The T2 Tram: Florence Airport to City Centre and Back
€2 and about 20 minutes each way — the T2 tram is the easiest way between Florence airport and the city centre.
By Ana Ka · Ana's Secret Guide to Italy
Published March 22, 2026 · Last updated August 6, 2026
The tram is one of the smartest ways to travel between Florence Airport and the city centre — affordable, reliable, and entirely free of traffic. Here is everything you need to know before you board.
Tram Stops
From the airport to the city
Exit the terminal, turn left, and follow the signs — the tram stop, Peretola Aeroporto, is a two-minute walk. Take the T2 towards San Marco – Università. It runs straight into the centre with no changes.
Walking route from Arrivals to the T2 tram stop, Florence Airport.
Peretola Aeroporto tram stop, Florence Airport, Florence.
Get off at the stop that suits where you're staying:
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Santa Maria Novella station and the western centre → Alamanni–Stazione S.M.N. (about 20 minutes)
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The Duomo and San Lorenzo → Cavour
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The Accademia and San Marco → San Marco–Università, the final stop (about 30–35 minutes)
One thing other guides get wrong: coming from the airport, the tram no longer stops at Unità. For the station, get off at Alamanni.
The T1 and T2 tram lines across Florence.
For a practical overview of the full journey, I've also filmed a short video taking the tram from the airport into the city centre — you'll find it in our Facebook community group.
From the city to the airport
Heading back, board at Alamanni–Stazione S.M.N., right beside Santa Maria Novella station, and take the T2 towards Peretola Aeroporto. Allow about 20 minutes to the airport from here.
Tram Schedule
The T2 runs every day from 5:00 am to 12:30 am, and until 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights.
How often it runs
Daytime (6:30 am – 8:30 pm), when most people travel: every 4–5 min Mon–Fri, 5–6 min Sat, 7–11 min Sun & holidays
Early morning (5:00 am–6:30 am): every 10–11 min
Evening (8:30 pm – 11:30 pm): every 10–11 min
Late night (after 11:30 pm): every 22 min (10–22 min Fri/Sat)
First & last tram
From the airport: first 5:00 am daily · last 11:58 pm Sun–Thu, 1:15 am Fri–Sat
To the airport: first 5:10 am daily · last 12:20 am Sun–Thu, 1:50 am Fri–Sat
Early flight? Plan backwards from that 5:00 am first tram — there's nothing earlier. Frequencies ease slightly in summer and school holidays. Always check the official GEST timetable before travelling.
Tickets
There are a number of ways to purchase your ticket:
Via the TABNET or AT Bus app — download on Android or iOS, buy your ticket and activate it on your smartphone before boarding.
At the vending machines located at every tram stop — these accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Vpay, including contactless payments. Cash is not accepted.
By tapping directly on the onboard reader using a contactless bank card or phone — a convenient option that requires no advance purchase. Note that one card or device covers one passenger only.
Ticket Validation & Fines
Always validate your ticket immediately upon boarding using the small validation machine inside the tram. Inspections do happen, and fines for unvalidated tickets are steep. The validation machines are typically yellow and easy to spot near the doors.
If your ticket is not validated, inspectors treat it as if you have no ticket: fines start around €40 per person on the spot and increase if you pay later. Always validate as soon as you board.
Fare inspectors board in uniform, show identification, and ask all passengers to present a valid, validated ticket. If yours is not validated, expect a formal fine — and always insist on the proper paperwork. If fined, the inspector must issue a written penalty report containing your details, the date, time, line and fine amount with payment options. This is your official notification.
You can pay on the spot at a reduced rate of around €40–€50 and must receive a proper receipt — though paying immediately makes later appeals difficult. If you prefer to pay later, use the barcodes on the report at LIS points or online. Settling within 15 days is the cheapest option; costs rise after that and unpaid fines can eventually be passed to debt collection. If you believe the fine was issued in error, you can appeal in writing within 30 days to fines@at-bus.it — but note this does not pause payment deadlines.
Peretola Aeroporto tram stop, Florence Airport, Florence. Ana's Secret Guide Image.
