Old guidebooks still mention a Busitalia airport shuttle bus
Older posts talk about a Busitalia shuttle from FLR to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station, but Reddit users in 2022 reported that the “Volainbus is gone, just take the tram instead.” Many trip reports from before the T2 Vespucci tram line opened still describe this bus as the standard airport transfer, which now sends new arrivals on a wild‑goose chase in Terminal T1.
The original Busitalia shuttle used to run directly between Peretola and Santa Maria Novella in about 20–25 minutes, with a limited late‑night timetable that left people waiting far longer than the printed schedule suggested. Old TripAdvisor threads from the late 2010s mention bunching, gaps in service, and confusion after the last departures around 23:00, especially for passengers from delayed evening flights.
Redditors on r/Florence and r/travel say that by 2022 the dedicated airport–Santa Maria Novella bus had either been withdrawn or reduced to the point that airport staff simply direct everyone to the tram. Several travelers report wasting 15–30 minutes in T1 asking where to buy Busitalia tickets or find the bus stop, only to be told there’s no longer a regular shuttle from the terminal forecourt.
Regulars now land at FLR, walk the 100–150 meters to the clearly signed T2 tram stop outside T1, and ride the tram about 20 minutes to “Unità” or “Alamanni–Stazione” just beside Santa Maria Novella. Locals on Reddit say they ignore any mention of the old Busitalia shuttle, treat those references as outdated, and head straight to the tram platform without even checking bus timetables.
If you still see “Busitalia Volainbus” listed on a ticket machine, a hostel noticeboard, or a 2017 blog post, assume that information is stale and verify times on the current ATAF/Tramvia site before banking on a bus connection. One practical tip: when planning FLR transfers in 2024 and beyond, search specifically for “Tram T2 Vespucci FLR to Firenze SMN” instead of “airport shuttle bus” to avoid chasing a service that, for most travelers, effectively no longer exists.