Local Tip
Landing without euros? GEST, which runs Florence's trams, puts a ticket machine at every stop that takes Visa, V Pay, Maestro and Mastercard, contactless included, so you can pay for the T2 into town by card.
Where to change money in Florence
Forexchange, which also staffs the desk at Florence airport, lists three counters in the old centre between the Duomo and the Arno and a counter inside Santa Maria Novella station. Ask for the euro total after any commission before you hand over pounds.
- Forexchange, Piazza San Giovanni On the corner of Via Roma, across from the Baptistery and a few steps from Piazza del Duomo.
- Forexchange, Mercato Nuovo In the market square itself, on the right-hand side of the little piazza by the Porcellino as you head towards the Duomo.
- Forexchange, Via Por Santa Maria Near Ponte Vecchio, at the corner with Lungarno Acciaiuoli.
- Forexchange, Santa Maria Novella station Facing Piazza della Stazione, next to the pharmacy. Forexchange lists weekday hours only: 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday, which may change.
Changing money at the airport
At Florence's Peretola airport (FLR), Forexchange's desk sits between international arrivals and the staircase to check-in; coming in through the main entrance, look for it on your right. Its listed hours are 05:00 to 20:00 every day, subject to change. Tram line T2 connects the airport with central Florence in about 20 minutes, according to GEST, which runs the tramway.
ATMs and cards in Florence
Monito, a money-comparison site, notes that Euronet cash machines are often placed in city centres and near tourist sights and tend to convert at an even weaker rate than bank machines. It has seen margins as high as 8 to 10 per cent when a machine converts a withdrawal into the customer's own currency, and advises paying in euros so that your card provider handles the conversion.
Paying for transport in Florence
Autolinee Toscane, which runs Florence's buses, sells single tickets on paper, in digital form or on board by contactless payment. A standard urban single costs €2.00 at September 2026 prices, and a ticket bought from the driver costs €3.00; fares are subject to change. For the trams, GEST lists its stop machines and the TABNET app as ways to buy.
Good to know
- In September 2026, Florence Daily News relayed visitors' reports of phones taken by strangers who had offered help at ticket machines, and of fake ticket inspectors. Politely refuse help you didn't ask for.
- The same report mentioned pickpocketing in crowds, including at Piazza Santissima Annunziata, to the north of the cathedral, and a video of the three-card trick with Brunelleschi's dome in view. Keep cards and cash zipped away and walk past street betting games.
Key Areas in Florence
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Florence travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Florence?
Forexchange lists counters on Piazza San Giovanni by the Baptistery, at Mercato Nuovo, on Via Por Santa Maria near Ponte Vecchio and in Santa Maria Novella station, besides its airport desk. Weigh what you would get there, after any commission, against a euro withdrawal from a bank machine.
Can I change money at Pisa or Bologna airport if I fly there instead?
Yes. Pisa, busier than Florence's own airport, has a Forexchange counter in check-in area A before security and another in international arrivals facing the main exit. At Bologna, Forexchange's desks are in ground-floor arrivals (09:00 to 22:00) and first-floor departures, in front of security (08:30 to 17:00); hours can change.
Can a shop or restaurant in Florence refuse my card, or charge extra for it?
Neither is allowed. Italian businesses selling to the public must take cards for any amount, and The Local Italy says a refusal, which carries a penalty of €30 plus 4 per cent of the payment, can be reported to the Guardia di Finanza on 117. Italy's competition authority has fined firms for charging extra because of how a customer paid.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Forexchange · Forexchange (blog, 11 October 2024) · Firenze Santa Maria Novella (station site) · Forexchange (blog, 21 March 2025) · Bologna Airport · Wikipedia
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