Last minute questions before I fly out

There are no trains at Florence Peretola airport. There is a tram whose tickets must be tipe-stamped on board. Just follow the bilingual signs to find the tram stop: https://images.app.goo.gl/d1WAaMqbg98tnKVe7

I won't have to go through customs and security again, right?

I'm not sure where "again" is referring to (i.e. if it's Lisbon or Florence) but assuming your flight to Lisbon is from the US, Canada, UK, or Ireland you will go through immigration checks/passport control in Lisbon. (I am not familiar enough with Lisbon airport to know if there will be security checks.)

When you land in Florence there will be no immigration checks. You will pick up your bags at baggage claim and walk through customs, which you may not even notice unless for some reason you get pulled aside by Italian customs agents.

Andrew has it right, KRS: If Lisbon is your entry point into the Schengen, that's where you'll go through immigration/passport control. You will not need to do that in Florence. Follow Dario's linked instructions for the tram from airport into the city.

Excellent instructional link, Dario!

Florence Peretola is a small and easily navigated airport. To get to the tram follow the signs and head out the main doors. Take a left and you'll see the tram platform. There are machines to purchase your tickets. Validate as noted. Chances are you'll either want the last or second to last stop.

Thank you everyone. I guess I'm a little antsy, so wasn't as clear as I could have been.

Dario, that was just the reminder I needed. I'm staying right by the Duomo so I'll take the last stop. I couldn't pull up the schedule, but I would imagine the tram runs pretty often, so I'm not concerned about that.

So I will have to go through customs in Lisbon, since I'm coming from Dulles in the US. Is two hours enough to do that? That worries me a bit. I think once I've done it, it won't be so intimidating, but I've never done a quick layover overseas, so I'm uncertain.

Also, I vaguely remember people talking about an app that will help me get through customs more quickly when I land back at Dulles. Does anyone remember what that was?

I can't wait to see the holiday lights in Florence!

You will go thru immigration/passport control in Lisbon. When I was there in April, there were individuals around helping to guide everyone. Just stop and let them know you have a 2 hour connection if the lines appear long. I was not connecting but traveling to Portugal, but I did notice individuals with a short connection speaking up and being moved to the front of the line when it was long.

When I flew TAP in 2019, when the flight was full, we were asked if we wanted to check our bags. It was just an option, so hopefully it will be the same for you. If it is checked, it will be to your final destination, Florence.

Also, I vaguely remember people talking about an app that will help me get through customs more quickly when I land back at Dulles. Does anyone remember what that was?

Are you thinking about Mobile Passport Control (MPC)? https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control

We used it for Seattle, and worked very well.

Looks like that passport app is only good for entering the US. I have a one hour stop in FRA coming up. Oh well.

Hi KRS!
When you land in Florence, you just walk right out as you will have had security/immigration etc at your first point of entry into Europe.
Before you exit the airport, there is a gift/tobacco shop to the left of the doors.
Go in there to buy your ticket, as the machines on the platform can be confusing and a lot of people all around them arguing about how they work.😳

Say to the staff member in the shop:
“Buon giorno”, or “Buona sera” if it is afternoon.

“Un biglietto del tram, per favore”.

One ticket is Euro 1.50

Go out, turn left, walk along to the tram, a couple minutes walk.
Your tram will say “UNITA” on it.

Validate your ticket right away on board.
Bright yellow machines in every car.
If you don’t see them ask someone.
Big fines if they catch you with an unvalidated ticket!
You will see people not validating, but they are maybe residents with passes.
You have to.
Keep your ticket till you get off.

Get off at either ”Alamanni” stop at the railway station, or the next stop, which is the last one on that line and is really just another minute away.
The trip takes 20 minutes.

The Duomo is about a 12 or so minute walk away.
Now relax, have a great trip and let us know how it went!

I just love how helpful and supportive this group is! FYI, I got to Dulles early enough to make sure I could figure out what I was doing and where I needed to go. Well, it was so empty that the security guy had to wait for me to get my shoes off since there was no one in line in front of me! Now I’m killing some time with a leisurely dinner and drink.

Safe travels and have fun!

Have a safe fun trip KRS!

I’ll be curious to hear how your experience on TAP airlines goes as we fly out of Dulles as well and are considering TAP rather than United next year

I'm leaving for Florence on the 17th. Very interested in how it goes and any insights you have.

I believe Mobile Passport Control has been discontinued. Clear and Global Entry are the main avenues for getting through immigration and customs. When we returned this November, I was surprised that Immigration and Customs is now a combined entity at SEA-TAC. Made it quicker, but noticed those with Clear did go through faster.

Mobile Passport Control is still available for use at select airports (including Dulles). You will need to download the app and follow the instructions. It’s free and if you don’t have Global Entry worth trying. I’ve had good and not so good experiences. But it certainly won’t hurt to try it on your return.

I used Mobile Passport in Seattle at the end of October. There was a huge line at Immigration and I asked if they had one for Mobile Passport. The agent directed me to a different line with one person ahead of me. I was pretty much waved through, though I was told since I'm not wearing my glasses in my Passport photo to not wear them in the selfie you take on the app because they can't use facial recognition. I've had good luck with it at several airports.

We just left Italy via the Florence airport, and took the tram. VERY nice system. Takes you right downtown next to the train station and bus station, and 3 short blocks from the Duomo. E1.50

Mobil Passport worked like a dream at SFO last October.

The airport and tram in Florence were exactly as described. Thank you! TAP seemed fine. The seats are small, as with all airlines. The food was adequate. The crew was polite and efficient, so no problems there. They specifically looked at my back pack, but did not weigh or measure it. Lisbon was an easy airport to navigate. I find the differences between airports to be quite interesting.

Now I’m trying to catch my breath and freshen up before going out to wander this evening. I love this city so much!

So glad we could help you!
Florence is one of my favourite cities.
If you get tired walking around, buy a few bus tickets from a Tabac shop (blue "T" outside) and hop on and off.
Especially the little electric buses, "C" and "D", they go in circular routes.
Each ticket is good for 90 minutes, so you can get off and on more than one bus with it.
Remember to validate on board!

So interesting about Mobile Passport. I tried to use it and it came up saying it was no longer valid. Oh well. Happy to hear it is still working!

I’m now thinking I had a different mobile passport app than the one I’m seeing from the App Store today. Oops!
I do believe the one I had was redirected to a different vendor and may be why I received the message I did.

I’m going to look into the Mobile Passport Control app as it looks to be the current one. Maybe it will work better than what I had anyway as it was a bit wonky.

Thanks for getting me on a different and hopefully correct path.

@SJS - see below article. There were some changes around the app
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-announces-mobile-passport-control-changes

Our favorite restaurant was ZEB in the Ultrarno. Mentioned in Michelin. Very small. If you go there, tell him the couple from Oct 3 Sunday recommended it. We had to wait 50 min. Worth the wait. The guy is a little arrogant, but the food is great.