Rick is kind of down on this bus but due to tour schedules we will be traveling from one side of the city to the other, and then back again. For one trip we will be near Accademia, then heading to Piazza Michaelangelo which I understand is uphill. Would hop-on-hop-off be the best for this kind of cross-city travel? It's $30 USD for a 24 hour ticket but I'm thinking taxi might be worse...altho there are 4 of us to share the taxi, so maybe not... HELP!!
Posted by
London, UK
286 posts
Florence really isn't the kind of city for hop on and off buses. Take your time in the city by foot and then take the city bus up the hill. I think bus 12/13 does it or take a taxi or walk uphill for 20 minutes.
I thought 'tourist' Florence was smaller than expected so very easy to see on foot.
Posted by
Meteghan, N.S., Canada
152 posts
The only place you'll want or even use transportation is getting from the Accademia to Piazza Michaelangelo. Everything else inside the walls is walkable, and some of the best walking is on pedestrian only places. Its such a tight compact city centre. The taxi will be far cheaper for the one trip, and you may well end up walking back. Relax, it will all work out.
Posted by
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
122 posts
Walking from one end of the old city to the other is only about a 10 minute venture - easy as can be! We walked from the Accademia to Piazza Michelangelo and it took us about 30 minutes. We wanted to take the bus up the hill, but we missed it and another didn't seem to come right away - so we braved the stairs. It was a beautiful walk, and the scenic reward at the top made it all worthwhile. Other posters have said "no" to the hop on/off bus, and I would agree - in some ways, it might even take longer on the bus than it would to walk given the number of pedestrian passages in Florence and the crowds of people the bus would have to avoid enroute. My vote goes with walking and a taxi in a pinch.
Posted by
Sheboygan, Wisc., USA
934 posts
Without luggage walking would be easy and very enjoyable.An adventure around every corner.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
I agree to walking Florence. However, leaving luggage may be a problem as it is in many cities.
After arriving,I would ask everyone I see where I can leave bags for an extended time. Lockers are not always available.
Sometimes I have asked at a nearby hotel and managed to check bags.
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
We took the public transport bus to Piazza Michelangelo. It costs about 1E a person and runs about every 20 minutes. We picked it up across from Santa maria Novella. Drops you off right at the top. On the way down the bus dropped us near Santa Croce. We would have walked, but it was about 98 that day.