Private Car vs. Bus vs. Taxi for Transfer LIN-> Milan Central & Florence Train Station->Hotel

When I asked about this on TripAdvisor, people said just take a taxi from Linate rather than private car. It is a pretty short trip.

Keep it simple: If your family does not need help with all that luggage just walk outside and take a taxi. If not, a private driver will give you an hand in carrying 1 suitcase from the arrivals to the parking area outside it.

Above all, how are you carrying 3 suitcases from the street level up to the tracks area at Milano Centrale? Hope they are all wheeled.

Most hotels in central Florence are at a walking distance from SM Novella station.

Take a taxi at the taxi stand in both cases.
There is no flat fare from Linate to Milano Centrale, the taxi will use the meter, but it should be around 40 euro, unless there is a major traffic snarl.
From Florence Santa Maria Novella station to your hotel, also depends on the meter, but unless you stay out of the city center, it wouldn't be over 15-20 euro.
With 2 small kids and 3 bags I wouldn't attempt walking to the hotel, unless you are staying in a hotel next to the station, which I do not recommend since it's very noisy (lots of bus and light rail trolleys traffic, in addition to trains whistling too).

Thanks for all the information. It seems taxi is the way to go. Yes our suitcases roll and each family member is capable of carrying their own. Kids suitcases are small carry on size. Thanks again.

If you know your hotel in Florence already, you can gauge whether it would make sense to walk to it. Just plug the address in Google Maps and see the walking distance from the station using Google Maps. If the hotel is very near the station, you might decide to walk.

Thanks - yes the hotel is across the river Oltrarno area so it is a bit to far but taxi sounds like it will work for us. Do they have taxis that are vans or are the all normal cars?

It's been a few years since I've been to Milan but, if I am remembering right, there is a Metro line at Linate Airport that can take you into the city. I've never had an issue with using the Metro when traveling with children as long as they are old enough to handle the stairs. I think 9 years old was the youngest age we took our children overseas. As far as Firenze SMN goes, its very close to the center of the city, just a short walk to Santa Maria del Fiore. I guess it depends on where your hotel is really. I have only used my two feet while in Florence so I am sorry to be of little help on that one. Good luck!

They come in all sizes. The taxi stand attendant at the station will direct you to the first suitable taxi cab for your needs. This is an image of the taxi cabs in front of the Florence SMN station:
https://images.app.goo.gl/jecF2y97z2hmqYR78
The two main taxi cooperatives in Florence are:
https://4242.it/
http://www.4390.it/
Both will have taxi cabs lined up in the queue.

Thank you Roberto - very helpful!

We're flying into Linate and ending up at a hotel near the central station. I've been researching transfer options, too. According to the hotel website, it's less than 4 miles to the airport. Not that we're walking but why is the taxi trip 40 euros? Fees? Traffic? Special Zones? What the market will bear? Seems a bit steep. I'm curious.

@CT
None of the above.

It’s the monopolist power of one of the most powerful lobbies in Italy: the taxi lobby.

Have you ever wondered why Italy is one of the few advanced countries (or maybe the only one) that has managed to totally ban Uber from the entire country?

I have never paid more than 25 € from Linate to Milano Centrale. Or 5 Big Mac's.
Not bad.

Have you ever wondered why Italy is one of the few advanced countries

Because we don't feel the need to take money away from local drivers and give them to the foreign shareholders of an US based company?

As much as I dislike taxi drivers, I see no benefits in turning entrepreneurs into underclass workers.

There is a private bus service from Linate to Milano Centrale as well. I can't recall what I paid last time. However, I do recall that they let us off at the back side of the station, which involved a bit of a hike. So you may want to avoid that.