Car Hire Florence Airport

Car Hire

Officially called Peretola Airport, the gateway to Tuscany’s cultural heart of Florence sits just shy of six miles from Florence city centre. Dedicated local buses make the journey between the airport and Florence, taking from 15 to 30 minutes, while taxis make this drive much more quickly. Yet the quickest and most recommended way to reach the city and other destinations within the region is with car rental in Florence International Airport, with Florence being a 15-minute drive to the southeast.

Who to Book With
A number of international car hire suppliers have counters at the airport, including Avis, Sixt, Europcar and Hertz, as well as Italian supplier Targarant. Car rental desks can be found in the Arrivals hall though vehicles are collected from the dedicated car rental car park. This is accessible by shuttle bus, with services departing from outside the exit doors of the Arrivals hall.

Need to Know Essentials
At vehicle collection, the following documents will need to be produced:

- Your driver’s licence (both parts if from the UK)
- The credit card used at the time of reservation
- A passport or another form of ID
- Reservation confirmation

For more info read our FAQ's

Driving
Parking restrictions in Florence are strict, with visitors only able to park in on-street spaces which are marked blue. Coins are needed to pay for on-street parking or drivers can park in one of the city car parks and pay with bills. Driving in the historic city is restricted to residents with permits only: there are heavy fines for vehicles entering without such a permit. There are other areas of the city that are also restricted to permit holders. Automatic petrol pumps accept PIN and chip credit cards though it is a good idea to carry some cash just in case. It is compulsory to carry a reflective vest and a warning triangle in your vehicle. The A-1 and A-11 autostradas, and the Firenze Pisa Livorno are toll-routes.

See our Italy guide for more useful tips on driving here.

Transport

The majority of arriving passengers access the city by self-drive. Buses are cheap but are not nearly as comfortable and stop operating at 23:30. Taxis run 24-hours but can be an expensive way to arrive in the city.

Trains
No trains directly serve the airport though city-bound airport buses stop at Florence’s main bus terminal, which is directly across the street from Florence Railway Station. From here, Trenitalia runs trains to all major destinations within Italy.

Taxis
Taxis are readily available at the airport and are stationed in front of the terminal. Prices increase on holidays and between 22:00 and 06:00.

Taxi prices:
Florence International Airport to Florence is roughly £16

Buses
Local bus company ATAF operates Vola in Bus airport buses that take passengers from the airport to Florence’s main bus station (Piazza Statione). Services operate every 30 minutes from 06:00 to 20:30 and every hour from 20:30 to 23:30, taking around 15 minutes to reach the city. The journey costs roughly £4 one-way.

Facilities

Terminals
Over 1.5 million passengers use this small, single-terminal airport annually. Passengers arrive here year round from major destinations throughout Europe as well as from the island of Sardinia. There are also seasonal flights to Brussels, Lyon and Olbia.

Parking
Two car parks are on-site at the airport, one for short term and one for long term. There is also a separate car park for car rental vehicles. The rates at the short-term car park start at roughly £1.50 for the first hour and increase by £2.50 for each additional hour, with a maximum daily rate of around £20. To park in the long-term car park costs roughly £0.80 for the first hour and £0.40 for each additional 30 minutes thereafter, with rates lowering after six days.

Wi-Fi
There is no wireless internet access at the airport.

Information Services
The information desk is located in the Arrivals hall and is open from 08:30 to 18:00.

Useful Numbers
Flight Information: +39 55 306 1700
Information Desk: +39 55 315 874

Accessibility
Assistance is given to arriving passengers with reduced mobility. Departing passengers can avail of assistance at the assistance request facility before the Departures area. Toilets and telephone booths are wheelchair accessible, while car parks have spaces reserved for passengers with reduced mobility.

Restaurants and Bars
There are three eateries found in the terminal, all of which make delicious pizza. My Chef also serves pasta, sandwiches, salads and cake. There are no bars on site, but beer and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased at all three of the airport’s eateries.

VIP Lounges
Masaccio Lounge is on the first floor of the Departures hall and offers passengers internet access, foreign and Italian newspapers, a self-serve bar and satellite television.

Money and ATMs
ATMs can be found throughout the terminal, while a Banca Toscana branch is located in the Departures area and offers all banking services, including currency exchange. There is also a currency exchange kiosk in the terminal.

Shopping
The Departures area gives passengers the chance to shop in three separate duty-free stores, one of which is dedicated to cosmetics, one which specialises in fashion and a third stocking alcohol, cigarettes and souvenirs. Other shops in the Departures area include clothiers Camicissana and Marina Militaire, as well as jeweller Mossa. In the public area, books can be purchased at Giunti al Punto, while delicious Tuscany wine and food can be picked up at Colli Toscani.