Getting Around Florencia, Colombia
Florencia is a town and municipality in the Department of Caquetá, Colombia. The reference material available for this guide covers the city of Florence, Italy, rather than Florencia, Colombia, so the practical transport details below describe Florence, Italy, and should not be taken as a description of Florencia, Colombia. Visitors heading to Florencia, Colombia should confirm local transport options on arrival, as the specifics of its bus, taxi, and airport connections are not covered by the source material.
On Foot
In Florence, Italy, most of the major tourist sights sit within easy walking distance of one another. You can cross the historic centre north to south or east to west in about half an hour, and walking lets you take in far more of the city than any vehicle.
- Some central streets are closed to traffic, and many more are simply too narrow for buses.
- Bus and car tours are therefore not recommended in the centre.
- Watch for electric motor scooters: they are quiet, quick, and small enough to go where cars cannot, and in summer they often travel into the plazas.
Bicycle
The city runs a bike rental service with several hire points, and bikes must be returned to the same place you took them. One of the most convenient locations for visitors is at the SMN station; other rental points at railway stations often have restricted opening hours. Some hotels lend bicycles to guests free of charge, and bike shops frequently rent bikes and run guided countryside tours.
- The historic centre is largely flat and easy to cycle, though there are hills north and south of it.
- Traffic is heavy, with buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles, motorbikes, bicycles, and pedestrians competing for very little space.
- A network of cycle paths often makes it faster to skirt the centre than to ride straight through the historic streets, even when your destination is in an area such as Santa Croce or Santa Maria Novella.
Tram
Florence has a tram network, and tram line T2 connects the airport to the SMN train station. The tram station at the airport is controlled and sits to the left of the main entrance. Trams run frequently, roughly every 5 to 15 minutes depending on the time of day, and continue until late, with later service on weekends. Tickets can be bought with cash or credit card at vending machines at each station. Tram 1 also serves the Villa Constanza Park & Ride on the west edge of the city.
Train
Frequent direct trains link Florence with Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples, and Italy's other main cities. Almost all trains arrive at the main station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, on the north edge of the historic old town and close to most accommodation and sights. The station has a bank of Trenitalia ticket machines that accept cards or cash, staffed kiosks in the main hall, and fast food options in and around the building. An underpass leads south into Piazza SMN.
- A few regional trains bypass SMN and call instead at Firenze Campo Marte, Firenze Statuto, and Firenze Rifredi.
- Unless your ticket says otherwise, it is valid for any connecting train between those stations and SMN, and waits are usually short.
- Otherwise, take a bus or taxi from the street outside.
Bus
Long-distance buses that originate or terminate in Florence stop at the downtown bus station on Piazzale Montelungo, next to SMN railway station. Buses simply passing through Florence pick up and drop off at the Villa Constanza Park & Ride, just off the Autostrada A-1 on the west edge of the city; reach it using Tram 1. The parking lot there has little shelter or other facilities. There is also a main bus stop at Via Santa Caterina da Siena, 15/17, used by regional operators serving many cities in Tuscany and beyond.
Taxi
Taxis are available, but it is often best to have your hotel or the restaurant you are eating at call one ahead. When you call by phone, the nearest available taxi is dispatched by radio with its meter already running. Hailing a cab from the street curb can be difficult, so you either call for one or use one of the few taxi stands. A popular stand is at the central Santa Maria Novella train station, with others in a few major squares.
Getting In from the Airport
Florence's airport is Amerigo Vespucci International Airport, locally known as "Peretola", with flights from major destinations in Western Europe. It has a single runway surrounded by hills, so flights there are relatively infrequent and expensive.
- By tram: line T2 connects the airport to the SMN train station. Buy tickets from the vending machines at the station, and note that the ride runs end to end in about twenty minutes.
- By taxi: taxis charge a flat rate from the airport to anywhere in the historic centre, plus a supplement per large item of luggage.
Other airports serving Florence are Bologna and Pisa. Bologna is generally the preferred alternative, roughly an hour away by car or train, with flights across Europe and long-haul connections via Emirates and Turkish Airlines. Pisa is about an hour and a half away by train and has fewer flights, so Bologna is the better option. It is worth avoiding flights that land or take off in the evening, because Italian train reliability drops at those hours and you risk missing a flight or the last train; taxi drivers in Bologna and Pisa may refuse a late-night run to Florence. Travellers from North America, where there are no flights to Bologna or Pisa, are better off using Rome Fiumicino than Milan Malpensa, since the trip from Rome to Florence is much faster.
A Note on the Destination
The source material for this article does not describe transport in Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia. Everything above reflects the city of Florence, Italy. If you are planning a trip to Florencia, Colombia, treat this as background only and verify local bus, taxi, and airport transfer arrangements once you arrive.