THE ULTIMATE FLORENCE TRAVEL GUIDE
Florence is quite possibly my favourite city in the entire world. I’ve been twice and both times I leave with a full heart and stomach. Florence, also known as Firenze, is truly unlike any other city I have been to. You can just walk through the wide cobblestone streets and stumble upon plazas with musicians playing and people singing. Florence definitely has a more laidback vibe to other Italian cities like Rome and Venice.
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HOW TO GET TO FLORENCE
Plane
The Florence has its own small airport called Peretola (FLR/LIRQ) which is located 20 minutes outside the city centre. Flights from other parts of Italy will commonly fly into here. For flights coming from other European countries you may fly into Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport.
If you land in Peretola Airport, catch a shuttle bus which leaves every 30 minutes and will take you 20 minutes to arrive in the city centre. The shuttle will drop you off at the main bus station.
If you land in Pisa, catch the PisaMover to the main train station where you can then board a one hour train ride to Florence.
Train
The train network in Italy is extensive and by far the easiest way to get to Florence if you are already in Italy. Book your ticket ahead of time on Trenitalia or Italo. The main train station in Florence is Florence Santa Maria Novella and is very close to the Duomo and centre of the city.
GETTING AROUND
Florence is a very walkable city – there are even some streets which are pedestrian only. There is no real reason for you to hire a car.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Venice would be in a shoulder season. During Summer, the city becomes very crowded and you will sometimes be shoulder to shoulder with other people in the narrow alleys.
RECOMMENDED STAY TIME
Florence is a great city for a break in Italy. I would recommended to take it slow and have about 4-5 days here. Whilst you can see most of the sites in 2 days, it is great to do some day trips, such as into the Tuscany countryside.
TOP TRAVEL TIPS
Watch out for pickpockets and beggars
Whilst I never once felt unsafe in Florence,being a major tourist destination means the city is often rife with pickpockets and beggars. Make sure you are aware of your belongings in busy areas.
Eat all the gelato
Whilst I’m sure you already will stop for some Italian gelato, you really can’t go past the Venchi franchise. There are two stores in Florence, and their gelato is top notch. Other gelato recommendations include Gelateria La Carraia and Gelateria dei Neri.
WHAT TO DO
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
The most famous landmark in Florence is the Florence Cathedral, also known as Cattedral di Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Duomo. This exquisite cathedral stands tall over the city and was designed with a Renaissance style. It is the fourth largest cathedral in all of Europe.
There are a few main areas of the Duomo – the Cathedral, the Baptistery, Giotto’s Campanile, and the Brunelleschi Cupola. Admission into the cathedral is free, however there is normally a long wait time to get in. The Baptistery is in the Piazza del Duomo across from the Cathedral. You may also want to climb 414 steps to the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower.
For awesome views of Florence, buy a ticket for €35 to head up the top of Brunelleschi’s Cupola. Be aware that you will have to climb 463 stairs to reach the top.
For priority entrance into the Cathedral, book your ticket here. Similarly, book this ticket to Brunelleschi’s Dome in advance to avoid long queues. If you are really into a guided tour of the entire area, consider this tour.
Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio is the largest and most famous bridge in Florence. The bridge is lined on either side with little shops and stalls, mostly gold jewellery stores. It is a bustling area, so be prepared for crowds.
Uffizi Museum
The Uffizi Museum is home to priceless artworks from the Italian Renaissance period. It is one of the most visited museums in the world and with that means that there will be queues if you don’t book in advance.
The most notable work of art is the famous Statue of David in the Accademia Gallery. What makes this statue so incredible is the fact that Michelangelo carved it from one single piece of marble in 1504. Book this ticket here to get timed entrance to see David.
You can get your timed entry ticket to the Uffizi Museum here. If you want more detail about the Accademia Gallery, consider booking this guided tour.
Piazza della Signoria
We were lucky enough to have our AirBnB looking out onto the gorgeous Piazza della Signoria. There are restaurants and cafes around where you can people watch. There is usually some sort of musician or band playing in the piazza too. If you have time you may want to head into the Palazzo Vecchio which has artworks from the Renaissance period.
The reason why Piazza della Signoria is so popular is that it is where the Michelangelo’s David Statue once stood. Today, there is a replica that you can see for free if you don’t plan on spending money to visit the original statue in the Uffizi Museum.
Piazza della Repubblica
This is another very popular piazza in the centre of the city. It was once an old Jewish ghetto but now restaurants line the square and a carousel sits in the centre. You will often find magicians, street performers, and musicians here. It is a great place to have dinner whilst people watching.
Piazzale Michelangelo
This is the best place to go in the city for a beautiful sunset. It will take you approximately half an hour to get here from Ponte Vecchio.
Mercato di San Lorenzo
The San Lorenzo markets consist of an indoor market, known as Mercato Centrale, and an outdoor section lining the streets of the San Lorenzo neighbourhood. Expect to find plenty of leather goods and souvenirs in the outdoor market area. The Central Market is a two-story food market serving meats, fruit, fish, cheese, and much more. You will also find a food court with artisan stalls such as baked goods and wine.
Wine tour in the Tuscan countryside
This one is more of a full day trip outside of the city, but trust me, it is worth it. The Chianti region of Tuscany is truly magical and no trip would be complete without tasting some great wine. There are plenty of tours you can choose from, however we opted for this full day trip for under 35 year olds. It was a fantastic day which also featured a stop in the countryside town of San Gimignano.
Some other day trip options include this combined Pisa, Siena & San Gimignano day trip, this 12hr excursion with optional lunch, or this small group Chianti wine tasting tour.
Trip to Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is another iconic landmark in Italy and is easily reachable from Florence. Jump on a train which will take you about an hour to arrive in the city of Pisa. From there you can explore the city and take your photo holding up the leaning tower! Whilst it is super easy to get to Pisa by public transport, you can also consider joining a tour like this one to make the most of your time.
Boboli Gardens
Sadly I have never had the time to make it to the Boboli Gardens, however they look lovely. It is a historical park that opened in 1766 and is a real-life open air museum with artwork and sculptures from the ages. You may want to consider buying this reserved entrance ticket for priority entry into the gardens.
