Which airport should I use for Florence?

Ryanair flies to Pisa (PSA), which is 1 hour from Florence by train. easyJet and ITA Airways fly to Florence Amerigo Vespucci (FLR), only 5 km from the centre. FLR is far more convenient.

How do I get from Pisa airport to Florence?

Take the shuttle bus from PSA to Pisa Centrale station (5 minutes, €5), then a direct Trenitalia train to Florence Santa Maria Novella (around 1 hour, €10). Total journey is about 75 minutes.

Is a roller or backpack better for Florence?

A compact backpack is strongly recommended. Florence has steep hills and historic stone streets. Getting to Piazzale Michelangelo or the Oltrarno neighbourhood with a roller is genuinely unpleasant.

Do I need to book Uffizi tickets in advance?

Yes, always. Walk-up queues at the Uffizi Gallery can be 2–3 hours. Book online at uffizi.it at least a week in advance, especially May–September.

What should I wear in Florence churches?

Covered shoulders and knees are required in the Duomo, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, and most other Florentine churches. A lightweight scarf packed in your bag covers this for the whole trip.

Carry-On Only for Florence: Airline Rules & Packing Tips

Florence is one of the world's great cities — Uffizi masterpieces, Brunelleschi's Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the Arno at dusk. It is also a hilly city of stone streets and steep staircases, where your choice of bag matters. This guide covers both airport options, airline carry-on rules, and what to pack for a city that rewards style and practical footwear in equal measure.

Two Airport Options for Florence

Florence has two viable airports, and the choice matters for carry-on travellers.

Airport	Code	Distance	Key Airline
Florence Amerigo Vespucci	FLR	5 km from centre	easyJet, ITA Airways, TAP
Pisa Galileo Galilei	PSA	80 km from centre	Ryanair

FLR is tiny (one terminal) and extremely close to the city. A taxi costs around €20–25 and takes 15 minutes. The tram (Line T2) connects FLR to the city centre for €1.70 and takes around 20 minutes.

PSA is larger and served by more budget carriers. The transfer to Florence takes about 75 minutes door-to-door: shuttle bus to Pisa Centrale (5 min, included with some tickets), then a regional Trenitalia train to Florence Santa Maria Novella (around 1 hour, from €10). The Terravision and BusItalia coaches also run directly PSA to Florence centre for around €12.

Airline Carry-On Rules

Airline	Airport	Cabin Bag Size	Weight	Notes
Ryanair	PSA	40 × 20 × 25 cm (free) or 55 × 40 × 20 cm (Priority)	10 kg (Priority)	Priority required for overhead bin
easyJet	FLR	56 × 45 × 25 cm	15 kg	Larger free personal item also allowed
ITA Airways	FLR	55 × 35 × 25 cm	8 kg	Plus personal item (40 × 30 × 15 cm)
TAP Air Portugal	FLR	55 × 40 × 20 cm	8 kg	Via Lisbon hub

For easyJet to FLR: The 15 kg allowance and the 5 km airport proximity make this the most convenient carry-on option for Florence.

What to Pack

Florence is warm to hot in summer, mild in spring and autumn, and cold in winter. Florentines are stylish — it shows in the restaurants and even in how locals dress for a Monday morning walk.

Clothing: 3–4 lightweight tops, 2 versatile bottoms, one genuinely smart outfit for a nicer dinner — Florentines dress well and mid-to-upper restaurants expect it
Shoes: comfortable walking shoes are essential; flat leather shoes or trainers are fine; no heeled shoes — the stone paving near the Duomo and on the Oltrarno hills is treacherous
Church cover-up: a light scarf or pashmina tucked in your bag. The Duomo queues are long — avoid being turned away at the door
Layers: evenings can be cool in spring and autumn even when midday is warm
Small daypack: useful for Uffizi visits when lockers require you to leave your main bag; some museums restrict bag sizes

Hot Summer Notes

July and August in Florence are extremely hot (often over 35°C) and very crowded. Carry a reusable water bottle — the city has free drinking water fountains (nasoni) throughout the centre.

Getting Around

The historic centre is compact and walkable, but it is not flat. Key gradients:

Piazzale Michelangelo: a 20–25 minute uphill walk from Ponte Vecchio — beautiful sunset viewpoint, but not with a roller bag
Oltrarno: south of the Arno, hillier and quieter; excellent for artisan workshops and local restaurants
Fiesole: a short bus ride (No. 7 from San Marco) to the hilltop town above Florence — rewarding views, cool breeze in summer

Bag advice: a compact 30–40L backpack (under the airline's size limit) outperforms a roller on all of Florence's main terrain. Rolling luggage on the historic stone streets is noisy and physically tiring.

Key Sights and Planning Notes

Uffizi Gallery: book online weeks in advance at uffizi.it; the collection alone justifies a full day
Duomo and Cupola: the cathedral is free to enter; the climb to Brunelleschi's dome requires a separate timed ticket — book in advance
Ponte Vecchio: best in early morning before crowds; gold jewellers line the bridge
Accademia: home to Michelangelo's David — also requires advance booking in peak season

Day Trips

Siena: SITA buses from Florence Autostazione (near Santa Maria Novella) take around 1.5 hours. The medieval centre and Piazza del Campo are extraordinary.

San Gimignano: Most easily visited as an extension of a Siena day trip via bus.

Chianti wine region: Requires a car. If you plan a wine-country day, pack a packable tote for bottles — bringing wine back in a carry-on requires careful cushioning and will use your weight allowance fast.

Bottom Line

Fly easyJet to FLR for the most convenient Florence experience: 15 kg, a 5 km airport, and no train connection to organize. If Ryanair to PSA is significantly cheaper, the 75-minute train transfer is manageable but adds friction. Pack a backpack rather than a roller — Florence's terrain makes this a clear call. One smart outfit, solid walking shoes, and a church scarf are the three non-negotiable additions to your standard travel kit.