Florence / The verdict
Pisa airport to Florence: which way?
For most travelers, the PisaMover-to-train combination into Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the default pick. The direct bus saves a station change but its daytime stop is at Guidoni, a tram ride from the center, and a taxi earns its cost for groups, heavy luggage or a late arrival.
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The Florence story
Florence is the Renaissance kept walkable: the Duomo, the Uffizi, Michelangelo's David and the Ponte Vecchio all inside a centre you can cross in twenty minutes, with Tuscan wine country at the doorstep. The scale is the charm, heavyweight art and architecture without heavyweight distances, plus the food, wine bars and aperitivo culture to fill the evenings.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: PisaMover and regional train (runner-up: Direct airport bus)
For most travelers, the PisaMover-to-train combination into Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the default pick. The direct bus saves a station change but its daytime stop is at Guidoni, a tram ride from the center, and a taxi earns its cost for groups, heavy luggage or a late arrival.
Go if
- You are flying into Pisa's Galileo Galilei airport and heading straight to Florence
- You want a clear default plus the tradeoffs for the bus and taxi alternatives
Skip if
- You are flying into Florence's own Amerigo Vespucci airport instead of Pisa; that transfer is a different, much shorter trip
- You expect one fixed rule regardless of group size or arrival time; the right pick depends on both
The options
PisaMover and regional train Go
Solo travelers and pairs who want a predictable way into central Florence and are happy to buy two tickets.
Good
- The PisaMover ride to Pisa Centrale takes about 5 minutes per the operator, and the service runs from 6:00 a.m. to midnight.
- Regional trains run from Pisa Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the main station, with no further transfer needed.
- One resident's guide rates the train as a good balance of speed and cost.
Watch out
- Two separate tickets and a change of vehicle add steps for a large group or a lot of luggage.
- The PisaMover site's fares page lists no single-ticket price, so check the fare when you buy.
- Late flights may miss the PisaMover's midnight finish, which leaves a taxi or private transfer.
Direct airport bus It depends
Travelers who want one vehicle and can check the day's timetable and stop first.
Good
- The main operator lists fares from 14.99 EUR and about 60 minutes non-stop, boarding inside the airport.
- The Bus4Fly line lists fares from 3.99 EUR with one large and one small bag included.
- No PisaMover ticket or station change is needed.
Watch out
- Daytime runs on the main operator stop at Guidoni parking by the T2 tram, not at the station, per its own page.
- One resident's guide puts the Guidoni stop about 20 minutes from the center.
- Bus4Fly sets down at Piazzale Montelungo, so check that stop against your hotel.
Taxi or private transfer It depends
Groups of three or four splitting the fare, travelers with heavy luggage or mobility needs, or a late arrival.
Good
- Goes door to door with no transfers, which matters for a late flight or a hotel far from the station.
- The official tariff lists a per-bag supplement of 0.80 EUR, so luggage costs are published.
- Splitting the fare across three or four travelers shares one metered cost.
Watch out
- No fixed fare is published for this route; the meter runs on the extra-urban rate of 2.30 EUR per km plus a 3.80 EUR flag-drop.
- One resident's guide says some drivers claim a broken card machine and ask for cash, so confirm the payment method first.
- The tariff page lists night and holiday supplements of 3.05 EUR each.
See transfer optionspartner site
| Criterion | PisaMover and regional train | Direct airport bus | Taxi or private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official price | Two tickets: see the PisaMover and Trenitalia fare pages | From 14.99 EUR (main operator); from 3.99 EUR (Bus4Fly) | Metered: 2.30 EUR per km plus a 3.80 EUR flag-drop |
| Official journey time | About 5 minutes on the PisaMover, plus the regional train | About 60 minutes non-stop (main operator) | Not published as a fixed time |
| Where it drops you | Firenze Santa Maria Novella station | Guidoni parking by day; Santa Maria Novella square from 23:00 to 05:59 (main operator) | Door to door, any address |
| Booking needed | No; buy at machines or ticket offices | Bus4Fly sells online and allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before | No; use the official rank outside arrivals |
| Luggage | Not published by the operators | Bus4Fly includes one 30 kg bag and one 10 kg bag | 0.80 EUR per bag on the official tariff |
| Service hours | PisaMover 6:00 a.m. to midnight, to 1:00 a.m. June to September | Day runs 06:00 to 22:59 and night runs 23:00 to 05:59 (main operator) | Rank staffed for arriving flights |
What it costs
- Direct airport bus, starting fare (Sky Bus Caronna Tour line): €14.99 (the operator lists 'from' 14.99 EUR; about 60 minutes non-stop per its page). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Direct airport bus, starting fare (Bus4Fly line): €3.99 ('from' fare; one large bag (30 kg) and one small bag included; sets down at Piazzale Montelungo). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi, extra-urban rate per km (metered, beyond Pisa municipality): €2.30 (plus a 3.80 EUR flag-drop and 0.80 EUR per bag; the comune page lists these tariffs as in force from 1 February 2023 and publishes no fixed fare to Florence). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 1 traveler reports (Aug 2025 to Aug 2025) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- One Tuscany resident's guide rates the PisaMover-and-train route as a good balance of speed and cost.
