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

Florence’s best feature on this tour is the ride up to Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole, where the city spreads below you in a broad view. I like having a simple way to reach these high viewpoints, and I like that one ticket combines sightseeing with useful transport around Florence.

I also like the open-top seating, free Wi-Fi, and audio guide in eight languages. The main catch is timing: Line B runs only every 120 minutes, and the two routes overlap in places, so this works better as a flexible city overview than as a fast transport pass.

Key points to know before you board

• Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole are the highlights: Both stops offer wide views over Florence, with Fiesole adding an Etruscan hill town beyond the city.
• Line A takes about one hour: It circles central Florence and reaches Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, Porta Romana, Piazza Tasso, and the Arno.
• Line B takes about two hours: This route links Florence with Fiesole and passes through the hills and eastern neighborhoods.
• The audio is useful but not flawless: It usually adds welcome context, though the timing can sometimes lag behind the view.
• The app helps with stops: The free Sightseeing Experience app gives route information and real-time bus location.
• The best value comes from hopping off: A single loop is pleasant, but a full day or longer ticket makes more sense if you plan to use the bus as transport.

Why this bus works well in Florence

Florence’s historic center is compact, but the city’s best views are not all close together. You can walk between the Duomo, Santa Croce, Santa Maria Novella, and the Arno, but reaching Piazzale Michelangelo or Fiesole takes more effort. This bus fills that gap.

I see it as a useful first-day tool. Ride a full loop to understand Florence’s shape, then return to the stops that interest you. You get a broad introduction without spending the first morning studying maps or arranging several rides.

The open-top upper deck is the main pleasure. From up high, you see rooftops, church towers, the Arno, leafy roads, and hillside villas in a way that is hard to match from a normal city bus. On a clear day, the ride to the viewpoints is especially good for photographs.

It is not a substitute for walking the center. The bus cannot take you through the pedestrian lanes around the Duomo or into the Uffizi and Accademia. Attraction tickets are not included, so you will still need separate plans for Florence’s museums and churches.

Line A: the one-hour city circuit

Line A is the easier route for a first look at Florence. The complete ride takes about one hour, though traffic and waiting time can affect the actual journey.

The route includes Santa Maria Novella Train Station at Largo Alinari, a practical starting point if you arrive by train. Assistance is available from the provider’s visitor center in the station ticketing area, which is useful if you need help finding the correct stop or understanding the route.

From there, the bus reaches Libertà and Via Bernardo Segni before continuing toward Santa Croce. The Santa Croce stop puts you near one of Florence’s major churches and an attractive part of the city beside the old center. You can use the stop as a base for exploring on foot, then rejoin the bus later.

The route then follows the Arno at Lungarno Serristori and reaches Piazza Ferrucci. This section gives you a more open view of the river and leads toward the climb to Piazzale Michelangelo.

The bus continues through Piazzale Michelangelo, Stop 13 on Line A, before returning through Galileo and Viale Machiavelli near Villa Cora. These roads feel greener and quieter than the center. The ride gives you a pleasant look at Florence’s hillside side without requiring a long uphill walk.

After Porta Romana, Line A passes Piazza Tasso, Leopolda and Parco della Musica, then Piazza Indipendenza before completing the circuit. Porta Romana is especially useful if you want access to the Oltrarno side and the area near the Boboli Gardens, though the bus does not include entrance to the gardens.

Line A is the route I would choose when you want frequent access to the main parts of Florence. It gives you the clearest city orientation and is generally more useful for short stays.

Line B: the longer ride to Fiesole

Line B is the more scenic route, but it requires patience. The full circuit takes about two hours, and the buses run less often than on Line A.

Starting at Galileo, the bus again reaches Piazzale Michelangelo and Lungarno Serristori. It then passes Grazie and Lungo l’Affrico before heading toward the Museo del Calcio, San Domenico, and Fiesole.

The route’s main reward is Fiesole, a famous hill town with Etruscan origins and wide views toward Florence. The stop gives you a change of pace from the city center. You can get off, look around, and enjoy the view before catching a later bus, but check the timetable carefully because the next service may not arrive for two hours.

The Fiesole section is the strongest reason to buy a longer ticket. A single 24-hour ticket can work if you plan your day tightly, but the 48-hour option gives you much more breathing room for a proper stop.

Line B returns through San Domenico and then heads toward Viale Fratelli Rosselli near Porta al Prato, Viale Vasco Pratolini, and Piazzale di Porta Romana. Some of this route overlaps with Line A, which reduces the sense of variety. Still, the countryside and hillside views create a useful contrast with the city circuit.

From November 3, 2025, through March 31, 2026, Line B is suspended Monday through Friday. It operates daily with limited service from December 20 through January 6. If your visit falls in the winter period, check the operating days before choosing a ticket.

The stops worth planning around

Piazzale Michelangelo is the essential stop. The view takes in Florence’s red roofs, the Duomo, the Palazzo Vecchio area, and the Arno. Several riders found this the most memorable part of the day, and I agree that you should leave time for photographs rather than treating it as a quick pass-by.

Fiesole deserves more than a glance from the bus. The hilltop setting and Etruscan connection give the ride a clear purpose beyond sightseeing from the upper deck. If you stop here, allow enough time for the next bus and do not assume another one will arrive soon.

