Uber has become a part of life in most major cities around the world. Whether you live in a busy metro such as New York or a smaller city like Jaipur, traveling in an Uber (or Lyft, in some places) is very common. In fact, when I traveled to Italy, I did not even think twice about transportation within cities too much, and I only pre-planned for longer trips between different cities.
So, imagine my surprise when I ended up in Florence to discover this.
Is there Uber in Florence, Italy?
There is little to no Uber coverage in Florence, Italy. While Uber is available in other cities of Italy such as Rome, the majority of Florence does not have this service.
Planning your trip to Florence? Be sure to check out this guide that covers what to do in Florence for 1, 2, or 3 days!
Recently developments of Uber in Florence
Uber recently signed a deal to integrate their operations with Italy’s taxi dispatcher, IT Taxi app. With this deal, they are starting their operations in Florence and now serve very limited portions of the city.
I contacted Uber to get specifics on their coverage in Florence. They responded that Uber is continuing to expand the areas covered by their services. Therefore, the best way to determine the specific areas where you can call an Uber is to open the app at any given location, and try to call a car.
However, note that as a tourist, you will likely be in the historic center of the city. The places you will go for sightseeing won’t have any Ubers. There is also no Uber service at either the Florence airport or the train station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella). With that being said, the train station is super close to the city center. If you stay in the center, you won’t need an Uber service from the train station anyway.
Why is there no Uber in Florence, Italy?
Now, in case you are curious about the reason for Uber not offering mainstream service in all parts of Italy, here is the info. There is resistance from taxi drivers fearing their livelihood will get threatened if Uber enters the market. As in other European cities, the taxi union opposes Uber because their business model is quite different.
Another potential reason is the demand from users. As Florence is a small city that is mostly walkable, demand is likely not high enough to be a lucrative market for Uber.
So, is Uber available anywhere in Italy?
As mentioned above, Uber recently signed a deal with Italy’s taxi dispatcher, IT Taxi app. This will ensure that Uber continues to expand operations without hurting the livelihood of normal taxi drivers in Italy.
At present, Uber premium services – Uber Black and Uber Van are available in a few cities including Rome, Milan, Turin, and Bologna. You will, however, not find the regular, more-affordable Uber rides such as UberX or UberX Share in these places.
Thinking about visiting Rome during your Italy trip? Check out these 26 reasons you must visit the Eternal City that will help you decide!
Alternate options for Uber in Florence, Italy
If you find yourself in the need of an Uber in Florence, the following lists your alternate options.
Avail of the IT Taxi App
While there may not be much Uber coverage in Florence, there are regular taxis in the city. They are particularly suitable for longer distances such as from the airport or the train station to your hotel when you have luggage with you.
Take the bus
Even though some streets in Florence are pedestrian-only, to get around to some of the more far-flung places (such as Piazzale Michelangelo), you can take the bus. The bus system works pretty well, and I did not find it too crowded. Also, note that if you purchase the Firenze Card, you can add an amount to include transportation (FirenzeCard+).
Try an electric scooter
In recent times, electric scooters are gaining more popularity in major cities around the world. In Florence, you can rent electric scooters from two companies: Bit Mobility and TiMove. They are quite affordable to get around.
Walking
One of the best ways to get around in Florence is by walking. As a tourist, you should get a hotel in or around the historic center of the city. That way, all places that you want to visit will be within walking distance. In fact, it will only take you 20-25 minutes to walk from one end of the city to another. Walking also allows you to discover hidden gems that are outside any guidebook.
Trams
Another option is to take the tram. In fact, if traveling to and from the airport you can avail of the T2 tram. This tram line goes directly from the Florence airport to the city center in about 20 minutes.
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Information regarding Uber service in Florence city is really interesting and worthy. Hope such type articles regarding other places of the world will come out in future.
A good guidance for the tourist at Florence. A peculiar city to visit and the write up inspire people to visit the city. Keep us informing of the places to visit.