Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is a city filled with history, art, and culture at every corner. Navigating its narrow streets and bustling piazzas can be overwhelming for visitors, especially when pressed for time. That’s where the City Sightseeing Florence Hop-On Hop-Off Bus comes in, offering a convenient and flexible way to explore this beautiful city.
Why the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus?
TheHop-On Hop-Off Bus service is ideal for tourists who want the flexibility to explore both the city center and the outskirts without worrying about transportation logistics. The two main lines—Red Line and Blue Line—cover different parts of the city, offering you a comprehensive tour while making it easy to get on and off at different stops.
Key advantages of this service include:
- Flexible Sightseeing: You can hop off at any point to explore and catch the next bus when you’re ready.
- Multilingual Audio Guide: Learn about Florence’s history, art, and culture as you travel between stops.
- Convenience: Buses run frequently, and you don’t have to worry about finding parking or navigating busy streets.
Blue Line Highlights
The Blue Line takes you from the Santa Maria Novella train Station to Piazzale Michelangelo – Offering panoramic views of the entire city, this stop is a must-see for photographers).
The route takes place mainly on the very busy ring roads that surround the center. So you can see the medieval gates of entry to the city such as Porta al Prato, Porta Romana, Porta San Gallo.
After reaching Piazzale Michelangelo you return towards the center passing by Ponte alle Grazie from where you can see Ponte Vecchio.
Red Line Highlights
The Red Line takes you from the Santa Maria Novella train Station to Fiesole, the beautiful village nestled in the hills around Florence.
The route passes along busy avenues to almost immediately reach the hill that leads first to San Domenico (A quiet spot with serene views, perfect for escaping the hustle of the city.) and then to Fiesole which is renowned for its Roman theatre and beautiful views of Florence.
Cost:
The City Sightseeing Florence Hop-On Hop-Off bus offers several ticket options.
- A 24-hour ticket costs around €29,
- A 48-hour ticket is approximately €35.
- For a more extended visit, the 72-hour ticket is priced at about €39.
These tickets allow unlimited rides on the bus within the chosen time frame, providing access to both the Red Line and Blue Line routes. Tickets can be purchased online or at designated locations, and children often receive discounted rates.
Why You Should Think Twice About the Bus
Florence is a relatively small city, which makes it easy to explore on foot. The historic center, where the city’s main attractions are located, is compact and accessible. Florentines call “centre” the space from the church of Santa Maria Novella to the church of Santa Croce, no more than a 20-minute walk.
Therefore, places of interest such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Accademia and the Uffizi Gallery are all within walking distance of each other.
Strolling through the narrow cobblestone streets of Florence allows visitors to immerse themselves in the medieval and Renaissance charm of this city. Walking also offers the opportunity to discover hidden corners, small shops and traditional trattorias. Exploring on foot is truly the best way to experience the intimate atmosphere of Florence.
Here is a list of walking distances from the main points of interest starting from the Duomo:
- Duomo to Piazza della Signoria: about 5 minutes (400 meters)
- Duomo to Ponte Vecchio: about 8 minutes (600 meters)
- Duomo to Basilica di Santa Croce: about 10 minutes (850 meters)
- Duomo Galleria dell’Accademia: about 6 minutes (500 meters)
- Duomo to Galleria degli Uffizi: about 5 minutes (450 meters)
Walking between these short distances allows you to enjoy the historical and architectural beauty of Florence.
What is the best way to visit Florence?
Definitely on foot.
And to better exploit your time, rely on someone who knows and loves Florence: a guide.
Only by letting yourself be guided by a professional tourist guide you will you see the most well-known and crowded parts of Florence but above all you will be able to walk through the smallest and most hidden streets: the real jems of this city.
Our tour “Discovery tour of Florence” is designed exactly for this.