Florence Airport Passenger Terminal

Ten gates, one departures hall: Florence runs on a single T1

All flights at Florence Airport Passenger Terminal use T1, and every airline — Alitalia, Vueling, British Airways, Iberia Express, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss — feeds into the same compact departures floor with only about 10 boarding gates. Schengen and non‑Schengen flights leave from this one area, so you just follow the monitors for your gate instead of dealing with trains or separate concourses.

The terminal sits on two levels, with around 40 check‑in counters located upstairs and departures security feeding straight into the central gate zone. Ground‑floor arrivals are small, so from aircraft door to the curb usually runs 20–30 minutes if you land with carry‑on only and immigration is quiet.

Check‑in for Alitalia, Vueling, British Airways, Iberia Express, KLM, Lufthansa, and Swiss typically opens about 2 hours before short‑haul departures, all in the same T1 hall. Lines can back up at peak morning bank times (roughly 06:00–08:00), so aim for 90 minutes at the airport for intra‑Schengen and closer to 2 hours if you need to check bags for London or other non‑Schengen flights.

Security in T1 usually runs 10–20 minutes but spikes when two or three departures cluster around the same half hour on the single lane bank. Once you’re through, walking time to the farthest gate is only about 5 minutes because everything fans out from one central seating area, so you can stay put near the main screens until your gate number appears.

Food and coffee: small list, repeat visits

BeerCode sits airside on the departures level and focuses on draft beer and simple bar food, with prices around €6–€8 for a pint and €10–€15 for basic mains. It’s the spot people use for a sit‑down drink before evening Lufthansa, KLM, or Swiss flights back north.

Buoni & Belli and Briciole both show up in the departures food mix with counter‑service pasta, sandwiches, and snacks in the €6–€12 range. If you only have 20–30 minutes before boarding one of the 10 gates, grab a ready‑made panino from Briciole rather than waiting on cooked dishes at Buoni & Belli.

MyChef Restaurant handles more full‑plate options, including hot dishes that run closer to €15–€20, and sits on the same airside level as the gates. It works when your British Airways or Vueling flight is delayed and you have 60+ minutes to kill, otherwise queues and service time can cut things too close.

Stortellini is the quick move for stuffed pasta in a box, usually priced under €10, and is easier to squeeze in before a tight boarding call. A basic bar and a small bakery past security cover espresso and pastries, with cappuccino around €1.50–€2.00 and cornetti in the €1–€2 range for a fast pre‑7 a.m. breakfast.

A 24‑hour café in the terminal keeps coffee, bottled water, and simple snacks available even for 05:30 departures or delayed late‑night arrivals. Regulars heading into Florence for short stays grab a coffee here, then spend the €25–€30 taxi fare or tap on the T2 tram line into town instead of hanging around the terminal.

Lounges, runway quirks, and what regulars watch

The VIP CLUB Lounge in T1 sits airside after security, usually near the main departures seating zone feeding the 10 gates. Expect standard cold snacks, soft drinks, and Wi‑Fi, with access typically via airline status on carriers like Lufthansa and KLM or paid entry around €25–€35 depending on the program you use.

Runway length at Florence clocks in at about 1,560 meters, and that short strip is the main operational complaint on frequent‑flier forums. In poor weather, larger aircraft used by airlines like British Airways or Lufthansa may face weight limits, delays, or diversions to Pisa, so build at least a 3‑hour buffer before any non‑moveable rail or long‑haul connection.

Repeat visitors on Italy forums say they stick with FLR over Pisa or Bologna because they can land, clear this small terminal, and reach central Florence in roughly 20 minutes by taxi or 20–25 minutes by tram. If your trip is Florence‑only and you’re choosing flights, that door‑to‑Duomo timing usually beats the occasional runway‑related disruption risk.

Final tip: with every airline in T1 using the same small gate set, stay near the main departure screens until your gate is posted, then walk over — it’s at most a 5‑minute stroll, and you avoid camping at a gate that might change.