Florence is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is known for its history, art, culture and cuisine… but not for its parking!
The ‘parking issue’ remains an ongoing chapter in the history of our beautiful city, a jewel to visit but frustrating if you arrive by car or motorcycle.
That’s why I decided to write this post. I want to share with you some essential tips to allow you to visit my city without the anxiety of fines, towing or other unpleasant surprises.
Make yourself comfortable and read carefully the information I provide you to fully enjoy Florence without a care!
Parking in Florence: what to know before arriving
The historic center of Florence is a Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL) and to enter it you need a permit. To avoid paying for parking (which can be quite expensive in some cases), the smartest way is without a doubt to park outside Florence and look for free (and unattended) parking.
From this point of view I can provide you with two interesting solutions.
- You can try near the stadium and the Nelson Mandela Forum, where it is possible to park for free along Viale Pasquale Paoli. From there you can then take bus 6a to easily reach the historic center.
- Another possibility is to park at the tram stops. A doubly practical solution because, from there, you can take the same tram to comfortably reach the historic center.
If these solutions do not reflect your liking, let’s move on to evaluate other solutions within the historic center, where you can find paid parking, private garages and on-street parking.
Where to park in Florence near the center
Paid parking near the historic center (All parking lots are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Santa Maria Novella
- € 3.00 for the first hour, non-refundable
- € 3.00 for the second hour and all subsequent hours, refundable in 1/2 hour increments
- 5-day pass: €160.00
Fortezza da Basso
- € 1.60 per hour or fraction of an hour
- Daily rate: €20.00
Sant’Ambrogio
During the opening of the market: from 07:00 to 14:00:
- €1.00 for the first hour or fraction, not divisible;
- €2.00 for the second hour divisible by 1/2 hour;
- €3.00 for the third hour and subsequent hours divisible by 1/2 hour;
from 14:00 to 07:00, including all Sundays and holidays:
- €2.00 per hour divisible by 1/2 hour
- €1.70 per hour or fraction of an hour.
Liberty Square (Parterre)
- €2.00 per hour or fraction of an hour
- Daily rate: €10 the first day, €15 the second day, €20.00 the third and subsequent days
Alberti Square
- €1.60 per hour or fraction of an hour
- Daily rate: €11.00
Porta Romana
- €2.00 per hour or fraction of an hour
Porta al Prato
New parking lot behind the station, perfect for those arriving from the FI-PI-LI motorway
- €1.00 for the first hour
- €2.00 for the second hour and all subsequent hours fractional at 1/2 hour
- Daily rate: €20.00
San Lorenzo – Central Market
With the market openings, from 7 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon from Monday to Saturday:
- €2.00 for the first hour
- €3.00 for the second hour
- €8.00 for each subsequent hour
- Every day after 2 pm including Sunday: €2.00 per hour
Platform 16 Station Parking
€1.60 per hour or fraction of an hour
Privately guarded garages
Private garages are certainly not the most economical solution, but they certainly have several advantages, the first of which is the great availability of this type of facility in the city center. You will hardly fail to find at least one spot in the many private garages in Florence.
Another advantage is that they are generally guarded structures, where your vehicle should enjoy greater security.
The daily rates are around 30-40 euros for parking inside the historic center, while the further you go from the center, the lower the price.
In this case too, it is necessary to enter the ZTL to access the private structures, but all these garages generally communicate the number of your license plate to the authorities, thus avoiding you getting a fine.
Street Parking
It is also possible to park the car on the street, especially in the residential areas outside the historic center. It is the most economical solution and allows you to reach the center on foot in about 20 minutes.
These parking lots are paid by the hour, from Monday to Saturday, with the exception of holidays.
The rates in the areas adjacent to the historic center are 2 euros for the first hour, 3 for the subsequent ones – the hours are fractional.
Two very important tips:
- if you need to leave the car even at night, make sure to check the day of the week when the street cleaning is carried out (there are signs indicating this along the sidewalks), which is usually done between midnight and 6 in the morning.
- always park within the blue lines, because the white ones are reserved for residents.
Recommended areas to park on the street
If you have decided to try your luck and look for parking on the street outside the historic center, I want to help you by suggesting some areas where the chances of finding a parking space for your car could be met:
- Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia
- Viali di circonvallazione
- Lungarno del Tempio
- Lungarno Cellini
- Lungarno Ferrucci on the other side of the Arno
- under Piazzale Michelangelo
- near Porta San Frediano
- Viale Petrarca along the walls
Conclusions
I’d say that’s it! These are my tips for you to help you easily find parking in Florence and try to avoid fines or other unpleasant surprises.
I hope you will fully enjoy your visit to my wonderful city!
