Airports in Tuscany Guide: How to Get to Tuscany by Plane

If you’re putting together a trip to Tuscany, the first piece of the planning puzzle is figuring out how to get there. 

There are three airports in Tuscany, and the main airport is in Pisa. But there is also a smaller airport in Florence, and an even smaller one on Elba Island, just off the coast. 

Coming from international destinations, such as the United States, your best bet is going to be to fly into one of the major international airports near Tuscany, like Milan or Rome.

Here is all the information you’ll need about the different airports in Tuscany and how to get here by plane.

Main Airports in Tuscany

Pisa and Florence are the two main airports in Tuscany. If you’re flying in from another European destination, then you’ll often find flights available to either one of these airports.

However, if you’re coming from an international destination, such as the United States, then you’ll want to book flights to one of the nearby airports that accommodates large international flights.

Flights directly to Pisa or Florence from outside of Europe are often much more expensive than flying into one of the larger Italian airports. We share more on this in the next section.

Pisa

Pisa International Airport is also known as Galileo Galilei Airport. For the number of passengers processed, this is the largest Tuscany airport. This is also an Italian hub for Ryanair. The airport services Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. 

How to get from Pisa airport to the city center: The Pisamover tram is an airport shuttle train. You can quickly get from the airport to the city center in seven minutes.

The trip takes approximately seven minutes and goes from the Pisamover station in front of the airport to Pisa Centrale train station. The train also stops at the airport parking lots.

The cost for a ticket one way is €6.50 or €13 return. You can purchase tickets online or at the automatic ticket machines in the airport. 

If you are renting a car for your Tuscany trip, then there are plenty of rental car companies available at the Pisa airport.

Distance from Pisa airport to nearby cities:

• Florence: 83 km (52 miles) | Train: 1-1.5 hours | Car: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Livorno: 24 km (15 miles) | Train: 15-20 minutes | Car: 20 minutes
• Lucca: 30 km (18.5 miles) | Train: 30-50 minutes | Car: 30 minutes
• Siena: 115 km (71.5 miles) | Train: 2 hours | Car: 1.5 hours
• Arezzo: 155 km (96 miles) | Train: 2-2.5 hours | Car: 1 hour 45 minutes 

Renting a car for your Tuscany trip? We book our car rentals in Italy through Discover Cars. They always have affordable pricing and plenty of options to choose from.

Florence

This is the nearest airport to Florence. But despite being a very popular city destination, Florence’s airport is actually fairly small with just one runway. This is still one of the main Tuscany airports. The airport serves cities throughout Europe.

How to get from the airport to the city center: You can get from the Florence airport to the city center by tram or bus. The T2 tram line goes from just outside the door of the airport all the way into the city center, terminating at Unita.

The tram takes about 30 minutes from the airport to center. A one-way ticket is just €1.50 per person. Tickets can be purchased on the TABNET app or at a ticketing machine at the airport.

While there is also a bus option to make this connection, it runs less frequently and is more expensive. We’ve taken the tram a couple of times and it’s the easiest and most convenient option.

If you’re planning to rent a car, there are several car rental companies at the Florence airport. You’ll need to take a shuttle bus to the rental car area and then you can pick up the car from there. We’ve done this before and it’s pretty straightforward.

Distance from Florence airport to nearby cities:

• Pisa: 93 km (58 miles) | Train: 1-1.5 hours | Car: 1 hour
• Siena: 75 km (47 miles) | Train: 2 hours | Car: 1 hour
• Arezzo: 88 km (55 miles) | Train: 1.5 – 2 hours | Car: 1 hour
• Lucca: 69 km (43 miles) | Train: 2.5 hours | Car: 45 minutes
• Bologna: 111 km (69 miles) | Train: 1-1.5 hours | Car: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Cortona: 128 km (80 miles) | Train: 2 hours | Car: 1.5 hours

Hotels near Florence airport:

• Novotel Firenze Nord Aeroporto
• Hotel Ibis Firenze Nord Aeroporto

Elba Island

The Elba Island airport — Marina di Campo Airport — is the only airport servicing the island. The airport is also referred to as Teseo Tesei Airport. You can catch flights to Elba Island from destinations throughout Europe. 