- The same guide names the bus as the cheapest option, with promotional Bus4Fly fares under 5 EUR.
- The same guide notes that a taxi or private transfer avoids train changes and tram rides with luggage.
What people complain about
- One resident's guide says the bus drop-off is the Guidoni tram stop, about 20 minutes from the center, so a tram ride follows.
- The same guide says some taxi drivers claim a broken card machine and ask for cash.
- The same guide says the late-night public bus can take over 3 hours to reach Florence.
How to do it right
- Buy the PisaMover ticket at the machines or an authorized ticket office; the operator's own site lists both.
- At Pisa Centrale, buy a regional ticket to Firenze S.M.N. on the Trenitalia site or at the station and check the fare there, since it is priced by distance.
- For the direct bus, check the operator's timetable first: its site says daytime runs (06:00 to 22:59) stop at Guidoni parking by the T2 tram, and runs from 23:00 to 05:59 stop at the Santa Maria Novella square.
- For a taxi, use the official rank outside arrivals and ask for the meter, since the comune publishes no fixed fare to Florence.
- If a driver says the card machine is broken, remember that one resident's guide says some drivers do this to ask for cash; confirm how you will pay before the ride starts.
The trap to avoid
Assuming the direct bus reaches Santa Maria Novella at any hour: the operator's own page says daytime runs end at Guidoni parking, and only runs from 23:00 to 05:59 stop at the station square.
Why this verdict
The PisaMover-and-train route is the default pick because it needs no road transport for the long leg and ends at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the main station. The PisaMover operator lists a ride of about 5 minutes and service from 6:00 a.m. to midnight every day, with service to 1:00 a.m. from June to September. One Tuscany resident’s guide calls the train a good balance of speed and cost, which fits the pick. The cost is two tickets and one change of vehicle, so it suits a solo traveler or a pair more than a family with a lot of luggage.
The direct bus gets a depends verdict because of where it stops. The Sky Bus operator’s own page says daytime runs from 06:00 to 22:59 end at Guidoni parking beside the T2 tram stop, about 15 minutes from the station, and only runs from 23:00 to 05:59 stop at the Santa Maria Novella square. A second line, Bus4Fly, lists fares from 3.99 EUR with a 30 kg bag included and sets down at Piazzale Montelungo. The resident’s guide names the bus as the cheapest way in and puts the Guidoni stop about 20 minutes from the center.
The taxi or private transfer also earns a depends verdict. Pisa’s published taxi tariff has a per-km extra-urban rate and no fixed fare to Florence, so the total depends on the route and traffic. That can suit three or four people sharing one car or a late arrival, and it is hard to justify for a solo traveler on a budget. The same guide warns that some drivers claim a broken card machine and ask for cash, so settle how you will pay before you set off.
Book or check times
PisaMover tickets and faresTrenitalia regional ticketsDirect airport bus (Sky Bus Caronna Tour)Direct airport bus (Bus4Fly)Official Pisa taxi tariffs
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See transfer optionspartner site
Questions
What is the cheapest way from Pisa airport to Florence?
The Bus4Fly line lists fares from 3.99 EUR on its site, and the main bus operator lists fares from 14.99 EUR. The PisaMover and the regional train price their tickets separately; check both fare pages for your date.
Does the direct bus drop you at Florence's main station?
By night, yes. The Sky Bus operator's page says runs from 23:00 to 05:59 stop at the Santa Maria Novella square. Daytime runs (06:00 to 22:59) stop at Guidoni parking next to the T2 tram stop, and the page says the trip from there to the station takes about 15 minutes.
Is there a fixed taxi fare to Florence?
Pisa's published taxi tariff, listed as in force from 1 February 2023, has an extra-urban rate of 2.30 EUR per km, a 3.80 EUR flag-drop and 0.80 EUR per bag. It lists no separate fixed fare to Florence.
How late does the PisaMover run?
The operator's site lists service from 6:00 a.m. to midnight every day, with service until 1:00 a.m. from June to September. The ride between the airport and Pisa Centrale takes about 5 minutes.
Do I need to book the bus in advance?
The Bus4Fly site sells tickets online and says they can be changed until 30 minutes before departure and cancelled free up to 24 hours before. The Sky Bus operator's page does not state a booking rule.
Pack for it
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