BlaakLane.com books Firenze Santa Maria Novella chauffeurs at a fixed fare confirmed before you pay. Enter your Frecciarossa, Italo or regional train number, choose Florence Airport, Pisa Airport, a hotel or a Chianti estate, and pick a vehicle. We track the train so the chauffeur is timed to its real arrival, and meet you curbside at the designated pick-up area.
How to book at Firenze SMN
In the reservation engine, choose Firenze Santa Maria Novella as the pickup, add your train number, destination and bags, and select one of nine classes. One fixed fare is shown. The trip is dispatched from our 24/7 Toronto desk to a vetted Florence affiliate of the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, a licensed NCC operator contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard. Your confirmation names the operator, the chauffeur and the car.
A landmark of Italian modernism
Santa Maria Novella, completed in 1935 to a design by the Gruppo Toscano led by Giovanni Michelucci, is considered one of the finest modernist railway buildings in Italy, with its long, low stone front and glazed roof over the ticket hall. It takes its name from the Dominican basilica across the square. Frecciarossa and Italo trains reach Rome in about 1 hour 30 minutes, Bologna in about 35 minutes, Milan in about 1 hour 50 minutes and Venice in about 2 hours 5 minutes. Regional trains serve Pisa, Lucca, Siena and Arezzo.
Some high-speed trains stop at Firenze Campo di Marte or Rifredi instead of SMN, so check the station on your ticket. The T1 and T2 tram lines stop beside the station, with the T2 running to Florence Airport in about 20 minutes.
Exits and surroundings
- Piazza della Stazione (front): the main hall exit, facing the basilica of Santa Maria Novella and the old city.
- Via Luigi Alamanni side (west): exits near the tram stops and the taxi area, with vehicle access.
- Via Valfonda side (east): towards the Fortezza da Basso and the congress centre.
- Underground passage: links the front of the station with the shopping arcade and parking.
Where your chauffeur can stop
Curbside is the standard. NCC cars may stop only in the designated drop-off and pick-up areas beside the station, typically on the Via Alamanni or Via Valfonda side, or in the station car park beneath the building; the taxi rank is reserved for taxis. When you are off the train, the chauffeur texts or calls with the exact meeting point.
A meet at the platform with a name board is offered as meet and greet. Add-ons are only available in selected locations.
The ZTL: why the last few metres may be on foot
The historic centre of Florence, which starts just across the station square, is a ZTL (zona a traffico limitato) with camera-controlled gates, as described by the Comune di Firenze. Many streets around the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio are pedestrian. Access for NCC vehicles depends on permits and hotel registration, so tell us your hotel when you book; the affiliate plans the nearest legal drop point, and in some cases the final stretch is a short walk.
Tracking your train
We follow the train number. If your Frecciarossa from Rome is held up, the chauffeur's arrival moves with it, free of charge. Fifteen minutes of waiting are included from the real arrival; after that, 15-minute blocks are charged.
Luggage in a compact city
Two travellers with two suitcases fit a Standard Sedan. Families or couples on a long Tuscan holiday usually need a Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV, which take six passengers with six bags. Groups of up to 12 fit the Sprinter Van. Child seats are free on request.
Airports and venues: drive times
| From Firenze SMN to | Typical drive |
|---|---|
| Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR) | 15-25 minutes |
| Pisa Airport (PSA) | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Bologna Airport (BLQ) | 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Fortezza da Basso congress centre | 5 minutes |
| Oltrarno and Piazzale Michelangelo | 15-20 minutes |
| Fiesole | 25-30 minutes |
See the Florence Airport page for terminal pickups, and Toscana Aeroporti for Florence and Pisa airport information.
Fashion fairs, hotels and weddings
The Fortezza da Basso, a few minutes from the station, hosts the Pitti Immagine fashion fairs, including Pitti Uomo, usually in January and June. Hotels along the Arno, in the Oltrarno and in the hills of Fiesole are all within half an hour. Tuscany is a major wedding destination, and villa weddings often need several cars; these are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing, see wedding limousine.
Chianti, Siena and the coast by car
Many travellers take the train to Florence and continue by car. Typical intercity transfers and day trips:
- Greve in Chianti, about 30 km, 45 minutes
- San Gimignano, about 55 km, 1 hour
- Siena, about 75 km, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes
- Lucca, about 75 km, 1 hour 10 minutes
- Pisa, about 85 km, 1 hour 10 minutes
- Montalcino, about 110 km, 1 hour 45 minutes
- Forte dei Marmi, about 105 km, 1 hour 20 minutes
- Bologna, about 105 km, 1 hour 15 minutes
For hourly wine tours (three-hour minimum), see city tours and day trips, and for other cities the Bologna page.
Choosing among the nine classes
- Standard Sedan: two travellers to a city hotel or the airport.
- Luxury Executive Sedan: business visits and fashion-fair buyers.
- Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach): VIP guests and wedding couples.
- Standard Black SUV and Executive Black SUV: up to six with six bags, ideal for villas and wine estates.
- Sprinter Van: 12 passengers with small bags, for wedding guests or tour groups.
- Sprinter Luxury Jet Van: a seven-seat executive van for carry-on bags only.
- Luxury Stretch Limo and Party Bus: celebrations.
See the fleet and the rates page.
Travel planners and hotels
Travel agencies and hotel concierges can book on corporate accounts with monthly invoicing; see hotels and concierge. For the rest of the city, visit the Florence chauffeur service page. Timetables are on Trenitalia and visitor information on Feel Florence.
