Florence: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour: 24, 48 or 72-Hour Ticket

The best part of this Florence bus tour is the ride beyond the tight historic center. Piazzale Michelangelo gives you the classic Florence panorama, while Line B continues uphill to Fiesole, an ancient hillside town with views across the city and Arno Valley. You can also sit back for a full loop when your feet need a break.

I like the easy access to Florence’s high viewpoints, and I like having two routes on one ticket. The bus is also handy for getting your bearings on a first visit, especially if you are traveling with children, have limited mobility, or do not want to spend the day figuring out local transport.

The main catch is frequency. Line B runs slowly, and the audio commentary can sometimes drift out of step with the view. Florence’s center is compact enough to walk, so this works best as a sightseeing ride and hill transport, not as a replacement for every city bus.

Key points to know before you ride

• Two contrasting routes: Line A circles central Florence, while Line B climbs toward Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole.
• Best views: Get off at Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole for wide city panoramas and photo stops.
• Flexible tickets: Unlimited rides are available for 24, 48, or 72 hours.
• Useful onboard tools: You get multilingual audio, free Wi-Fi, and the Sightseeing Experience app with bus location information.
• Seasonal limits matter: From November 3, 2025 to March 31, 2026, Line B is suspended Monday through Friday, except for limited daily service from December 20 through January 6.
• Good for a gentle first look: You can cover distant viewpoints without walking uphill, though waiting times can be long.

A practical introduction to Florence by open-top bus

Florence is one of Europe’s easiest cities to explore on foot, but that does not make every part of it easy to reach. The historic center is dense and walkable, while the best city views sit above it. This tour fills that gap.

The open-top double-decker gives you a broad view of streets, villas, gardens, riverbanks, and hills that you would miss from a taxi or ordinary city bus. On a sunny day, the upper deck is the place to be. On a rainy or chilly day, the ride is less appealing, though the lower deck gives you shelter.

You can ride the full loop first, then decide where to stop. That is a smart plan if you are new to Florence. The commentary covers the city’s past in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Portuguese, with headphones provided on the bus.

The audio is useful, but do not treat it like a timed walking guide. Several riders found that the narration sometimes lagged behind the sights, and some wanted more historical detail and less music. Keep an eye on the route map and the app so you know when your stop is coming.

Line A, the central Florence circuit

Line A takes about one hour for the full route. It is the more useful line if your main goal is a broad look at Florence itself, though its stops are often outside the most tightly pedestrianized streets.

The route begins around Santa Maria Novella Train Station, a practical starting point if you arrive by rail. The ticketing area at the station also has the provider’s visitor center, where you can ask for help with stops, maps, and boarding.

From there, the bus reaches Piazza Indipendenza and continues toward the northern edge of the center. This part helps you see how close Florence’s busy tourist core is to quieter residential streets.

The route then passes Santa Croce. The basilica and surrounding district are among the city’s most rewarding areas for a walk, with broad squares, shops, cafés, and important art. The bus stop is useful for orientation, but you will need to continue on foot to explore properly.

Next comes Lungarno Serristori and Piazza Ferrucci, placing you along the Arno and near the roads leading toward the city’s southern hills. The river views are pleasant, but remember that the bus does not deliver you directly into every major sight. Treat each stop as a launch point rather than a front-door drop-off.

The highlight of Line A is Piazzale Michelangelo, reached after the bus crosses into the hillier side of Florence. This is the city’s famous panoramic terrace. From here, you can look across the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce, the Arno, and the surrounding hills.

Give yourself time to get off at Piazzale Michelangelo. A short photo pause is possible, but a longer stop is better if you want to enjoy the view without rushing. Several riders considered this the most valuable part of the ticket, especially anyone who could not comfortably walk uphill.

Line A continues through Galileo, Viale Machiavelli near Villa Cora, Porta Romana, and Piazza Tasso. These stops show a greener, more residential side of Florence. You also pass close to the Boboli Gardens area, making this section useful if you want to connect a bus ride with a visit to the gardens.

The route then returns through Leopolda and Parco della Musica before reaching Piazza Indipendenza and Santa Maria Novella again. The loop is short enough to fit into a busy day, but traffic can affect the timing.

Line B, the ride to Fiesole

Line B takes about two hours for the complete route. It combines Florence’s southern and eastern viewpoints with the trip to Fiesole, so it is less a quick city circuit and more of a scenic outing.

The route includes Galileo and Piazzale Michelangelo, then continues along Lungarno Serristori and toward Grazie. It passes through areas near Lungo l’Affrico and the Museo del Calcio before climbing toward San Domenico and Fiesole.

The stop at Fiesole is the reason to make time for Line B. Fiesole is an ancient hillside settlement with Etruscan roots and broad views over Florence. The town is not simply another city stop. It gives you a change of pace, cooler hill air, and a chance to see Florence from above rather than from inside its crowded center.

You can get off here and explore at your own speed, though the available bus frequency means you must plan the return carefully. One useful suggestion is to walk toward the monastery and stop at a local bar for the view. That advice fits the character of Fiesole: this is the place to slow down, not squeeze in a five-minute photograph.

