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Florence public transportation: bus, tram and taxi
Since the end of 2022 the service for coaches connecting Florence to other cities and the urban bus service of Florence are managed by the same company: Autolinee Toscane. Before that, the bus service in Florence used to be managed by a municipal company called ATAF. TAXI service is managed by two companies, SOCOTA and COTAFI.
ATAF bus service
AT tickes are sold at many shops and newsagent's shop, just look for a sticker Biglietti AT BUS on the entrance doors.
You could also purchase them on board (as soon as you get on the bus), but it will cost you more, and the driver can refuse to sell or not give change. So it's better to buy them before getting on the bus.
The main AT information desk is located in Via Santa Caterina da Siena, near Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station. It's open 06.05-20.15, while on festivities 06.45-20.00. Closed on: 1st January, Easter, 1st May, 15th August, 25th December. They also provide bus timetables. See the official site for more information.
Real-time transit information
While with the ATAF company it was possible to reach a web site called Temporeale and know when the next bus will pass, the web site has been suppressed and at the moment of writing the only official alternative is more complicated. You have to reach the official Telegram channel called "AT - Orari in fermata". Once inside, you have to type the name or code of the bus stop to know the live waiting time. The bus stop code is shown in the upper right corner of the bus shedule on the pole.
Ticket options
A single trip ticket costs 1.70 euros and is valid for 90 minutes from the time it's stamped. A 10 trips carnet costs 15.50 euros.
The previously available (with ATAF) 24 hours, 3 days,7 days, Daily Family tickets unfortunately have been suppressed.
Mobile ticketing
You can also buy virtual tickets using a mobile phone with a SIM by an Italian operator (TIM, Vodafone, WindTre) and send an SMS with the name of the city you're in ("FLORENCE") to the single number for all Tuscany 4880105. The ticket is already validated upon receipt so you've to send it two minutes before boarding (it's valid 90 minutes). That way you'll buy a 90 minutes ticket for 2 euros plus the operator's fee that is usually 0,29 Euros. Not all phone operators support this service. For more information look at the official AT web site.
Firenze Card
Before the new private society took place, ATAF tickets were included in the Firenze Card. As of 2023, AT Bus tickets are no more included. There used to be a three days unlimited access to the Florentine bus service included in that card. That's no more. It seems good things don't last a lot.
Remember to stamp your ticket
Tickets must be validated as soon as you get on the first bus, by punching them in the machine on board. ATAF tickets are time based and are valid 90 minutes from the time it is stamped. You can get all the AT buses you want while the ticket is still valid. You don't have to stamp them each time you get on board, but when time is over, you have to stamp a new trip.
Nightly bus on call (no more)
Yet another dismissed service by the new French private company. NotteTempo was an on call bus service running every day from 22:00 to 02:00, using the usual routes and bus stops. The service had to be reserved in advance calling a phone number. The ticket was to be bought cash only on board for €4. If you had an ATAF multi-day ticket or pass, it was valid also for NotteTempo. It was just like a taxi but using the bus routes. So, no night bus service at all.
Tram
Starting from 2010 Florence has got a tram service. At the moment two lines are operative, Linea T1, connecting Scandicci to Santa Maria Novella station and then going on till Careggi, and Linea T2, connecting the Amerigo Vespucci airport in Peretola to Santa Maria Novella station and ending in Piazza dell'Unità. The ticket is the same used on urban buses, so you have to follow the same rules applied to buses.
Taxi
Taxi service in Florence is managed by two companies, Socota and Cotafi. Taxis can not be hailed, to get one you have to reach a Taxi parking, call them by phone or you can use their websites to book a service. Fares are precisely indicated on the official sites. Many routes have a fixed fee, for example the trip from Florence's airport to city centre costs 20 euros (add 1 euro for each luggage and an extra fee if it's night or festive day).
This page was last updated on Wednesday 20 September 2023.