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florence GENERAL INFORMATION

Florence airport information, getting around Florence, opening times, banks, communication, visas for Italy... basically we have put it upon us to provide you with some additional information that will ensure that your stay in Barcelona is a relaxed one!

Tourist Information Service

The city's tourist information service [ APT ] has several offices in Florence. The main APT is on Via Cavour and the opening times are 08.15 to 19-15 Monday to Saturday and Sunday and Holiday from 8.30 to 13.30. Phone: 055 290832. For more information check out the Tourist Office's website: Florence Tourist Board

Opening hours: Even though much of Italy closes for about 2-3 hours for lunch, you'll find the centre of Florence stays open pretty much all day including Sundays.

Getting to FLORENCE FROM THE AIRPORTS

There's not an international airport in Florence. However, the Amerigo Vespucci Airport, located in the suburb of Peretola serves domestic and charter flights [ tel: 055 31 58 74] . To get into Florence from Amerigo Vespucci you need to take either the ATAF bus or the SITA charter bus.

The orange ATAF bus #62 connects the airport to the main train station for EUR 1. Tickets can be purchased from the tobacco shop ("Tabacchi") on the upper level of the airport.

You can also take a SITA bus into town from the airport. The bus hub is located in Florence at V.S. Caterina da Siena, 157. The service costs EUR 4.

A taxi from the airport costs a minimum of EUR 5 on regular days. On holidays, the minimum is EUR 6.68.

The nearest international airport to Florence is the Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa. The easiest way into Florence is via train and the journey takes an hour and fifteen minutes and costs EUR 4.85.

Santa Maria Novella trainstation is just north of the Santa Maria Church and is in the heart of the city. You can hop off the train, straight into town and in 10 minutes you are at the Duomo. The information office in the train station is open daily from 7am-9pm.

Getting AROUND Florence

Florence is a relatively easy city to get around. The centre is compact and most of the sights are within walking distance of one another.

Money and banks in Florence

Currency: Italy uses the Euro.

Banks: Opening hours are Mon-Fri from 8.30 a.m to 1.30 pm and from 3 pm to 4 pm Only very few banks open on Saturday morning. Outside the official hours you can use one of several exchange offices. If you're in difficulties, it's usually possible to change cash at larger hotels [generally bad rates] or with travel agents, who may initially grumble but will eventually give a rate with the commission built in - useful for small amounts in a hurry.

ATMs: There are many ATM's [Bancomats] and they are the quickest and cheapest way to get money in Italy.

Credit Cards: Credit cards are widely accepted at the major tourist areas but you do still get many restaurants, small shops or bars that only accept cash.

Travellers cheques: Travellers' cheques are no longer the cheapest nor most convenient option and most people use bank cards now. However you can change up travellers checks pretty much everywhere and the usual fee for buying travellers' cheques is one or two percent. Buying cheques in Euros is the best option, since these can be cashed without incurring exchange service charges.

Communications in Florence

Post Offices: The main post office in Florence is at Via Pellicceria just off Piazza della Repubblic and its opening hours are between 8.15am and 7.00pm from Monday to Friday and from 8.15am until 12.30pm on Saturdays. Stamps can also be purchased at tobacco shops but it is advisable to post airmail letters and postcards at the post office to ensure the postage is correct, otherwise the mail will be returned to the sender.

Telephone Services: Calls to Italy: the country code for Italy is +39. Dial +39, then the area code and the subscriber's number. Italian public phones work well you'll find plenty of booths on the street. They only accept phonecards which can be bought in bars and tobacco shops ("tabacchis"). The local area code for Florence is 055.

Internet: There are also plenty of Internet cafes in Florence.

Florence Emergency Numbers

Florence is a very safe city but if you ever need help, here are some numbers that will help you.

In case of an emergency call 118. The city’s main public hospital Ospedale Careggi is at Viale Morgagni.

About Visas FOR Italy

All visitors entering Spain must have a valid passport.

Nationals of all the following countries, who intend to visit Italy for a period of 90 days or less, do not need to obtain a visa. Nationals of other countries (except those European residents specifically referred to above) must obtain a visa to enter Italy.

Andorres, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech RepublicC, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, IsraelL, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Rumania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela. Additional information may be obtained from the Italian Government Tourist Board.