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Greve to Florence - Bus or car?

We will be staying in Greve during our Tuscany trip in December. We have scheduled a walking tour of Florence for one of the days. I'm debating about whether to drive from Greve to Florence or take the bus. We have to be at our meeting point at 0830, meaning that we'd have to take one of three buses that leave between 06.50 and 07.00. We'd have to leave about the same time or a little earlier for the drive. There's a number of buses back from Florence, including one at 19.30 and 20.15.

Has anyone either driven from or taken the bus from Greve to Florence? Do you have any recommendations?

Posted by
111 posts

I'd recommend the bus. It will save on the hassle of where to leave a car early AM in Florence. You can't take it into the city, so you'd have to park somewhere outside the City Center (Michelangelo Plaza?) and get a bus from there. Besides, riding the local buses afford you a wonderful opportunity to meet the people and live as they do -- even if only for an hour or so. Make a friend on the bus and you get a two for one experience.

Posted by
23177 posts

I agree with Shay. Finding a packing lot and parking would be a time consuming activity. And then you could have a long walk to the center from the lot. Any time saving from a car would be more than lost with the parking situation in Florence. Take the bus, and leave the driving to them !

Posted by
2097 posts

Thanks Shay and Frank. That's my thoughts as well. The SITA bus station is at the Piazza della Stazione, which is only a 10 minute walk to the Piazza San Marco, our meeting point.

As you mentioned, riding the bus will give us a nice experience as well. We'll have plenty of time to get home and won't have to worry about having a second glass of wine before driving. We are hoping to eat at the Trattoria Sostanza for either lunch or dinner. I'm thinking lunch, then catch the Christmas fair before catching the bus back to Greve.

Posted by
7175 posts

#365 is your SITA bus number from Greve to Florence.
I took it a number of times in July 2012, and its a very pleasant journey. Note the SITA station in Florence can be difficult to locate for a first timer, it's tucked around the corner, in a central courtyard.

Posted by
1507 posts

There are two possible bus itineraries from Greve to Firenze. Buses running from Greve to Florence through Strada stop at Piazza della Libertà that is closer to S. Marco than the railway station.

Posted by
2097 posts

Thanks. Is the bus that goes through Strada a longer ride? That would really put us close to where we need to be.

I'm thinking our hosts and our tour guide will be good resources to point us in the right direction. We're counting the days!

Posted by
1507 posts

Some buses run through Strada, some through Ferrone. The two itineraries have about the same length, but arrive in Florence from different directions.

Posted by
1054 posts

take the bus for the trip since you are only going to/from florence and not stopping in some of the small villages along the way.

Posted by
2097 posts

Thanks Robert. We'll get to see the route and make notes about where we might want to visit later in the week.