The most convenient way to travel in Florence is without a doubt the buses, which allow one to reach the historical center, closed to private traffic. The radio-taxi service is convenient, but naturally much more expensive than public transportation, especially where traffic is intense. Authorized taxis are white with yellow signs and the fare is indicated only by the meter. There is a supplement for night travel and for baggage. The center of Florence is crowded with shops selling everything from stylish clothing to used books.
Most larger stores accept credit cards and Eurochecks, while smaller shops prefer cash.
Big fashion names like Gucci and Coveri are found in via de' Tournabuoni, but also in via della Vigna Nuova, where Armani and Valentino have opened up shops. There are also many shops for shoes and leather goods, from the classy and always elegant Ferragamo , in via de' Tornabuoni 14r, to the more affordable Cresti , in via Roma 9r. Across the Arno, in via di Santo Spirito 62r, one finds the little shop Francesco, with hand-made shoes and sandals at low prices. The Piazza Santa Croce area is rich in shops for leather goods. Besides shops, Florence is rich in open-air markets .