How to get to Florence?
 

We are joining a tour from Florence in mid-October. Should we fly into Rome or Milan airport?

From either Rome or Milan airport, what is the simplest way to get to Florence?

Fly into Florence. Delta has direct flights.

Where are you starting from? ((*))

Actually, Delta flies to Pisa, not Florence.

But yes, Florence is the best airport for Florence. Many flights from various European gateways. But no non-stop from the US.

The best options are (not necessarily in this order)

1. Fly non-stop from your home airport to Rome or Milan and take train to Florence. From Rome you can be at your hotel in Florence


after landing it will take you another 5-7hrs to get to your hotel in Florence if you fly into Rome.

1.5hr get through immigration/baggage claim. It may be less, but don't count on it.
0.5hr get to and wait for Train to Rome (worst case, as trains leave every 30min)
0.5hr train to Rome
0.5hr wait for next ES train to Florence (departures ~every 30min)
1.5hr train to Florence
0.25hr taxi to Florence hotel

2. If you must make at least one connection, but can fly from your home airport non-stop to a European gateway (London, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Zurich), do that, then connect and fly directly into Florence. I think this is the best option.

3. If you can't fly non-stop from home to Europe then connect to Delta in JFK and fly into Pisa.

If you have to make a connection then I think you are far better off doing it in a European gateway with non-stop flights to Florence, or at least Pisa. A connection in the US that gets you into Milan or Rome still leaves you with a lot of ground to cover once you arrive in Italy.

My error ... I thought DL had a JFK-FLR flight. They do have the new Pisa and the old Venice flights.

We are flying in from Singapore. I can fly into either Milan or Rome direct.

Our tour ends in Arezzo.

From MXP, the Malpensa Shuttle bus cost 6€ to Milano Centrale. Every 20 minutes, takes about 50 minutes.

From Milano Centrale to Firenze S. M. Novella, 2nd class Amica fare is 26.4€ on the Eurostar or Eurostar Alta Velocita (not difference for this route). 2:45. Every hour.

Total cost, 32.4€. Takes 4 hours minimum, depending on connection.

---

From FCO, the Leonardo Express takes 31 minutes to Termini. Every 30 minutes. 11€.

Then Termini to Firenze. 1:36. 3 trains every 2 hours. 2nd Class Amica fare is also 26.4€ (same as from Milano).

Total time, about 3 hours, depending on connections.

---

So, Rome is about an hour faster, but 5€ more.

Thank you everyone for your most helpful suggestions. Looking forward to my trip.