© Paz ifical・Unsplash License

Italy

Florence

A compact treasury of the Renaissance. The old town is best on foot; a tram runs straight to the airport.

at (Autolinee Toscane) city buses

There are no gates - you validate the moment you board, on trust. A single is EUR 2.00, good for 90 minutes and the tram too. Tap a bank card on board to buy one, or pay the driver EUR 3.00 - with no change given.

Updated on August 19, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Get a ticket before you board
    Buy at a tabaccheria, newsstand, ticket machine, in the at bus app or on blink - or tap a card onboard.
  2. 2
    Flag the bus down at the stop
    All stops are on request - if you don't signal, the bus won't stop. Board at the front door unless told otherwise.
  3. 3
    Validate the moment you board
    Paper goes into the onboard validator, digital tickets get activated in the app, and card payers tap the reader.
  4. 4
    On suburban and mixed lines, tap again when you get off
    Green urban lines need one tap per boarding; blue, purple (suburban) and orange (mixed) lines need a second tap on the way out.
  5. 5
    Press the button and leave by the middle or rear door
    Press the stop button to signal that you're getting off, then leave by the middle or rear door.

Fares

Single fares4

Single city ticket (urbano capoluogo Firenze, 90 min)
Valid 90 minutes; it also covers the tram and city buses in 13 comuni - Florence plus 12 neighbours
2 EUR ≈ $2
Single ticket bought from the driver
1.5x the counter price; drivers need not give change, and sales stop during ticket inspections
3 EUR ≈ $3
SMS ticket (text 488 01 05)
Plus a message charge - the EUR 0.29 AT quotes is for Italian operators. Buy it two minutes before boarding.
2.4 EUR ≈ $3
Suburban bus single (distance bands 1-20)
For trips beyond the metro area; 20 distance bands, with a separate 3.00-23.00 scale if bought onboard
2〜21.1 EUR ≈ $2–24

Passes & multi-ride1

10-ride carnet (urbano capoluogo 10 viaggi)
Works out at EUR 1.82 a ride; at an inspection you must also show the stub (matrice) behind ticket 1
18.2 EUR ≈ $20

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
A few buses still have no reader - look for the stickers outside and inside
No gates: tap the reader on board and it issues a single ticket
Phone wallet
Not on the few buses without a reader; the card behind the wallet decides
Phone and smartwatch wallets tap on the same onboard reader
Card payment on board Unverified
VISAMastercardAmexDiscoverDinersJCB銀聯
IC card
No stored-value transit card exists; passes are tied to an Italian tax code
App tickets
at bus
Buy in the at bus app and activate it in the app just before boarding
QR ticketing
blink sells up to 10 tickets on the web, activated by an emailed link
Paper tickets
Sold at tabaccherie, newsstands and ticket machines; validate as you board
Cash
On board: The driver sells tickets at EUR 3.00; bring small change, they need not give any

Quick facts

Hours
05:00-22:00 plus night net
Fares from
2 EUR+
Line 6A in the old centre - where the tram does not go, the bus is the only option. Taken Mar 2025 © Smiley.toerist・CC BY-SA 4.0

Heads-up

  • Missing the tap-out on suburban lines charges the max fare

    If you pay by tapping, forgetting the tap on the way out charges you the maximum fare all the way to the terminus. Only the green urban lines are a single tap; blue and purple suburban lines and orange mixed-fare lines need one tap on and one tap off. Urban and suburban count as separate services, so using both means two separate charges.

  • Mixing phone and card on one ride charges you twice

    If you pay by tapping onboard, use the same card or the same device from start to finish. Mixing your phone and the physical card on one journey makes the system read them as two different payment methods and charge you for two tickets. On the suburban and mixed lines that need a tap on the way out, tapping on with one and off with the other stacks a double charge on top of the maximum fare.

  • Large luggage needs a second ticket

    One piece of luggage rides free, up to 105 cm total dimensions and 10 kg. Anything larger (up to 150 cm and 20 kg) and any unfolded bicycle can only go in the luggage hold of buses that have one, and needs a second ticket at the fare for that leg. Bicycles and e-scooters folded with no parts sticking out are allowed up to 195 cm total. Crew can refuse any of this when the bus is crowded.

Timetable

Operating hours 05:00-22:00 plus night net
Typical duration The network that covers everything outside the core, plus the 12 neighbouring comuni on the same ticket - where the tram doesn't go, the bus is the only public option
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka