Pisa Airport to Florence: Should You Take the Train or the Direct Bus?

Getting from Pisa Airport to Florence is straightforward, but there is one choice to make before you leave the terminal:

Do you take the PisaMover to Pisa Centrale and continue by train, or get on a direct bus to Florence?

Both work. They just solve slightly different problems.

If you want to arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Florence's main railway station, travelling via Pisa Centrale is often the more logical option.

If you would rather avoid changing vehicles altogether, the direct airport bus can be easier — but during the day it normally drops passengers at T2 Guidoni, not at Firenze SMN.

That difference matters more than it sounds.

Option 1: PisaMover + train to Firenze SMN

Pisa Airport does not have regular long-distance Trenitalia trains departing directly for Florence.

Instead, the usual rail journey has two stages:

Pisa Airport → PisaMover → Pisa Centrale → regional train → Firenze Santa Maria Novella

The first part is very short.

PisaMover connects Galileo Galilei Airport with Pisa Centrale in about five minutes. The current one-way fare is €6.50, and services normally run from 06:00 until midnight, extending to 01:00 from June through September.

Once you arrive at Pisa Centrale, continue by regional train toward Florence.

Regional services connect Pisa Centrale with Firenze Santa Maria Novella, so the main advantage of this route is where you end up: right at Florence's principal railway station.

For travellers staying near the historic centre or continuing by train from Florence, that can be more useful than a direct airport bus that terminates elsewhere.

Changing at Pisa Centrale is easier than it sounds

Seeing two separate journeys can make this route look more complicated than it really is.

PisaMover terminates at Pisa Centrale, so there is no need to cross Pisa by taxi or local bus.

You simply:

1. Leave the airport terminal and follow signs for PisaMover.
2. Ride to Pisa Centrale.
3. Enter the railway station.
4. Check the departure board for your Florence train.
5. Continue to Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

If your train ticket was purchased separately, make sure you understand whether it needs any validation or activation before travelling.

Our guide to validating train tickets in Italy explains the difference between paper regional tickets, digital regional tickets and high-speed tickets.

One useful planning tip

Do not choose an extremely tight train departure immediately after your flight lands.

The PisaMover ride itself may take only five minutes, but you still need to:

• leave the aircraft;
• collect checked luggage;
• reach the PisaMover station;
• wait for the next shuttle;
• enter Pisa Centrale;
• find your train.

The transfer is easy. The unpredictable part is the airport.

Option 2: take the direct bus to Florence

If you would rather avoid changing at Pisa Centrale, there is also a direct bus from Pisa Airport to Florence.

Caronna Tour operates the Pisa Airport–Florence service, also sold through Flibco.

The journey takes approximately 60 minutes in normal traffic, with current daytime fares starting from €14.99.

The biggest advantage is obvious:

you board at the airport and stay on the same vehicle until Florence.

That can be appealing if you have several bags, are travelling with children or simply do not want to navigate a railway station after a flight.

But there is a catch.

“Direct to Florence” does not always mean Firenze SMN

This is the detail worth checking before booking.

During daytime service, Caronna's Florence stop is currently T2 Guidoni.

Guidoni is connected to central Florence by the T2 tram, but it is not Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station.

Night services use a more central Florence stop.

So the two journeys are more accurately compared like this:

This is why the “direct” option is not automatically the most convenient.

If your hotel is near Firenze SMN, the Duomo or you are connecting to another train, arriving directly at Santa Maria Novella may be worth the change at Pisa Centrale.

If your accommodation is closer to the T2 tram route, the bus may work perfectly well.

For help navigating Florence's main station, see our Firenze Santa Maria Novella Train Station Guide.

Train or bus: which one should you choose?

For most travellers, the decision comes down to where you want to arrive, rather than which option has fewer steps.

Choose PisaMover + train if:

• you want to arrive at Firenze SMN;
• your hotel is near Florence's historic centre;
• you are continuing by train from Florence;
• you prefer rail travel;
• you want more flexibility around your departure time.

Consider the direct bus if:

• you want to avoid changing vehicles;
• you have bulky luggage;
• you are travelling as a family;
• T2 Guidoni is convenient for your accommodation;
• your arrival time matches the bus schedule well.

Neither option is universally better.

The useful comparison is:

one easy change with a central railway-station arrival versus one direct ride that may finish outside the central station area.

Continuing your journey from Florence by train? Search routes and compare rail options with the eutrain app.

How much luggage are you carrying?

Luggage can change the decision.

With the PisaMover + train route, you will need to move your bags:

• from the airport to PisaMover;
• off the shuttle at Pisa Centrale;
• onto your regional train;
• through Firenze SMN when you arrive.

For a normal suitcase, this is usually manageable.

The direct bus removes the transfer at Pisa Centrale. Caronna currently includes one small hand luggage item plus one piece of luggage up to 20 kg under its standard conditions.

If you are travelling with multiple large suitcases, check the operator's current luggage policy before booking.

What if you land late?

Arrival time matters.

PisaMover normally operates until midnight and until 01:00 during the June–September summer period.

The direct coach can also be useful for some late arrivals. Caronna currently prices its night service separately, with night fares starting from €21.99.

The best late-night option therefore depends on:

• when your flight actually lands;
• how long baggage collection takes;
• whether there is still a useful train from Pisa Centrale;
• which direct coach departure is available.

Do not assume that a flight scheduled to land before midnight guarantees you will reach PisaMover before the last departure.

A current PisaMover service note

PisaMover has announced temporary frequency changes from October 26 to December 13, 2026, and again from January 11 to February 28, because of scheduled maintenance.

During these periods, service is planned approximately every 12 minutes for much of the day rather than at its highest normal frequency.

If you are travelling during these dates, check the latest service information before relying on a tight connection.

Florence to Pisa Airport: the return trip

The same two choices work in reverse.

By train

Travel:

Firenze SMN → Pisa Centrale → PisaMover → Pisa Airport

This is usually the most natural option if you are already close to Santa Maria Novella.

When planning the journey, leave enough time between your regional train arriving at Pisa Centrale and the airport shuttle.

Then add the normal airport check-in and security buffer on top.

By direct bus

Caronna also operates Florence → Pisa Airport services.

Again, check the departure point carefully.

Daytime services use the T2 Guidoni stop, while night-time arrangements differ.

This is particularly important on the return trip because going to the wrong Florence stop can mean missing your airport bus.

What if you're actually staying in Pisa first?

Then this becomes a different journey.

If you are spending a night or a day in Pisa before Florence, take PisaMover into the city and treat Pisa → Florence as a separate trip.

Regional trains make that easy.

There is little reason to book a direct airport-to-Florence bus if you actually want to visit Pisa before continuing.

For travellers building a larger Italian itinerary, our Italy Train Travel Guide covers train types, major operators, stations and ticket rules.

Pisa Airport to Florence FAQ

Is there a direct train from Pisa Airport to Florence?

No regular long-distance railway service runs directly from the airport terminal to Florence.

Take PisaMover to Pisa Centrale, then continue by regional train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella.

How long does PisaMover take?

The airport-to-Pisa Centrale journey takes approximately five minutes.

How much is PisaMover?

The current fare is €6.50 one way or €13 return.

Is there a direct bus from Pisa Airport to Florence?

Yes. Caronna Tour operates a direct airport bus, with current daytime fares starting from €14.99.

Does the direct bus stop at Firenze Santa Maria Novella?

Not usually during daytime service.

The current daytime Florence terminus is T2 Guidoni. Night-time services use a Florence-centre stop.

Is the train or bus better from Pisa Airport to Florence?

If you want to arrive at Firenze SMN or continue by train, PisaMover + regional train is often more convenient.

If avoiding a transfer matters more, the direct bus can be easier.

Can I buy PisaMover and train tickets together?

PisaMover states that tickets can be purchased through authorised Trenitalia ticket offices when combined with rail journeys.

What time does PisaMover stop running?

It normally operates until midnight, extending to 01:00 from June through September.

So, which route actually makes more sense?

The direct bus sounds simpler because it removes a transfer.

But if your real destination is Firenze Santa Maria Novella, the rail route can be more convenient than it first appears:

Pisa Airport → five-minute PisaMover → Pisa Centrale → train → Firenze SMN

The direct bus is still a good choice when you want one continuous journey, especially with luggage. Just check where it actually drops you before booking.

That one detail — Firenze SMN versus T2 Guidoni — is often more important than whether the journey technically has a change.

Heading onward from Florence? Search train routes across Italy and Europe with the eutrain app.