Flying into Tuscanhy by Plane
Tuscany is a popular holiday destination and is well connected to international travel routes. While this makes it easy to get to this wonderful region, it can sometimes present you with an overwhelming number of travel options. There are 3 main airports in the region and more a bit further afield, as well as excellent train and road links from the rest of Italy and Europe. Below we will give you a brief overview of the options available, including transfer time and prices to expect. Read on and plan your trip with ease!
Airport parking
An often overlooked but simple way to start your trip without stress is to book your airport parking at your destination airport in advance. Not only will you have a parking spot waiting for you, but you will also save money by booking ahead. Comparison websites, such as Parkhero for UK travellers, allow you to quickly find the best prices available, no matter what type of parking you are looking for. Say you are searching for shuttle airport parking Manchester, you would just need to enter your travel dates and filter for shuttle. Simply use a search engine and search for ‘compare airport parking at … airport’ for your country to find a similar website.
Choosing a destination airport
When choosing which airport to fly to it is a good idea to decide what your priorities are. Do you want to be closest to you first destination? Do you want to find the cheapest option? Do you want somewhere central, if you have not yet fully planned your trip? There are two main airports in Tuscany in Florence and Pisa. Not too far away is Bologna Airport and then further still are Milan and Rome airports.
Galileo Galilei International Airport, Pisa
Pisa Airport is located just on the outskirts of the historic centre of Pisa with its infamous leaning tower. It is a popular airport for budget airlines, such as Ryanair and easyJet, as well as national carriers, such as British Airways, Alitalia and Norwegian. Pisa is best for travellers wanting to explore the local region, including Lucca, Viareggio and even Florence.
- Bus – Direct bus transfers run from the station to Florence (60 mins, €13), Lucca (60 mins, €3) and Viareggio (90 mins, €50) with stops to smaller towns along the way and you can buy a ticket at the airport
- Train – Take a bus, taxi or the People Mover to Pisa Central station for connections across Tuscany including Florence (50-80 mins, €9), Lucca (30 mins, €4-6) and Viareggio (20 mins, €4-9)
- Taxi – Not recommended for long trips e.g. to Florence you will pay approximately €170 but will cost just a few euros to Pisa Central and a bit more to nearby towns
- Car hire – Prices vary and while you can book directly at the airport it is best to book in advance, but this is the quickest way to get around in Italy
Amerigo Vespucci Airport, Florence
Florence Airport is just 4 km from the city centre and well connected via public transport and taxi. It is a small airport predominantly serving domestic flights from AirDolimiti, as well as international flights with KLM and Vueling. It is a great option for visiting Florence and its surroundings, Prato, Pistoia and Siena, but fewer flight options make it a bit more expensive and less convenient.
- Tram – Easiest and cheapest way to reach Florence taking 15 minutes and costing €1.50
- Bus – Run every 30 minutes and take 20 minutes to Florence for €6
- Train – Take one of the above options Florence’s main Santa Maria Novella station for connections to the rest of the region
- Car hire – Not recommended if you want to stay mainly in Florence, but a cheaper and more convenient option if you want to explore other cities from the airport
Guglielmo Marconi Airport, Bologna
Bologna Airport is to the north of Florence and is a good option for those wanting to visit the city and the northern region of Tuscany. It is a bigger airport than Pisa and Florence and offers flights from over 100 destinations across the globe. Airlines include Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Emirates and Transavia.
- Bus – Direct bus links to Florence take about 90 minutes and tickets start at €20
- Train – Take a shuttle bus or taxi to Bologna Central for regular trains to Florence taking about 40 minutes with tickets starting at €10
- Car hire – Best option if you plan to explore northern Tuscany and beyond, make sure to book in advance
More distant alternative airports
If these three airports are not suitable, you also have the option of flying to Italy’s biggest airports in Milan or Rome.
Milan has three airports with Malpensa being the biggest and best connected. From Malpensa to Florence you can take the train, a bus or hire a car. The train is your most convenient option. You will need to take the Malpensa Express to Milan Central station and onwards to Florence. It takes around 3 hours 40 minutes and tickets start at €23.
Rome has two main airports with Leonardo Da Vinci Airport offering the most international flights. To get to Florence again the train is you best option unless you choose to hire a car. There are two daily direct trains to Florence from the airport and the journey takes about 4 hours with tickets starting at €28.
