Could I call a freenow car to pick me up in front of Florence SMN station or do I need to walk further out like pass the underground mall onto the other side so not to contend with the taxis.
Roughly, how much would it costs to take me to Uffizi. Any surcharge for luggage?
I've never used freenow before, is the price it shows on the app the price that I will be charged or is it just a quote?
Thanks
Not really sure as not familiar with Freenow- but do know that a taxi from the distance you are asking about is not much more than 10-12 euros unless rates have changed radically since May 2022.
Official taxi rank is just outside the station.
There is no single taxi app in Italy. AppTaxi has worked well for me in a number of northern Italian cities and there is also itTaxi and TaxiMove that is relatively new. I don't know of any app that doesn't have some mixed reviews but I have definitely seen some mixed reviews on FreeNow.
The good news is you shouldn't need to use an app if you're at the station. Unless you have specific mobility needs just go to the official taxi rank on the east side of the station - out the doors to the left as you exit the tracks. If there's a line join the queue and then just take the next taxi there will plenty of them.
In Italy you're only supposed to use a taxi from a stand or one that has specifically called for you - from the hotel or using an app. There is a surcharge for being called and some specific things like late at night and maybe Sundays but no surcharge for regular luggage. The fees are regulated and well understood. Cab are required to accept credit cards but you might confirm that the "machine is working" before taking the cab if want or need to use a card. You can ask for a receipt and some people feel that this may encourage cab drivers to follow the rules more because the charges and their cab number is on the receipt.
There is a taxi fare estimator here: https://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Florence-Italy&lang=en
As always good station information from the "Man in Seat 61": https://www.seat61.com/stations/florence-santa-maria-novella.htm
Florence is small and walking is about as fast as driving for most destinations, but walking across town with your luggage makes a cab seem like a good idea.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
From the train station to the Uffizi is less than a mile. Depending where exactly your lodging is, just walking may be the simplest solution.
If you have luggage take a taxi. No needs for apps. There is a taxi stand outside of SMN with dozens of taxicabs waiting in line 24/7. Once you’ve settled at the hotel, unencumbered by luggage, just walk around as Florence city center is small and walkable. Basically, if your hotel is in the city center, a taxicab in Florence is needed only upon arrival (from airport/station to hotel) and upon departure for the reverse trip.
The taxi fare from SMN to the Uffizi area varies depending on whether is a weekday, a Sunday, or night, but it shouldn’t be much more than 10€ in most cases.
There is a taxi stand outside of SMN with dozens of taxicabs waiting in line 24/7. Once you’ve settled at the hotel,
Thank you everyone. The only reason I don't want to take a taxi is I have been reading a lot of tourists being scammed. They get off expecting to pay the meter reading but can get charged twice the amount. It doesn't appear to be a one off situation, everyday I read many need feeds that pop up on social media reporting the same thing, kind of want to avoid this altogether.
Hence I was thinking if rideshare apps are set prices before getting on, it removes the chance of this occuring.
Walking is also an option but I'm not sure it would be a pleasant walk with suitcases and cobblestones.
Unfortunately no one can guarantee you're not going to get scammed in any situation anywhere.
The reported taxi scams have been discussed previously on here on the boards and the vast consensus is that most people don't experience any issues. I have taken taxis alone and in groups and for long and short distances in Italy many times from Rome north and have not had an issue. Really the last time I had a problem with a scamming taxi driver I was paying in lira.
There are things you can do to protect yourself: Always take a taxi from an official stand or a well known taxi app. Never accept a ride from someone between the airport terminal and the taxi stand for instance or anyone offering a discount.
Ask if you can get a receipt (ricevuta reecha-VOO-ta) before you get in the cab. Some people feel that if they know you're getting a receipt at the end it means there will a record of the ride and any charges and you're also maybe travelling for business and not a tourist.
This page is essentially an ad for a service but has a list of good practices and known acceptable charges specific to Florence: https://www.welcomepickups.com/florence/taxi/
Of all the things that could go wrong on your trip a taxi scam is relatively low on the list of things that will really impact your experience. All you can do is arm yourself with information and dive in.
