We are picking up a rent car at the airport in Florence and then driving to Tuscany. However, we have some friends coming in to Florence by Train to the Santa Maria Novella Station. I am trying to figure out if we would be able to drive to the station to pick them up or if they should take a cab to the airport and get picked up there.
Thank you in advance for your guidance on this.
Are you aware of the limitations of driving in Florence? "the historic center is closed to traffic except for residents, taxis and buses." https://www.visitflorence.com/tourist-info/driving-in-florence-ztl-zone.html
Thank you Mary - I am aware but need to relay this to our friends so that they understand. I am suggesting they take a cab to the airport and get picked up there.
They can take a taxi, or they could take the tram if they can manage their luggage.
Take a look at this article and map. You should be okay if you stay on the major roadways surrounding the station.
https://www.visitflorence.com/tourist-info/driving-in-florence-ztl-zone.html
Where in Tuscany?
Might be simpler for your friends to take train to Siena then you pick them up there- it is well outside any ZTL
Or have them taxi to the car rental location- no confusion as to where they are
Fixed rate to airport is 25 euros
Train to Siena is a bit cheaper -10.20 euros each
Trains run about every 30 min no need to purchase in advance
Driving to the SMN station is challenging for those who are not familiar with Florence. The light rail tramway T2 from the station to the airport (then the rental car shuttle from the terminal to the car rental center) is the cheaper option. The taxi is about 30€ nowadays (vs. 1.70€ pp on the tramway), but if your friend decide to take a taxi because of cumbersome luggage, then tell them to ask the cab driver to take them directly to the airport car rental center which is located on Via Palagio degli Spini.
If you decide to pick them up at the station the route is below. Follow it exactly and park exactly where I placed the pin. It’s an underground parking lot under the station.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JEYndkb29J1W2Bnh7
There is a way to get to a place where you can load passengers without parking underground, but it's accessible only from the opposite side of the station and to get there you need to follow a more complicated route through via Santa Caterina d'Alessandria > Via Nazionale > via Fiume then around the piazza Adua, in front of the Palazzo dei Congressi (now called Firenze Fiera), but the risk of making a mistake and end up in the wrong lane is too great.