How to get from the airport to the city center: To get from the Elba Island airport to Portoferraio — the main town of the island — you can walk out to the road in front of the airport and hop on the 116 bus at the Villa Cristina stop. The ride into town takes a little under 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can rent a car at the airport for your trip.

Distance from Marina di Campo Airport to nearby cities:

• Portoferraio: 13 km (8 miles) | Car: 20 minutes | Bus: 30 minutes
• Marina di Campo: 4 km (2.7 miles) | Car: 10 minutes | Bus: 10 minutes
• Capoliveri: Approx. 22 km (13 miles) | Car: 40 minutes | Bus: 1 hour 10 minutes

Milan’s airport is the largest in northern Italy. The airport is the ninth largest in the world in terms of destinations served. You can reach Milan Malpensa from international destinations across Europe, and as far away as NYC, Dubai, and Hong Kong.

How to get from the airport to the city center: To get from Milan Malpensa to downtown Milan you can go either by shuttle bus or train. Train is the faster option and takes around 45 minutes and the one way ticket costs €13.

You can also book train tickets to Tuscany cities from Milan Malpensa Terminal 1 to any of the cities listed below. There is usually a stopover at Milano Centrale station.

If you’re looking to rent a car, then there are plenty of options available at the airport.

Distance from Milan Malpensa airport to major cities in Tuscany:

• Pisa: 332 km (206 miles) | Train: 4.5 – 5.5 hours | Car: 3.5 hours
• Florence: 365 km (227 miles) | Train: 3-3.5 hours | Car: 4 hours
• Lucca: 332 km (206 miles) | Train: 5.5 – 6 hours | Car: 3.5 hours
• Siena:  415 km (258 miles) | Train: 5.5 – 6 hours | Car: 4.5 hours

Hotels near Milan Malpensa airport:

• Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel – We recently stayed here and it’s the best and closest option near the Milan airport.
• Holiday Inn Express Milan-Malpensa Airport – We have stayed here a couple of times and it is the cheapest option near the airport. They have a shuttle bus available to take you to and from the airport.

Rome (International Flights) – close to southern Tuscany

Rome’s airport is the busiest in Italy, processing nearly four million passengers each month. This is the hub airport for ITA which is Italy’s flag carrying airline. From Fiumicino Airport you can catch flights to destinations throughout Europe as well as to farther destinations like Mexico City, Seoul, and Guangzhou.

How to get from the airport to the city center: The Leonardo Express Train is an airport shuttle that takes you to Roma Termini station in the center of Rome.

We’ve done this many times and it’s the quickest and most convenient way to get to the city center from the airport. It only takes 30 minutes and costs €14 each way.

Distance from Rome airport to major cities in Tuscany:

• Pisa: 327 km (203 miles) | Train: 3.5 – 4 hours | Car: 3.5 hours
• Florence: 301 km (187 miles) | Train: 2.5 – 4 hours | Car: 3.5 hours
• Arezzo: 249 km (155 miles) | Train: 3.5 hours | Car: 2.5 hours
• Siena: 246 km (153 miles) | Train: 4 – 4.5 hours | Car: 2 hours 45 minutes

Hotels near the Rome airport:

• Hilton Rome Airport – This is the nicest option available, and you can walk to the airport from here.
• Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport – A good mid-range option.
• Best Western Hotel Rome Airport – This is one of the cheapest options near the airport.

Bologna (European flights) – close to Florence

The airport in Bologna is the closest airport to Tuscany Italy that is actually outside of the region. The airport is small, with just one runway. Bologna airport connects destinations throughout Europe and north Africa. 

How to get from the airport to the city center: The Marconi Express tram is the easiest way to get from the Bologna airport into the city center. The trip takes only about seven minutes to Bologna Centrale — the train station. One way tickets are €12.80, or return is €23.20.

You can purchase tickets for the tram at the Marconi Express station at the airport either with your phone or credit card (tap on/tap off). Alternatively, there are ticket machines as well.

Looking to rent a car? You can rent a car at either the Bologna airport or train station. We’ve rented cars at both and prices are similar.

Distance from Bologna airport to major cities in Tuscany:

• Pisa: 174 km (108 miles) | Train: 2 – 2.5 hours | Car: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Florence: 116 km (72 miles) | Train: 45 minutes – 1 hour | Car: 1.5 hours
• Siena: 164 km (102 miles) | Train: 3 – 4 hours | Car: 2 hours
• Lucca: 155 km (96 miles) | Train: 3 – 4 hours | Car: 2 hours

Hotels near the Bologna airport:

• Hotel Bologna Airport – This is close to the airport; however, the city center is not too far, so you could stay in Bologna and take the express train or a taxi if needed.

