How to get to Pistoia, Italy:

Travelling to Pistoia

Pistoia is often overlooked in favour of the larger tourist atractions of Florence, Pisa or Lucca, but it's a wonderful small city, tucked in underneath the Apennines on the northern edge of the river Arno's route towards the coast from Florence.

Pistoia can be reached by bus, train and car. The city centre of Pistoia, the 'centro storico', is largely pedestrianised. The easiest way to explore the city centre is on foot from a car park, the train station or by bus.

Origins of Pistoia

The city has Etruscan roots and was mentioned in Roman documents, called "Oppidum Pistoriense", a name thought to find its origins in the latin word "Pistores" for breadmakers, those who supplied Roman troops with bread. Invaded and destroyed by the Ostrogoths in 406 AD, the city was brought back to life under the Lombards, and the traces of their city planning can still be seen today.

The twelfth century was a period of growth and prosperity for Pistoia, and a second, larger circle of defensive walls was built to protect the growing city. Today Pistoia is a thriving city with some beautiful examples of medieval architecture, art and sculpture. You can read more here about what to see in Pistoia.

How to get to Pistoia

Here is my advice for how to get to Pistoia, with travel times from the nearest airports, as well as train, bus and parking information.

Which airport do you fly to for Pistoia?

There is no airport in Pistoia so you cannot fly there directly, but Florence Airport is very close and is the best option if you can find flights that suit you, followed by Pisa, Bologna, Rome and Genoa, in that order.

Pisa airport is the most popular for flights to Pistoia within Europe, while Rome is the most likely arrival airport for US and Canadian visitors.

Travel times to Pistoia from the closest Airports

Closest airports to Pistoia

Getting to Pistoia by train

Train is a great way to travel to Pistoia - as the city centre is pedestrianised you'll only have to park your car somewhere when you arrive. You can then hire a bike to explore the city, or take a Taxi.

Where to buy train tickets in Italy

There are several websites, but I've found myself using Trainline.com as it works right across Europe and is reliable and intuitive. Digital tickets are becoming more common but if you do have physical tickets you must always remember to punch them or "obliterate" them in the special machines, delightfully called "obliterators" (obliteratici). Your ticket won't be valid unless you've time-stamped it so beware!

ALERT: Always remember to stamp your ticket before travel. This is the case for buses and for trains!

How to get to Pistoia by train from Florence

Florence Airport to Pistoia

If you are landing in Florence airport, you can get a shiny new tram into the centre of Florence. The line you'll need is the T2 Vespucci. The trip from the airport to the railway station will take around 20 minutes and deliver you to the main Florence railway station of Santa Maria Novella.

You can buy a ticket for the tram at the stop from an automatic machine. Contactless cards will work and a one-way ticket is €1.70.

From Florence "Santa Maria Novella" a train will take you to Pistoia station in around 1 hr. Prices start at around €5 one way (yes, trains really are an affordable option in Italy!).

How to get to Pistoia from Pisa by train

Pisa Airport to Pistoia by Train

From the airport take the PisaMover to the main central station. Turn left when you exit arrivals and the PisaMover is at the end of the airport.

It will take 5 minutes to get to the central station from the airport. From the central station, you can take a direct train or you can change in Lucca. The direct train is slower, so it will take you longer than going to Lucca and changing for Pistoia.

If you change in Lucca the trip will take around 1hr 30mins, while if you go direct it will take just under 2 hrs. The ticket will cost under €10 either way.

Please note You cannot buy tickets for the Pisa Mover in the main railway station. You have to walk down to the Pisa Mover itself where there are separate train ticket machines.

Getting to Pistoia by Train from Rome or Bologna

To reach Pistoia from Rome or Bologna you should first reach Florence and then follow the instructions above. Very fast trains run from both cities to Florence.

A fast train from Rome to Florence will take around 1 hr 40 min and cost from €20 - or €28.90 for First Class Travel.

A fast train from Bologna will take around 40 min to reach Florence and cost from €18.90. A slower train will take around 1 hr 45 min and cost under €10.

Getting to Pistoia by train from Genoa Airport

You can get a shuttle called "VolaBus" from the airport into Genoa Station, Genova Piazza Principe - it takes 30 min and runs every 40 mins. It is sometimes easier to take a taxi.

From Genoa station a train ride will take you to Pistoia in around 3 hrs min, with a change in Viareggio and at a cost of around €17.00.

How to get to Pistoia from Perugia Airport

From Perugia airport you can get a bus to Perugia Train Station.

From Perugia a train can get you to Lucca in around 3 hrs, with a couple of changes at a cost of around €26.

How to get into Pistoia Centre from the Train Station

The train station in Pistoia is close to the centre, so an easy walk will get you into the city centre. Piazza della Sala and Piazza Duomo are less than a km away, so a 10-15 min walk.

If you prefer to take a bus, and with little ones it may be necessary, little buses do run into the city centre. Number 4 and number 8 run from outside Pistoia Train Station to Piazza Garibaldi.

Getting to Pistoia by car

All of Pistoia's historic city centre is closed off to traffic; and many of the areas that do allow cars are exclusively reserved to residents. Once you reach the city you will need to park outside the walls; there are a few parking areas inside the walls but be wary and make sure you read the signs and look for indications that it is parking open to everyone.

If you decide to drive to Pistoia, you will find that directions are well marked and frequent on the main roads in particular. Pistoia is close to the A11 Motorway, the Firenze - Mare, a fast road that connects Florence with Pisa and the Versilia Coast. If you’re coming from either the North or South, you need to take A11 and exit at Pistoia.

If you’re coming from the Pisa or Florence airports and have a rented car, start by following the indications to the A11 in both cases.

Parking near me in Pistoia

Generally, with all these car parks, you take a ticket on entering and then go to a machine to pay on your return. The charges are not too bad, and in Pistoia they're lower than in other Tuscan cities, in some cases as low as 2 Euro for the whole day.

Where to stay near Pistoia

We recommend this fabulous villa in the hills close to Montecatini Terme, a twenty minute drive to Pistoia:

You can see all our Villas near Pistoia here.

Author: Dan Wrightson

Dan Wrightson grew up in Tuscany, Italy and has been writing about, sketching and exploring Tuscany and Italy since 1983.

14th Mar 2025 14th Mar 2025

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