Getting around Florence
Why Florence is a walking city, when the tram is worth it, and what the ZTL means if you arrive by car.
Walk first
Almost everything a visitor comes for sits inside a radius of about one kilometre. Walking from Santa Maria Novella station to the Duomo takes ten minutes; to Ponte Vecchio, fifteen. Any plan that involves transport inside the centre is usually a plan that wastes time.
Trams and buses
The tram is useful for the airport and for outlying neighbourhoods, not for sightseeing. Buy and validate a ticket before boarding.
Arriving by car
The historic centre is a ZTL — a limited traffic zone with camera enforcement. Fines arrive months later through your rental company. Park outside the zone and walk in.
Frequently asked
Do I need public transport in central Florence?
Rarely. The historic centre is compact and largely pedestrianised; walking is usually faster than waiting.