Traveling Tips

Question

How can I get a passport in time for the wedding?

Answer

We've had great success with Rush My Passport. You can choose how quickly you'd like to receive the passport, follow a customized "how to" video, and rest easy while they keep you up to date the entire process. Follow this link to access: https://www.rushmypassport.com/

Question

What's the best way to get around in Florence?

Answer

Florence is an incredibly walkable city. Our recommendation is take a few extra minutes to arrive at each destination and pick up an espresso or pastry on your commute. However, walking is easier for some. If you need/want to use a car, leverage the taxi system. To take a taxi in Florence, you will need to walk to one of the designated taxi stands, located at most major squares, tourist spots and transport hubs. They will NOT pick you up if you try to hail them. It isn't the same process as NYC.

Question

In which airport should we land during our trip?

Answer

Florence actually has its own airport called Amerigo Vespucci. From here, you can easily get to the city by tram. However, Rome and Milan are two very popular options. Rome: Rome’s Fiumicino airport is the largest and most popular, but it’s also the farthest away. If you’re flying into Fiumicino, you can catch the train from the airport to Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station, but you will need to change trains at Roma Termini. The whole trip takes a little over two hours. You can purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/40AFf0h Milan: Once at Milano Centrale station, the high-speed Alta Velocità (AV) trains will bring you to Firenze Santa Maria Novella in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. On this route, you can make the whole trip from the Milan airport to Florence in less than three hours. You can purchase tickets here: https://bit.ly/3LwEqkA

Question

What day trips can I take from Florence?

Answer

If pressed, these are our favorite day trips from Florence: Siena: When you’re coming from the Piazza del Campo, the palio or simply a walk through the cobblestone streets of what is Italy’s most beautiful medieval city, Siena is an easy and super satisfying day trip from Florence. The easiest and fastest way to reach the city is by bus. Buses depart from the Via Santa Caterina da Siena auto-stazione (bus station). The trip takes a little over an hour. Milan: In this city of refined tastes, window displays are gorgeous, cigarettes are chic, and even the cheese comes gift-wrapped. Yet thankfully, Milan is no more expensive for tourists than any other Italian city. While it doesn't have the artistic oomph of Rome or Florence, Milan still has several significant sights — most notably its Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, La Scala Opera House, and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. This is Arianna's favorite city in the world not named Florence! San Gimignano: San Gimignano is the epitome of a Tuscan hill town. About 25 miles from both Florence and Siena, it's both visually striking and perfectly preserved. But despite its tourist-trap feel, it's still worth slotting into your Italian itinerary — especially if you can sidestep the hordes who descend during the day. Chianti: The great philosopher Rick Steves says of Chianti and Tuscany, " it is our romantic image of village Italy. Venture beyond the fringes of Florence and you'll find a series of sun- and wine-soaked villages, each with its own appeal. Stretching from the Umbrian border to the Ligurian Sea, the landscape changes from pastoral (Crete Senesi) to rocky (Chianti) to mountainous (the Montagnola) to flat and brushed with sea breezes (Pisa)." This is where I first met Arianna, it's very near and dear to us both.