Santa Maria Novella is the most practical stop for arrivals and departures. It also gives you an easy starting point for the central circuit.

Santa Croce works well for combining the bus with a walk through the historic center. The stop is close to an important church and the streets around the eastern side of the old city.

Porta Romana and Piazza Tasso are helpful for seeing the Oltrarno area. They also show you a side of Florence that feels less concentrated than the Duomo district.

Bus-stop signs can be hard to spot, and the exact position on the road is not always obvious. I would use the app, confirm the direction of travel, and arrive early enough to check both sides of the street.

Audio commentary, Wi-Fi, and the mobile app

The multilingual audio commentary is available in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Portuguese. It adds background as you pass churches, bridges, neighborhoods, and important viewpoints.

The timing is not always perfect. At times, the recording may describe a sight just before or after you pass it. A few riders also found that the commentary paused for stretches or included more music than expected.

I treat the audio as a bonus rather than the main guide. Keep your eyes on the route map, especially when you want to get off. The commentary is most useful when you combine it with the view, not when you expect a detailed explanation of every building.

Free Wi-Fi is included, and the Sightseeing Experience app can show route information and the bus’s location in real time. That makes the system easier to use, particularly when you are unsure where a stop is located.

Headphone outlets may not all work perfectly, so test yours when you board. If the audio fails, you can still follow the route on the app and map.

How to make the ticket good value

The listed price is $24 per person, with 24, 48, and 72-hour options. The exact value depends less on the number of loops you complete and more on how much you use the bus between walks and museum visits.

A 24-hour ticket suits a short stay or a focused sightseeing day. You can ride Line A, fit in Line B if the schedule allows, and use the bus to reach Piazzale Michelangelo without arranging another ride.

A 48-hour ticket is the most practical choice for many people. It gives you a second chance to visit Fiesole, repeat a scenic section in better weather, or use the bus when your feet need a rest.

A 72-hour ticket makes sense if you plan a relaxed Florence stay and expect to hop on and off over several days. It is less attractive if you only want one panoramic loop.

At $24, the ticket is good value for visitors who want orientation, viewpoints, and convenient movement between scattered stops. It is weaker value if you plan to walk everywhere and only want a single ride. Florence’s central sights are close enough together that you should not buy this expecting it to replace all local transport.

Timetables and the cost of waiting

Seasonal schedules matter. From November 3, 2025, to March 27, 2026, Line A’s first departure from Stop 6 is at 9:20 a.m., with the last departure at 4:40 p.m. Its frequency is 40 minutes on weekends and 75 minutes on weekdays.

Line B’s first departure from Stop 1 is at 11:15 a.m., and its last departure is at 3:15 p.m. The 120-minute frequency means you need to plan around it, particularly if you get off at Fiesole or Piazzale Michelangelo.

In warmer months, service may feel easier to use, but the supplied schedule does not give a full year-round timetable. Check the current departure times before you set out.

Buses can fill quickly, especially on popular sightseeing days. If you want an upper-deck seat, board early at a main stop rather than assuming space will be available later.

Who will appreciate this tour most

I would recommend it to first-time visitors who want a quick sense of Florence before choosing where to spend their walking time. It is also a strong choice for families, older adults, and anyone who cannot manage long uphill walks.

The bus provides a cool break during a busy day and avoids the stress of navigating unfamiliar streets. It is also useful after arriving by train, when you may want to see the city without immediately committing to a long walking route.

Photographers will appreciate the upper deck and the stops at Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole. Visitors interested in Florence beyond the central museums will get the most from Line B.

I would be more cautious if you have only a few hours in town. The routes can take time, buses may be delayed or full, and the less frequent Fiesole service can consume much of your day.

The buses are wheelchair accessible, and children under five can participate free of charge. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity and reserve-now, pay-later booking add useful flexibility.

Should you book this Florence bus tour?

Book it if you want easy orientation, panoramic views, and a low-effort ride to Fiesole. I would choose the 48-hour ticket for a relaxed visit, especially if you want time to get off at both major viewpoints.

Choose 24 hours if your stay is short and your schedule is clear. Skip it if your main plan is walking between the Duomo, Uffizi, Accademia, and Santa Croce, since the bus will not take you inside those attractions.

The best plan is simple: ride Line A early to understand the city, use the app to track the stops, then reserve time for Line B and Fiesole. Keep your expectations realistic about the audio and wait times, and this becomes a useful, scenic way to see more of Florence without wearing out your feet.

FAQ

How long is the Florence hop-on hop-off bus ticket valid?

You can choose a ticket valid for 24, 48, or 72 hours.

How long do the two bus routes take?

Line A takes approximately one hour for the full route. Line B takes approximately two hours.

Does the bus go to Fiesole?

Yes. Line B travels from Florence to Fiesole, a hill town known for its Etruscan history and views over Florence.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

Audio commentary is available in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Portuguese.

Is Piazzale Michelangelo included on the routes?

Yes. Piazzale Michelangelo is served by both Line A and Line B.

Is the bus wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the buses are wheelchair accessible.

Does the ticket include entry to Florence attractions?

No. Attraction tickets are not included.