momandbecky

Hello all,
I have been reading all the great advice since last summer and have had most of my ?'s answered except this one.
My daughter (20 and college student) & I (45) are travelling from Venice to Florence by train on May 13 and staying at the Helvetia & Bristol Hotel for 4 nights. On mappy.com it states it is only .43 mile but as we have never been to Europe before we have no idea if we will be able to walk there. We will each be travelling with one rolling bag and a tote that fits over it.
Thanks for any help.
Carla

ellenem

I would have no problem walking it in about 10 minutes. There will be a number of twists and turns, cobbled streets and narrow sidewalks. Since you will be unfamiliar with the city, just grab a cab at the train station.

PalenQ

If walking pop into the Florence Tourist Office in the Florence SMN station and buy a detailed map of town and ask them to pinpoint the hotel on it.

Dejais

Momandbecky....I have walked from the train station (with luggage)to a B&B nearby and it is no problem. Just make sure you have good directions. And actually, my husband and I enjoyed it because we got to familiarize ourselves with the surrounding area along the walk.

dawnnoelm

We took the train to Florence last July and got a cab to our apartment.

Florence is very walkable and small but I would suggest getting in the cab line outside the train station and taking it to the hotel - it is not fun dragging luggage through the town... it should not be very expensive. jmo. Have a great time! We loved Florence!

baby108

We took a train from Rome to Florence couple years ago and our hotel was 1/2 mile from the train station and we thought we could walk there. But the roads around the train station was pretty confusing even I did have a good map with us. With luggage and the busy street, we tried and then gave up and took a cab there instead. It was much easier to take a cab rather than walking with your luggage on the cobbled streets. We later walked to the train station without luggage after we got a little familiar with the city and it was actually quite easy. But it's probably a good idea to just take a cab when you first arrive at somewhere you are not familiar with.

PalenQ

It is a fairly congested area IME and sidewalks rather narrow as places.

annhig

Hi, momandbecky,

it is very easy and cheap to get a cab in florence. as you come out of the station, head over to your left - you'll see the queue ahead of you. there is a chap organising people into the best cabs for them based on size of party, luggage, etc. probably only 5E to your hotel.

I would definitely get a cab there when you arrive - you can orient yourselves later.

regards, ann

momandbecky

Thanks to all for the timely responses!

Carla

gard

Hi

I walked to the hotel when I landed in Florence last year. I checked up the location and route on http://maps.google.com first so it was pretty easy to find once I got there. Check out my trip report with pictures here: http://gardkarlsen.com/florence_italy_travelogue.htm

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

ira

Hi Mom,

It won't be difficult to walk.

When you exit the SMN station, there will be a large circle in front of you.

Go to your right and cross to the SMN church.

Follow your mappy directions from there.

Enjoy Florence.

caroltis

I vote for catching a cab and getting to your hotel asap so you can hit the cobblestones for your sightseeing. I've walked from the station to my hotel before and yes it can be done but it's cumbersome carrying and rolling luggage along the crowded sidewalks in that area all the while trying to figure out what street you're on, etc. The most stress-less way is to trust the taxi driver to get you to your place of abode in a timely manner. And I'm glad you have allowed 4 days to explore this place. You are going to LOVE Florence!!!!

caroltis

Oh and I must add (even tho you didn't ask this question!) We ate 3 times last spring at the
Baldovino(sp.?) restaurant just to the left of Santa Croce if you are facing it. It has both outside as well as inside dining and we found their food to be wonderful!
We also wanted to return to ZaZa's near the Mercato Centrale...on a prior trip we ate inside the restaurant but decided to eat outside on this visit...we were seated and as I looked at the menu it just didn't seem right. We were famished so we didn't give it much more thought and just ordered. As we waited for our food we realized that there were actually three outdoor seating areas, all three squished up next to each other. The area sandwiched in the middle (where we were located) was another restaurant, NOT ZaZa's but the other two seating areas were ZaZa's! Oh well...that being said...I highly recommend ZaZa's' ribollita zuppa - it's hearty and yummy!

Mambo_

When my daughter and I traveled to Florence by train, she was very familiar with the route to the hotel because she'd lived there. We took a cab, and I was really glad! The roads can be very narrow, with auto and traffic, and cobblestoned. I was really happy to spend the little cab fare and avoid trying to drag luggage through the streets. Sidewalks are narrow and cracky, if they exist.
>-

snorklesue

We also will be arriving in Florence by train. Are there cabs large enough to hold four adults and four rolling duffles?

Athena39

Helvetia & Bristol is one of the more expensive hotels in Florence. I don't know if you care, but you will get better service if arrive in a taxi.

sandi_travelnut

Do the walk. Narrow sidewalks though so be careful.

suze

Personal choice I guess, but I really prefer taking a taxi to the hotel if it's a short distance. I hate struggling with even a small wheeled suitcase thru the streets of a city I am not familiar with. I'm a BIG walker, but after I ditch the luggage!

PalenQ

"better service if arrive by taxi"

Athena - not disputing this but could you please elaborate how this improves what service?

just curious

PalenQ

could also put your heavy luggage in the train station left luggage place but at about 5 euro a bag in think rather costly - but something to think about if say taking the train out the next day - leave the heavy stuff at the station