Things to do in Florence
You get around the centre on foot, the Oltrarno still has its workshops, and the hills begin where the city ends.
Florence is small: from the Duomo to Santo Spirito is a twenty-minute walk, and in between is almost everything people come for. The beauty of it is that you sleep in the centre and go out without taking any transport.
Here you will find what not to miss. The how, the where and the when are in our guides, which are free.
What to see in Florence
The Duomo and the dome
The cathedral, Giotto’s bell tower and the baptistery stand in the same square. You climb Brunelleschi’s dome on foot, and it is worth every step.
The Uffizi and Palazzo Vecchio
Botticelli, Leonardo, Caravaggio in a handful of rooms. Next door, Palazzo Vecchio has a tower with a view almost nobody expects.
The Oltrarno
Cross the Ponte Vecchio and the pace changes: Santo Spirito, San Frediano, the artisans’ workshops. It is the part of the city where Florentines really live.
Piazzale Michelangelo
The whole city from above, at sunset. A little higher up there is a place with the same view and far fewer people.
Where to stand for the photo, the hour with the right light and how crowded it gets: it is in the free guide Photo spots.
Notify me when it is out →Day trips from Florence
Fiesole
On the hill above the city: a Roman theatre and Florence seen from the north.
Chianti
Vineyards, villages and wineries between Florence and Siena. A day to remember.
Siena and San Gimignano
Two towns of stone and towers, very different from Florence. Better one done well than two in a rush.
Lucca and Pisa
The walls to ride along by bike, the Piazza dei Miracoli. You can see them together, if you know how to plan it.
How far it is, how to get there and how long you need: it is in the free guide Day trips.
Notify me when it is out →What to eat in Florence
The steak
The Florentine T-bone is ordered by weight, thick and rare. It is a dish to share, and not every place does it properly.
Lampredotto
The sandwich from the street stalls, the one Florentines eat standing up at lunch.
Ribollita and pappa al pomodoro
Tuscan peasant cooking: bread, vegetables, good oil. To be sought out in the right trattorias.
Cantucci and vin santo
The way a dinner ends in Florence.
The places we recommend, what to order and how much you spend: it is in the free guide Where to eat.
Notify me when it is out →Things to do in Florence, chosen by us
The best time for Florence
Spring and autumn
The right seasons: you walk all day and the light is the one on the postcards. They are also the busiest months.
Summer
It is hot in the middle of the day, but in the evening the city is a pleasure, with the squares of the Oltrarno full until late.
Winter
The quietest months: shorter queues at the museums and a more Florentine Florence.
Florence: the questions travellers ask
How many days do you need to see Florence?
Two full days are enough for the centre; with three you add a day trip nearby. If you want a ready-made plan, there is our itinerary 3 days in Florence.
Do you need a car in Florence?
Not in town: you get around the centre on foot, and much of it is closed to non-residents’ traffic. You need one for Chianti and the villages.
Do the museums need booking?
Yes, the most popular ones: the Uffizi, the Accademia Gallery and the climb up the dome. It is best to do it before you leave.
Which area is best to stay in?
In the centre, if you want to do everything on foot. Just outside, in residential neighbourhoods linked by public transport, if you prefer more space and more quiet. We have homes in both.
Where can you eat well in Florence?
It depends on the neighbourhood and on what you are looking for. The trattorias we recommend, with what to order and how much you spend, are in the free guide “Where to eat in Florence”.
Worth reading: What to see in Florence, 3 days in Florence.
Things to do also in: Rome, Turin, Cuneo, Lurisia and the Pesio Valley, Sestola, Laigueglia, Alassio, Castelli Romani. All destinations.
The rest is in the Florence guides
Three guides in PDF, free: where to eat, photo spots and day trips, with all the details you will not find here. They are on their way: leave us your details and we will send them as soon as they are out.
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