Florence, Italy - About the City - Getting Around

City Buses

The public bus is an efficient mode of transportation where you will find passengers that range from school children to professionals.

The ATAF company (Azienda Trasporti Autolinee Fiorentine), of orange municipal buses, covers the center and greater periphery of Florence. There are large main-line and mini-electric buses. The bussino (mini-electric bus) was created to fit down the narrowest streets of the center.

Bus Tickets

You must purchase a bus ticket before you get on the bus. You must then validate the ticket once on board. The bus drivers do not sell tickets.

Biglietti (tickets) can be purchased at bars or tabacchi (tobacco shops) that have the orange ATAF sticker in the window or are marked by a blue or black sign with a large white "T". News stands and postcard kiosks also sell bus tickets, and there are several automatic vending machines scattered throughout the city at major line bus stops.

Buses pick up and drop off passengers only at the orange fermate (bus stops). Enter the bus from the front or back doors; the center double doors are the exit doors only. Once on board, insert your ticket into the small metal validation box usually at the back of the bus. A validated ticket has the date and time printed on it.

A ticket is valid for 60 minutes and allows you to ride anywhere in the city. You do not have to re-validate your ticket if you change buses within the 60-minute interval.

Bus inspectors periodically ride the bus to check tickets. Often they are unassumingly dressed in everyday street clothing with a simple inspector badge attached. They will ask to see validated biglietti (tickets). Fines are at least 70 times the price of a ticket, so be sure to validate your tickets as soon as you are on board.

Helpful Steps

• Purchase a bus ticket at a tabacchi or kiosk.
• Consult a bus map before choosing your bus line.
• Stand at the fermata (stop). Remember to stand on the side of the street that corresponds to the correct direction you are heading. The fermata will display the general sections of the city for that route. A large black dot with an arrow is the stop you are at and the direction the bus is headed.
• As the bus approaches your stop, motion with your hand that you would like the bus to stop.
• Enter the bus from the back or front doors only.
• Locate the validation box and validate your ticket.
• As you are approaching your stop, move near the center door to exit.
• Push the little button fermata prenotata, that signals to the bus driver that you would like to get off at the next stop.
• Exit the bus from the center doors only.

Taxis

Although taxis in Florence can be expensive, they are safe and efficient. Taxis are available from a taxi station or by calling the taxi company directly. In Florence, taxis cannot be hailed. However, in Rome, if the libero (free) is lit the cab is free and can be halted. Taxi cab drivers can and will refuse to give rides to intoxicated passengers.

There are taxi stations in and around the center of Florence at the following piazzas.

• Piazza della Repubblica
• Piazza del Duomo (near Via Proconsolo)
• Piazza San Marco
• Santa Maria Novella Train Station
• Piazza Santa Croce
• Porta Romana
• Piazzale Donatello
• Piazza Beccaria
• Piazza Santa Trinità

To call a taxi:

• Dial 055.42.42 or 055.43.90 or 055.44.99.
• Ask for a taxi and state your address, "Vorrei una macchina in via Ginori, 10".
• Stay on the line.
• The operator will come back on the line after locating your taxi and state the name and number of the taxi and how many minutes until it arrives. (The names of the taxi are European cities and a number, e.g. Parigi tredici in tre minuti - Paris 13 in three minutes.)
• Hang up and wait for your taxi to arrive.

Once in the cab:

• Greet the driver and state the address where you are headed. "Buona sera, ho bisogno di andare in via Guelfa, per favore."
• At the end of the ride, pay the driver the tariff that is written clearly on the digital display. There are two displays: one with the tariff for the ride and a smaller screen with the supplements. Your final taxi fare is the amount of the two screens added together.
• Exit the taxi toward the sidewalk.
• Taxi drivers prefer small bills. You are not required to tip the driver. It is polite to round up the fare to make change easier. (e.g. A fare of 9.50€ can be rounded up to 10€.)

It is a good idea to look at a map before you get into the taxi to better understand generally in which direction you should be headed. Often due to one-way streets and road construction the driver may have to take a longer route than what seems necessary.

The latest fares are usually clearly displayed in both English and Italian in the car and, if not, can be requested from the driver. To alleviate misunderstanding and fare problems at the end of your ride, keep in mind that there are several different supplements that can affect the price of your cab. On the meter, to the right of the large digital price, are smaller numbers indicating your supplements.

In Florence, there are taxi supplements for:

• Calling a cab directly (instead of picking one up at a taxi station)
• A Sunday or holiday
• Going to or from the airport
• Any baggage that is placed in the trunk space
• Between the hours of 10:30 P.M. and 6:00 A.M.

Reserving a Taxi: if you need to reserve a taxi you can call the day before and book once in advance. The fee is the same as the supplement for calling a taxi.