validated in the machines on board the buses. Hefty fines can be issued if you are caught using a ticket which has not been stamped. Late night tickets, from between 09:00 and 06:00, can often be purchased from the bus driver.

Passengers can make any general airport, transport, Florcence buses or tourism enquiries at the Information Desk in the Arrivals terminal. It is open from 08:30 to 18:30.