A student guide to getting from the...
FLORENCE Airport to your SIENA Hotel
1-2-3
More Note from Miles
The airport in Florence (Aeroporto di Firenze) is referred to by two names (1) Firenze Peretola and (2) Firenze Amerigo Vespucci. Both are names for the same airport (kind of like XNA is sometimes called Fayetteville and Highfill). It is not a large airport—not much bigger than our own XNA. Also, it should be of comfort that just about everyone that works at the Florence airport can speak English.
1.
When you land and have picked up you baggage, stop by an airport ATM machine and withdraw some euro if you haven't done so already. Walk out the main ground-level exit. Straight ahead you will see the parking lot and slightly to the right, you will see a tram/bus sitting there (or a well marked bus stop area). This tram/bus departs the airport for the downtown main Florence bus station every 30 minutes and cost €6 cash only—no ticket needed, just pay the driver direct in euro. It is about a 20 minute ride to the mid-town Florence train station. This tram/bus ONLY goes to the bus station so there is no danger of getting on the wrong bus. CLICK HERE for an animation video of FLR Airport that shows walking directions from the airport luggage pickup to the tram/bus outside the airport. This is the bus that will take you to the main Florence bus station (S.M.N.).
The bus station is named "Stazione di Santa Maria Novella (S.M.N.), Frienze (Florence)". Note that The Florence Train Station is located beside the bus station; we'll be using both the bus and train station while we are in Tuscany. Also note that If you choose to take a taxi from FLR to the Florence bus station will run you about €20 and take about 10 minutes.
2.
The Airport tram/bus will take you directly the to Stazione di Santa Maria Novella (S.M.N.), the downtown Florence Bus Station. When you arrive at the bus station, go inside and purchase your ticket to Siena (about €8 one way). Ask to purchase a "Rapide" bus ticket to Siena as it is the non-stop bus that takes about 1'15" (the "Ordinarie" bus ticket to Siena makes several stops and takes about 1'45"). Be sure and validate your bus ticket by inserting it into the machine at the entrance of the bus. CLICK HERE for a video about the bus ride from Florence to Siena.
3.
When your bus arrives at the large open-air Siena bus station (the ticket office/restrooms are underground), take a taxi to your Hotel Moderno. The taxi stand is located in the "Piazza Indipendenza" a short 1/2 block from the open-air bus station. (You can't hail a cab in Italy, most go the the Taxi stand.) Just ask for directions to the "Piazza Giocomo Matteotti" and you will find a taxi there. Taxis can only drive on certain roads in Siena so it may seem like you are getting the "tourist drive-around" but your not. The ride should cost about €10.
When you arrive at the hotel, phone me (or have the hotel to phone me) and let me know you have arrived.
_________________________________________
FYI--Below are notes for using the fast ticket machines for train transportation while you are in Tuscany
CLICK below for a diagram of how to use the Biglietto Veloce (Fast Ticket)
http://europeforvisitors.com/rome/transportation/trenitalia-ticket-machines-1.htm
CLICK below for a Youtube of how to use a Biglietto Veloce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6-yNn0N6Mo
_____________________________
English/Italian words/names
worth knowing when you land in Italy
(2) Firenze America Vespucci (older name)
Also worth knowing
FLORENCE Airport to your SIENA Hotel
1-2-3
More Note from Miles
The airport in Florence (Aeroporto di Firenze) is referred to by two names (1) Firenze Peretola and (2) Firenze Amerigo Vespucci. Both are names for the same airport (kind of like XNA is sometimes called Fayetteville and Highfill). It is not a large airport—not much bigger than our own XNA. Also, it should be of comfort that just about everyone that works at the Florence airport can speak English.
1.
When you land and have picked up you baggage, stop by an airport ATM machine and withdraw some euro if you haven't done so already. Walk out the main ground-level exit. Straight ahead you will see the parking lot and slightly to the right, you will see a tram/bus sitting there (or a well marked bus stop area). This tram/bus departs the airport for the downtown main Florence bus station every 30 minutes and cost €6 cash only—no ticket needed, just pay the driver direct in euro. It is about a 20 minute ride to the mid-town Florence train station. This tram/bus ONLY goes to the bus station so there is no danger of getting on the wrong bus. CLICK HERE for an animation video of FLR Airport that shows walking directions from the airport luggage pickup to the tram/bus outside the airport. This is the bus that will take you to the main Florence bus station (S.M.N.).
The bus station is named "Stazione di Santa Maria Novella (S.M.N.), Frienze (Florence)". Note that The Florence Train Station is located beside the bus station; we'll be using both the bus and train station while we are in Tuscany. Also note that If you choose to take a taxi from FLR to the Florence bus station will run you about €20 and take about 10 minutes.
2.
The Airport tram/bus will take you directly the to Stazione di Santa Maria Novella (S.M.N.), the downtown Florence Bus Station. When you arrive at the bus station, go inside and purchase your ticket to Siena (about €8 one way). Ask to purchase a "Rapide" bus ticket to Siena as it is the non-stop bus that takes about 1'15" (the "Ordinarie" bus ticket to Siena makes several stops and takes about 1'45"). Be sure and validate your bus ticket by inserting it into the machine at the entrance of the bus. CLICK HERE for a video about the bus ride from Florence to Siena.
3.
When your bus arrives at the large open-air Siena bus station (the ticket office/restrooms are underground), take a taxi to your Hotel Moderno. The taxi stand is located in the "Piazza Indipendenza" a short 1/2 block from the open-air bus station. (You can't hail a cab in Italy, most go the the Taxi stand.) Just ask for directions to the "Piazza Giocomo Matteotti" and you will find a taxi there. Taxis can only drive on certain roads in Siena so it may seem like you are getting the "tourist drive-around" but your not. The ride should cost about €10.
When you arrive at the hotel, phone me (or have the hotel to phone me) and let me know you have arrived.
_________________________________________
FYI--Below are notes for using the fast ticket machines for train transportation while you are in Tuscany
CLICK below for a diagram of how to use the Biglietto Veloce (Fast Ticket)
http://europeforvisitors.com/rome/transportation/trenitalia-ticket-machines-1.htm
CLICK below for a Youtube of how to use a Biglietto Veloce
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6-yNn0N6Mo
_____________________________
English/Italian words/names
worth knowing when you land in Italy
- Florence: Firenze
- Airport: Aeroporto
- Florence Airport (FLR): Two names/same airport
(2) Firenze America Vespucci (older name)
- Florence Train Station: Stazione di Santa Maria Novella, Frienze (S.M.N)
- Ticket Counter/Office: Biglietteria
- Ticket: Biglietto
- Ticket Machine: Bigglietto Veloce (Fast Ticket)
- Siena: Siena (same) Note: Siena is also the name of the provence in which Siena is located (like New York in is New York State.
Also worth knowing
- Do you speak English?: Parla ingress?
- Thank You: Grazie
- Thank you very much: Grazie mille
- Where is the restroom?: Il Bagno?