Florence Tourist Information
Below you will find useful information that will help you plan your upcoming trip to Florence, Italy.
Weather in Florence
Florence is at its best from late March until June, and from September until mid-November. When the weather is sunny and not too hot. In the months of July & August, Florence can get very hot and stifling. Set in a valley, the city suffers from pollution that is trapped by the surrounding hills which is at its worst during the warmer summer months. The winter months are also a good time to visit the city, as Florence generally has a mild climate and during the winter months hotel rates are low and the lines to enter the numerous museums are more manageable.
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Currency in Italy
Italy is one of the twelve members of the EU, and in January, 2002 the country converted to the Euro. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Please use the following Currency Converter to learn more about the value of the Euro against other currencies
Currency exchange: Travellers cheques, cheques and foreign money can be changed at banks, railway stations and airports, and very often at major hotels (generally at a less convenient rate).
Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa are widely accepted, but many small establishments - shops and restaurants only accept cash. It is advisable to ask merchants if they accept credit cards before trying to purchase items
Travellers cheques: Travellers cheques are accepted almost everywhere. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
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How to get to Florence
Intercontinental flights do not arrive into Florence 's Vespucci Airport , and so most visitors arrive in the city by train or car, arriving from other parts of Italy or from the nearby Pisa Airport . If you arriving in to the airport, a city bus departs for Florence every half an hour to the main train station of Florence .
The train station is a true eyesore, full of unsavory characters, but it's only a short distance from the city centre. As you disembark the train, turn left at the end of the platform and as you walk out of the train station, immediately on your left you'll see a pedestrian underpass which will lead you directly into the historical centre of Florence without having to negotiate the roads full of traffic.
Arriving by car is not recommended in Florence , the city is very much against vehicles entering the city due to severe problems with pollution. Parking fees are high, starting from 16E a day and fines are heavy for people who park illegally. If you are touring Tuscany by car, we recommend using local transport to enter and leave the city.
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Transportation in Florence
Being a relatively car free city, Florence has a good bus system to move in and around the city. As in all of Italy , tickets have to be purchased prior to boarding the buses at local tobacconists, bars or newsstands. A ticket valid for 60 minutes of travel costs 1E, a daily ticket 4E and a three-day ticket 4E. The most useful bus routes are as follows:
Railway Station to Fiesole Bus # 7
Railway Station to Piazzale MichelAngelo Bus # 12/13
Railway Station to Porta Romana Bus # 37
You can also travel by Taxi in Florence , as they are allowed to enter the city centre. But, beware of taxi drivers who overcharge. The rates are clearly shown in each taxi, but these fees are open to abuse. You can order a taxi by phone through Radiotaxi @ 055 4390 or 055 4499.
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