Venice (International Flights) – furthest from Tuscany

The airport in Venice has just one terminal which gets extremely busy as it runs at full capacity. The airport connects Italy with international destinations including cities outside of Europe such as Montreal, Atlanta, and Casablanca. 

How to get from the airport to the city center: The journey from Venice’s airport to the city takes about 40 minutes by bus. You can take AEROBUS line 5 to Piazzale Roma, bus line 15 to Mestre Train Station, or bus line 45 to Favaro Veneto. Tickets for any of the lines are €10 one way or €18 return. 

Rental cars are available for pick up at the airport. We suggest reserving in advance, as this is a busy airport.

Distance from Venice airport to major cities in Tuscany:

• Pisa: 331 km (206 miles) | Train: 4-5 hours| Car: 3 hours 45 minutes
• Florence: 274 km (170 miles) | Train: 2 hours 45 minutes – 4 hours | Car: 3 hours
• Siena: 328 km (204 miles) | Train: 5-6 hours | Car: 3 hours 45 minutes
• Lucca: 313 km (194 miles) | Train: 5-6 hours | Car: 3.5 hours

Hotels near Venice airport:

• Courtyard by Marriott Venice Airport – Modern option located 1km from the airport with a shuttle bus.
• Annia Park Hotel Venice Airport – Affordable option located just across from the airport.

Tuscany Cities

Closest airport to Florence

The Florence airport, Amerigo Vespucci Airport, is just ten kilometers outside of the city. It’s very easy to get into the city center via public transportation. 

You can take the tram (the easiest option) or a bus. The T2 tram takes you from just in front of the airport exit directly into the city center. The tram leaves every 4-5 minutes throughout the day. The journey into town takes about 30 minutes and costs €1.50 per person. 

There is an alternate bus option, but it runs less frequently and is more expensive.

If you want to drive or get a car or taxi the trip is about ten kilometers and takes around 20 – 25 minutes. 

Arriving from outside of Europe? Then we suggest flying into the Rome airport and taking the train to Florence.

Closest Airport to Pisa

Pisa has its own airport — Galileo Galilei Airport — which is just under six kilometers outside of the city. 

There is a tram called The Pisamover which gets you between the airport and the city center in just about seven minutes. Tickets are €6.50 one way or €13 return. 

If you want to take a car from the airport the drive will take around 10 – 12 minutes. 

Arriving from outside Europe? We recommend flying into Milan or Bologna and taking the train to Pisa from there.

Closest Airport to Lucca

Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport is the closest airport to Lucca. To get to Lucca’s city center you’ll need to first take the Pisamover into Pisa’s city center. This shuttle train terminates at the Pisa Centrale train station where you can switch right onto a regional train to Lucca.

The train from Pisa’s train station to Lucca’s train station takes just under 30 minutes.

If you prefer to drive, the trip from Pisa airport to Lucca’s city center is about 36 kilometers (22 miles) and takes around 30 – 40 minutes. 

Arriving from outside Europe? We suggest flying into Milan or Bologna and taking the train from there.

Closest Airport to Siena

Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport is the closest airport to Siena at just around 80 kilometers (about 50 miles) away.

To get from Florence airport to Siena, you’ll first need to take the T2 tram into Florence’s city center. Get off at Alamanni – Stazione Santa Maria Novella and switch take a regional train to Siena’s station.

Alternatively, the drive from Florence airport to Siena takes just over one hour. 

Arriving from outside of Europe? We suggest flying into the Rome airport and taking the train to Siena from there.

Closest Airport to Cortona

The closest airport to Cortona is San Francesco d’Assisi Airport, just to the east of Perugia. 

The trip to Cortona from Perugia’s airport is not super straightforward and you’ll have to switch twice, but it still is just under two hours in total.

First you’ll need to take the airlink bus into Perugia. From there, switch to a regional train to Camucia-Cortona. And finally, switch over to a local bus to get you into central Cortona.

Arriving from outside of Europe? We suggest flying into the Rome airport and taking the train to Cortona from there.

Airports in Tuscany Frequently Asked Questions