Luggage
One piece of hand luggage is included in the standard ticket at no extra cost, provided it does not exceed 10 kg (22 lb) and measures no more than 55x40x20 cm (roughly 22x16x8 in). For larger items — up to 80x45x25 cm (about 31x18x10 in) and 20 kg (44 lb) — an additional ticket is required per item, with a maximum of two pieces per person. Items exceeding these dimensions are not permitted on board.
Pushchairs and prams are carried free of charge but must be folded and stored in a carry case. There are no dedicated luggage areas on the tram, so all bags must be kept close to you without obstructing other passengers. The tram does get busy as it approaches the city centre, though it remains perfectly manageable.
Ticket Cost
A single ticket costs €2.00 and is valid for 90 minutes from validation, with unlimited transfers in that window. Bought by SMS the fare is €2.40. Children under 11 travel free.
Safety & Scams to Be Aware Of
Florence's tram network is generally safe and well-used by locals and visitors alike — but as with any busy transit route connecting an airport to a city centre, it attracts occasional opportunists. A few things worth knowing before you travel.
Ticket inspector scams have been reported on Florence's buses. Legitimate fare controllers are official employees who carry clearly visible identification, wear a uniform, and will always issue any fine through a formal written document. Never hand over cash without receiving an official receipt. If someone approaches you claiming to be an inspector but cannot produce proper identification, follows you, pressures you, or demands cash informally, they are almost certainly not official. Stay calm, do not hand over any cash or personal documents, and if necessary move towards other passengers or contact the driver.
Be equally cautious if a stranger offers to help you purchase a ticket at the vending machine, particularly if they are insistent or overly familiar. This is a common distraction technique used by pickpockets at transit points around the world. Buy your ticket independently and keep your bag close while doing so.
None of this should cause alarm — the vast majority of journeys are entirely uneventful. But a little awareness goes a long way.
Quick Answers
How do you get from Florence airport to the city centre?
Take the T2 tram. Exit the terminal, turn left, and follow signs to the Peretola Aeroporto stop, about a two-minute walk. It runs directly into the centre — no traffic, no transfers.
How long does the tram take from the airport?
About 20 minutes to Santa Maria Novella station (Alamanni stop) and about 30–35 minutes to the final stop, San Marco, near the Accademia.
What time does the Florence airport tram run?
Daily from 5:00 am to 12:30 am, and until 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights. From the airport, the first tram is 5:00 am and the last is 11:58 pm (1:15 am on Fri and Sat). Peak-time frequency is every 4–5 minutes.
Where do I get off for Santa Maria Novella station?
At Alamanni–Stazione S.M.N. Coming from the airport, the tram no longer stops at Unità, so Alamanni is the stop for the station and the western city centre.
How much does the Florence airport tram cost?
A single ticket is €2.00, valid 90 minutes from validation with unlimited transfers. Children under 11 travel free.
Where can I buy a ticket?
Three ways: the TABNET or AT Bus app (buy and activate before boarding); the card-only machines at every stop (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Vpay, contactless — no cash); or by tapping a contactless card or phone on the onboard reader. One card covers one passenger.
Can I take luggage or a suitcase on the tram?
One bag up to 10 kg (22 lb) and 55x40x20 cm (about 22x16x8 in) travels free. A larger case — up to 80x45x25 cm (about 31x18x10 in) and 20 kg (44 lb) — needs an extra ticket, maximum two per person. There are no dedicated luggage racks, so keep bags close.
Do I need to validate my ticket?
Yes, immediately on boarding, using the yellow machine near the doors. An unvalidated ticket is treated as no ticket — fines start around €40 per person.
Continue planning your trip
→ How to Get Around Florence: Taxis, Apps, Airport Transfers & the ZTL
→ Best Time to Visit Florence (And When to Avoid It)
→ Best Restaurants in Florence: An Honest Guide
About the author
Ana Ka is the founder of Ana's Secret Guide to Italy, a Florence-focused travel publication and 100,000-member community, writing from years of firsthand experience in Florence and Tuscany.