IT’S GET HOT
Try to schedule your activities during the cooler hours of the day. Between 1-4pm tends to be the hottest, meaning it’s made for long leisurely lunches. Seeking the shade becomes a national hobby as we stick to the side streets and look for cover. When in doubt, check out the 53 places listed on the City Council’s website (www.comune.firenze.it), a one-stop-shop for refreshing spots where you’ll find shelter. Covering parks, gardens, local libraries and other public spaces, cool rooms and spots for fresh water are outlined for when you need a sit down and restore before getting back out there! On the website, the Festina Lente 055055 multilingual AI assistant can provide 24/7 guidance in 13 languages for easy access to the info.
NEED HELP’
In case of an emergency, dial 112, Italy’s single emergency number. Free to call and no prefix needed, the operator will guide you to the appropriate service. Already know who you need? The state police can be reached at 113, the fire brigade is 115 and for urgent medical attention call 118. It’s also good to know that there’s a 24/7 pharmacy at Florence Santa Maria Novella railway station with helpful advice on hand.
STAY HIDRATED
Florence’s tap water is safe to drink, but if you’re out exploring the city, why not make use of one of the free hydration stations (fontanelli)? Many offer quality-controlled still and sparkling water, so you can top up your bottle and stay refreshed on the go. Heading beyond Florence? You’ll find similar stations in Fucecchio, Empoli, Montespertoli, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Figline e Incisa Valdarno, Pelago, Pontassieve, Dicomano, Vicchio, Scarperia San Piero and Campi Bisenzio too. After you’ve quenched your thirst (reusable bottle in hand, of course), there’s another easy way to give the planet a helping hand. Florence has a number of eco-compactors that crunch empty bottles into compact cubes ready for recycling. You’ll find them on via Valfonda beside Santa Maria Novella Station, in the Niccolò Galli Gardens in Campo di Marte, at Fortezza da Basso and at Coop supermarkets in Gavinana, Ponte a Greve, and via Carlo del Prete.
WHAT TO WEAR
Linen and cotton are the name of the game. It’s breathable fabrics only to combat the at times stifling heat. You’ll find that flip-flops aren’t made for these cobbled streets and churches require covered shoulders and knees, so don’t rock up to the Duomo unprepared!
KEEP IT DOWN
Yes, the evening time is definitely cooler for hanging out and socializing, but keep in mind that not everyone is on their holidays! Generally speaking, between 10pm and 6am are quiet hours, but we wouldn’t recommend using loudspeakers or amplifiers anywhere they could bother someone as residents are entitled to file noise complaints!
TIME TO CHANGE
Conscious of your car and its impact? There are new incentives for the replacement of polluting vehicles with a number of grants available for private individuals and businesses in the Florence area towards the purchase of electric, hybrid, gas-powered and Euro 6 cars and motorbikes. The total allocation to the scheme is over 2.4 million euro, with the amount dedicated to applicants determined based on ISEE (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator) or the type of business. The deadline is December 31, 2026, and info is at www.ambiente.comune.fi.it
GETTING AROUND FLORENCE BY BUS AND TRAM
Florence’s public bus network is operated by Autolinee Toscane, which manages both urban and regional services throughout Tuscany. One of the most common questions for newcomers is how tickets work—and, crucially, how to validate them. If you buy a paper ticket, remember that purchasing it is only the first step. Once on board, insert your ticket into one of the yellow validation machines and wait for the beep. Your ticket is then activated and ready to use. After validation, a standard ticket is valid for 90 minutes in Florence.
During this period, you can make as many bus and tram changes as you like without revalidating the ticket. For an even easier option, Autolinee Toscane’s contactless Tip Tap system allows passengers to purchase tickets directly on buses and trams using contactless credit, debit, or prepaid cards, as well as smartphones and smartwatches enabled for Mastercard, Visa, or American Express payments. Simply tap your card or device on the onboard validator when you board, and make sure to do so each time you change bus or tram also (you won’t be recharged!). Keep in mind that ticket prices increase to 2 euro from August 1.
LATE NIGHT TRAVEL
Florence has launched a new nighttime bus network to improve mobility across the city and nearby municipalities. Launched on June 11 as a pilot programme, the service runs every day from 10pm to 2am and includes 24 routes, 17 of which have been specially designed for evening travel. The network offers convenient connections to popular nightlife areas, hospitals, workplaces, residential neighbourhoods and surrounding towns including Bagno a Ripoli, Sesto Fiorentino, Campi Bisenzio, Fiesole and Impruneta. The trial will run until October 31, helping assess the benefits of a more accessible and connected night transport system across the metropolitan area, and ensuring that festival season is covered for any late-night gigs you want to put on your calendar.
CYCLING AROUND THE CITY
With its largely flat terrain and compact historic centre, Florence is an excellent city for getting around by bike. If you don’t own one, bike-sharing services offer a convenient alternative. The RideMovi app allows users to locate nearby bicycles and e-bikes, unlock them by scanning a QR code, and start riding in seconds. The app also tracks routes and total distance travelled. When you reach your destination, be sure to park responsibly, avoiding pavements and pedestrian thoroughfares. Lock the bike correctly and end your rental through the app so it is ready for the next user. For those looking to explore further, the Firenze in Bici (“Florence by Bike”) map, available from tourist information points, highlights cycle lanes, shared pedestrian-cycle areas, and scenic routes along the river, making it a useful companion for navigating the city on two wheels.
The cycling incentive scheme titled Pedala, Firenze ti premia has been renewed, meaning there’s even more reason to hop on your bike. Since its launch, participants have collectively cycled more than four million kilometres, helping to save almost 650,000 kilograms of CO₂ emissions. The programme is now managed through the City of Florence’s IF Infomobilità app, a digital platform developed according to the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) model and supported by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). As a result, users no longer need to install a separate tracking device to monitor their journeys. The initiative is also expanding to include 4,000 additional participants, comprising 2,000 people previously on the waiting list and 2,000 new registrations. Together with 500 users involved in a parallel project developed with the University of Florence, the programme will reach a total of 4,500 participants. www.comune.firenze.it
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