Living in Florence.

Many services, tips and useful information for an easy life in the city. Enjoy Florence!

Useful tips

Here are some tips for living in Florence. Here we are to help you and support you to make this process easier!

Before arrival

Rooms in shared flats

Look for your room in Florence.

Apartments in Florence

Look for your new home.

Apply for your Schengen Visa (non EU citizens)

Apply for the documents to get legal in Italy.

Apply for you National Visa (more than 90 days stay)

Your documents for a longer stay in Italy.

Airport transfer

So many connections to arrive at our office.

Facebook and WhatsApp group chats

Keep in touch with us and other students.

During your stay

Get your Italian SIM card

Keep staying connected!

Get your Welcome Pack at the office

Our gift for you to enjoy your stay.

Apply for your public transport card

Get your own public transport card.

Travels and activities

Get the most of your stay: never stop exploring!

Move around Florence

Some tips to move around the city.

Open your Italian bank account

An account for your expenses in your new city.

Important telephone numbers

Emergency

Police: 113

Carabinieri: 112

Ambulance: 118

Fire brigade: 115

Local Police: +39 055 3283333

Lost&Found office: +39 055 3283942

 

Useful contacts

Find student housing in Florence

Wondering how living in Florence looks like? You have to know that it’s one of the best places in Italy to study and to live in! But finding an accommodation, can be tough, mainly depending on the season. September is quite a tough month, because all the students and young workers start seeking their housing solution (a room or an entire flat). Many of them can even begin the hunting during summer in order to make sure they have the ideal room or flat.

Apply for your VISA

Are you ready to start an amazing experience? We can’t wait to welcome you here, but first, you should know how to get legal in Italy.

Italy is a member country of the European Union (EU), and therefore part of the Schengen Convention. As it is for the other EU Countries, the same conditions for foreigners are applied in Italy as well.

Below you'll find information about the necessary documentation to reside in Florence and other places in Italy: 

Get a look here and collect all the information to apply for your documents and get legal in Italy.

Move around

Remind that you have to choose accurately the location; it has to stay close to bus stops, in order to avoid any waste of time in your daily life.

Luckily, Florence is not a huge city and it has a good public transport connection!

Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram... Join the community!

One of the first things you should do before the arrival is to start joining communities of young internationals in Florence (but book your room first!): it’s important to get in touch with many people before the arrival and collect many interesting and useful information about the life in the city. 

Look for keywords such as “Erasmus in Florence” or “Expats in Florence” on Facebook and look for @helpHousingFirenze, you can also search some Whatsapp groups to get in touch directly with some fellow travellers and follow us on Instagram (@helphousingexperience) to find other tenants or your future flatmates!

Get an Italian SIM card

Once you arrive, don’t stop sharing your experience with your family and all your friends! Before arriving here, you should check if your mobile phone plan is valid in Italy. If you’re member of a European Country, your sim card will work, but your data will be reduced. If you come from a Non-EU Country, you will need a new one.

There are several cheap options such as Vodafone, Wind, Tim, Tre, Iliad, Fastweb Mobile, etc. Just check them all and find the best for you. 

Come visit us at the office in the heart of Florence and once you get your room, we will help you with everything you need!

Open an Italian bank account

What about managing the expenses in an easier way? We strongly suggest to people with a different currency from Euro, to open an Italian bank account. The option is available for  both residents and non-residents in Italy. 

The documents you’ll need vary depending if you are applying as a resident or non-resident. 

Documents as a resident: 

  • A valid identification document (national ID for European members or passport);
  • Italian tax code (codice fiscale);
  • Document to certificate your residence.

Documents as a non-resident:

  • A valid identification document (national ID for European members or passport);
  • Italian tax code (codice fiscale);
  • Tax return (last payslip)

Come at the office and we will explain you how to get your Italian bank account and click here for further information.

Why live in a shared flat

Getting to choose the neighbourhood where to live in Florence is a very important step, but deciding whether to rent a room or an entire flat it’s probably more important, because it will change your entire experience.

You may be wondering about the benefits of living in a shared flat. We believe it's the best option for you. Let's have a look here!

  1. Renting a room in a shared flat is usually cheaper than renting an apartment on your own. 
  2. You can afford a room in the city center.
  3. Shared flats make it very easy to get in touch with new people and new cultures.
  4. You can make lifelong friends to share unforgettable experiences with.  

We also have some tips to help you make the most out of your time while living in a student housing in Florence, sharing a flat.

  1. Communication. 
  2. Sharing is caring. 
  3. Open-minded approach. 
  4. Keep in touch with the people you meet. 
  5. Privacy respect.
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