How to Get from Rome to Florence
A Solo Budget Traveler’s Guide: Taking FlixBus and Exploring Florence in a Day
Ponte Vecchio
If you asked me what my favourite main character moment was this year, I would say it was finishing an exam at 1:00 PM in Rome and catching a FlixBus to Florence at 3:00 PM. After my first FlixBus experience to Matera (which you can read about in my previous post), I was fully in my budget travel flow. I decided to spend a day in Florence, a city I had visited as a child but never as a solo traveller. The city’s history and beauty, combined with its proximity to Rome, made it the perfect budget travel destination for me. And budget travel it was, as I spent only €1.99 to get there from Rome. In this blog post, I will explain how to travel from Rome to Florence at this ridiculous price point and provide tips on spending your day in Florence without missing some of the city’s most beautiful views.
Why Visit Florence: A City of Art, History, and Culture
Florence, known as Firenze in Italian, is the capital of Italy's Tuscany region. With a population of around 360,000, it is a relatively small city, but its influence throughout history has been enormous. The city is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and became a major artistic, cultural, commercial, political, economic, and financial centre in Italy and Europe.
Much of Florence's golden age, primarily during the 15th and 16th centuries, was shaped by the powerful Medici family, whose influence is still visible throughout the city. As rulers of Florence and patrons of the arts, they transformed the city into a Renaissance hot spot. You’ll spot their mark all around Florence—literally—through their iconic Medici coat of arms, featuring six red balls on a gold shield. This logo is seen on many buildings, making them one of the first marketing geniuses. When you think about it, it’s quite impressive that their branding has stuck for hundreds of years. It’s a fun challenge to walk around Florence and try to spot as many Medici logos as possible.
Getting to Florence on a Budget: My FlixBus Experience
After my last FlixBus experience, which was a seven-and-a-half-hour trip to southern Italy, I felt confident about my three-and-a-half-hour trip to Florence. As always with FlixBus, off-season prices can be significantly lower than during the tourist season, allowing me to snag an insane deal. On their app, I found a bus ticket from Rome to Florence for €1.99! Fair enough, I did pay an additional €1.99 to secure a window seat, but €4 for almost 300 kilometres is still a fantastic deal! For comparison, booking a train costs between €20 and €50 for a one-way ticket.
Palazzo Vecchio
From buying the tickets to the travel itself, my FlixBus experiences have always gone smoothly. I purchase my tickets through the FlixBus app, which is very user-friendly. After entering your travel plans, the app provides several bus options. You can choose from different departure times, direct buses, and buses with transfers. After booking, the FlixBus app provides information about your trip, including your station’s location and live bus updates. Your ticket is visible in the app, making it convenient for boarding since you can easily scan it. The price of your FlixBus ticket includes hand luggage and one piece of luggage weighing up to 20 kilograms that you can store on the bus. FlixBuses are also equipped with outlets for charging your phone, as well as toilets. However, be warned that, in my experience, the toilets are almost always out of order.
When travelling to Florence by bus, it’s important to note that the bus station is at Villa Costanza, a transportation hub about ten kilometres outside the historical city centre. From Villa Costanza, you can take the Tramvia (tram line) to the heart of Florence. To take the tram, you can buy a ticket at the ticket machines located at Villa Costanza. A ticket costs €1.70 and is valid for 90 minutes. Please note that Villa Costanza can look a bit creepy at night when you are by yourself. If you are easily anxious it might be better to plan your trip so you will arrive there when it is still light outside.
Recommendations for One Day in Florence
If you asked my former roommate, they'd say I committed a major crime during this trip: not visiting any museums during my brief stay in the city. Florence, renowned for its artistic and cultural heritage, is home to some of the world’s most famous museums showcasing masterpieces from the Renaissance and beyond. The most famous is the Uffizi Gallery, which houses works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Botticelli. Since I was in Florence for only a day, I didn’t allow myself to visit because museums like these deserve special attention. If you're up for it, you can book your tickets through this link and experience all the Renaissance wonders.
With this confession out of the way, I can spill the tea on what I did do in Florence. I spent my day doing what I love most: exploring the vibes of a new city by walking around for hours. Florence is relatively small, allowing you to cover a lot of ground on foot in just one day! I’d love to share two of my favourite spots I visited so you can explore them yourself when you visit Florence.
The Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens are a historic park behind the Pitti Palace in Florence, created in the 16th century for the previously mentioned Medici family. The gardens feature a blend of Renaissance landscape design, sculptures, fountains, and grottos. Key highlights include the Fountain of Neptune, the Viottolone Avenue, and the Grotta Grande. For me, visiting this park is the perfect escape from a crowded city centre. While the main entrance is at Piazza de' Pitti 1, you can also enter through Porta Romana or near Fort Belvedere. I personally entered through Fort Belvedere, but I'm not sure I'd recommend it, as the way to the entrance involves a steep climb lasting fifteen to twenty minutes. Regular tickets to the park cost €10, but if you’re an EU citizen under twenty-five, you can pay a reduced fee of €2! Another great tip is that all state monuments, museums, galleries, parks, and monumental gardens in Florence are free on the first Sunday of each month! If you don’t happen to be there on the first Sunday of the month but still want to plan your visit, you can book your garden visit through this link.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is a popular square in Florence known for its incredible panoramic views of the city. From here, you can see iconic landmarks like the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Palazzo Vecchio. A bronze replica of Michelangelo’s David stands in the centre of the square. Perched on a hill overlooking Florence, it’s a favourite spot for both locals and tourists to take in the stunning scenery. You can easily reach it on foot, and on your way, you can also visit Giardino delle Rose, a rose garden with beautiful views! The rose garden is very serene, making it my favourite reading spot in Florence.
My conclusion about Florence
What makes Florence such a fun destination is that the whole city is basically an open-air museum. Iconic landmarks, such as the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio, make for a trip you won't soon forget. Since the city isn’t very big, you’ll stumble upon all the famous spots without even trying!
If I had to mention one downside of Florence, it’s that the city is quite touristy and crowded. When I’m in Rome, I try to steer clear of places too crowded with tourists, but in Florence, it’s somewhat inevitable. Florence hosts several American universities and study abroad programs, and during my stay, I noticed the significant presence of Americans.
With its rich history and breathtaking art, Florence is a city that should be on everyone’s travel list. So why not start planning your adventure today? Pack your bags, embrace the charm of this beautiful city, and experience the magic of Florence for yourself! I would love to hear your thoughts about Florence in the comments, or feel free to share your favourite spot in the city!