Have a great trip,
=Tod
You are unlikely to be scammed in Florence especially for such a short trip. The exact amount you will have to pay will be shown in the meter. The fares are below in the link.
I don’t know where your hotel is exactly but the taxi ride is not going to be over 2km. There is an initial flag down charge which varies according to the time or day:
3.80€ Mon to Sat
6.10€ Sun and Holidays
7,70€ at night after 10pm
The charge per km is 1.10€ then 2.10€ after a certain amount but in your case the first rate will apply for most if not all the ride.
If you arrive during the day on a weekday, including Sat, the charge will be less than 7€. In the worst of circumstances, if you arrive at night, it will be around 10€. The exact amount will be shown on the meter. To that amount the taxi driver will add 1.20€ for each bag (it doesn’t matter if in the trunk or on board).
You have the knowledge now. There is no way nobody can scam you.
https://servizi.comune.fi.it/sites/www.comune.fi.it/files/all._3_tariffe_fase_2-16052023_df.pdf
Excellent advice. Thank you everyone.
If I was to walk to Uffizi, will i need to contend with stairs anywhere on this route?
Instead of saying "hotel near the Uffizi", tell us the hotel name. Saying near the Uffizi still leaves a fair sized area.
It’s a B&B so I thought the uffizi was easier to identify, but it’s Loft Cuore di Firenze on Via del Castello D'Altafronte
Yes, that is on the far side of the Uffizi from SMN station. Google directions says 1 1/2 km and 20 minutes walking. If I remember rightly, you are arriving from Chur on the Bernina Express, a train replacement bus to Colico, then train to Milano Centrale, then an Italo to Florence. It will be evening and you are going to be tired. Take a taxi.
Thanks Sam. I think so too. Will be a longer day than I would have liked.
What's the etiquette for paying the taxi driver. Do i wait until he/she takes all the luggage out from the trunk first before I pay him/her?
The taxi driver will show you the amount in the meter at the end of the ride when you are still sitting in the car. Whether you want to pay him then and subsequently get out and retrieve the luggage, or after you are out of the car is up to you, there is no rule or etiquette, I’ve done it both ways.
Just be aware of the following:
A. Italian taxi drivers accept credit cards but they prefer cash, because they are the biggest tax dodgers in Italy, and cash transactions are not traceable. Some even come with the excuse their POS machine is momentarily malfunctioning, therefore they can’t accept cards (it’s a lie, of course). In your case the charge is small enough that you can pay cash.
B. Italian taxi drivers are not poor. You will not find impoverished migrants doing that job. By law you must be an Italian citizen to hold a taxi medallion (they might be the only native Florentines you will meet since most workers in the tourism industry are immigrants, especially from Eastern Europe). They have a monopoly in the business (Uber is basically banned by a court decision), and have immense lobby power. Taxi Licenses cannot be awarded to companies, only to individuals, therefore the taxi driver is the owner of the license and the vehicle. The average cost of purchasing a license in Florence is between €200,000 and €300,000, but a taxi driver in Florence can easily earn over 500€ a day, even more than in Rome or Milan (well above the average salary in Italy). However the average they report on the tax return is only 15,000€ a year.
C. Because of above points A and B, Italians hate taxi drivers more than Americans hate lawyers and used car dealers. Therefore you will not see an Italian ever leaving a tip to a taxi driver, not even a cent. Sometimes, if I pay cash, I might leave the change (for example if the fare is 24.75€ I might leave 25€ (but not often). They thank me profusely because they would never expect an Italian leaving them a tip. I don’t tell my friends in Florence I left the taxi driver a tip, because my friends will lecture me for hours about the immoral thing I did. Most Italians would like that also Americans kept the long standing Italian tradition of leaving absolute zero tip to taxi drivers. Actually, if you pay cash, you should still ask for the receipt (tell them you need it to get reimbursed by your company). Of course the taxi driver will not give you an official receipt or invoice, he will simply write the amount on a worthless napkin or piece of paper, so that he can continue to dodge the tax man.
I don’t tell my friends in Florence I left the taxi driver a tip, because my friends will lecture me for hours about the immoral thing I did.
lol thats so sad, but its funny!
If i pay by card, I will get a proper receipt?