Line B returns through San Domenico and then heads toward Porta al Prato, Viale Vasco Pratolini, and Piazzale di Porta Romana. It overlaps parts of Line A, which is worth knowing before you buy a longer ticket. The red route adds the Fiesole outing, but it does not provide an entirely separate tour of Florence.

The biggest drawback is the timetable. During the listed winter period, Line B does not operate Monday through Friday from November 3, 2025 to March 31, 2026, apart from daily limited service between December 20 and January 6. Even when it runs, its buses may come only every 120 minutes. Check the current schedule before planning Fiesole around a museum reservation or train departure.

Making the most of Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole

These two stops deserve different plans. Piazzale Michelangelo is easy to add to a city sightseeing day. You can get off, take in the view, and catch a later bus back toward the center.

Fiesole needs more care. The full Line B loop takes two hours, and a missed bus can mean a long wait. Use the app to check the bus position, confirm the direction, and leave enough time for the stop itself.

I would use Piazzale Michelangelo for a short scenic break and Fiesole for a proper half-day outing if your schedule allows. If you only have a few hours in Florence, Line A and Piazzale Michelangelo will give you more return for your time.

The open upper deck is especially helpful at both viewpoints because the approach is part of the experience. You see the city spread out gradually, rather than arriving at a lookout by taxi and missing the transition through the hills.

Audio commentary, app, and stop information

The multilingual commentary gives you useful context while you ride. It is a good way to learn the basic story of Florence before choosing which churches, museums, and squares deserve more time.

The content does not always line up perfectly with what you are passing. Some audio stations also have faulty headphone ports, and a few riders found the commentary too brief. Bring your attention back to the city itself when the narration becomes quiet or mismatched.

The free Sightseeing Experience app helps with the practical side. It can show bus locations in real time, which is valuable on Line B and during quieter operating periods. Still, do not rely on the app alone. Stop signs can be hard to spot, and it is possible to wait on the wrong side of the road.

At Santa Maria Novella, the visitor center in the ticketing area can help you get oriented. Other suggested boarding points include Line A Blue Stop 1 and Line B Red Stop 4. Check the current map because stop placement and road conditions can affect boarding.

Timing, comfort, and the real value of the ticket

The advertised price is about $24 per person, with 24, 48, and 72-hour options. The value depends on how you use it.

A 24-hour ticket is enough for most people. Ride Line A once to get your bearings, stop at Piazzale Michelangelo, and use Line B for Fiesole if the schedule fits. If you only complete one loop, the price may feel high compared with walking, especially since Florence’s central sights are close together.

A 48-hour ticket makes more sense if you want to use the bus as a gentle transport link over two days. You can ride the city route on arrival, visit museums and churches on foot, then use the bus for the hills and viewpoints the next day.

The 72-hour ticket suits a slower trip, but only if you expect to ride often. The longer ticket does not add attractions or museum entry. Attraction tickets are separate, so you are paying for transport, views, and commentary.

Line A operates more often than Line B. The winter schedule lists Line A’s first departure from Stop 6 at 9:20 a.m. and last departure at 4:40 p.m., with buses every 40 minutes on weekends and every 75 minutes on weekdays. Line B is listed from 11:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., every 120 minutes.

These times make the bus a daytime activity, not an evening transport solution. Summer and other seasonal schedules may differ, so check the date of your visit before deciding how much time to set aside.

Who will enjoy this Florence bus tour most

I would recommend it first to anyone visiting Florence for the first time. The full ride helps you understand the city’s shape, and the high viewpoints show how the compact center fits into the wider hills.

It is also a practical choice for families, older visitors, and anyone with an injury or limited walking ability. You can see major areas without spending the whole day on steep streets. Children under five can participate free of charge, and the buses are wheelchair accessible.

Photographers will appreciate the elevated views and open air, though bright sun, rain, or a crowded upper deck can change the experience quickly. The buses can fill up, so arriving early is sensible if you want an upper-deck seat.

I would be less enthusiastic if you already know Florence well and plan to stay only around the Duomo, Uffizi, and Piazza della Signoria. Those areas are better explored on foot, and the bus may spend more time circling than helping you reach a specific museum entrance.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a low-pressure overview, need help reaching Florence’s hilltop views, or plan to visit Fiesole. The strongest plan is to choose 24 hours, ride Line A, stop at Piazzale Michelangelo, and add Line B only when its timetable works for you.

Choose a longer ticket if you want transport across several days and will genuinely use both lines. Skip it if you prefer detailed guided visits, need precise point-to-point transport, or have little interest in leaving the walkable center.

For most first-time visitors, the value lies less in the audio and more in the combination of easy hill access, broad views, and a quick sense of the city. That is a fair trade for the $24 starting price, as long as you plan around the slow red route and do not expect museum admission.

FAQ

How long is Line A?

Line A takes approximately one hour for the complete route.

How long is Line B?

Line B takes approximately two hours for the complete route.

How long can I use the ticket?

You can choose unlimited travel for 24, 48, or 72 hours.

Does the tour include attraction tickets?

No. Attraction tickets are not included.

Which languages are available for the audio commentary?

The audio guide is available in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Portuguese.

Does the bus have Wi-Fi?

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is available on the bus.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The buses are wheelchair accessible.

Do children under five need a ticket?

Children under five can participate for free.