It’s hard to put into words how much we enjoyed visiting Florence at the end of our most recent trip to Italy. Our expectations were unfairly high, but it still surpassed them. We found the city to be beautiful, historic, charming, romantic and our favorite – walkable. The fact that all the things we wanted to do in Florence were easy to reach by foot made our bucket list feel achievable for once!
Oh, and did we mention the city is surrounded by Tuscany? You know, those idyllic rolling hills that are home to some of the best food and wine tours in the world. For us, Florence is a place to indulge – we ate so much pizza, pasta and gelato (and washed it all down with delicious wine), visited more museums than we can count, and walked to tons of great attractions. Read more about us.
Here we are enjoying sunset over the city from Terrazza San Miniato
Our favorite experiences in Florence were climbing up to Brunellechi’s Dome in the Duomo, watching sunset over the city from Piazzale Michaelangelo and Terrazza San Miniato, seeing iconic Renaissance art and eating ourselves into oblivion. But not everything we did was “essential” for a first visit, and we’ll tell you what we think you can leave for a second trip.
In this guide we show you exactly what to do on a first visit to Florence, Italy based on our own experiences. And we’ve included tons of photos we took to help you get excited about your trip. Okay, let’s begin!
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Visit Florence Cathedral
Okay, let’s start with the most unmissable thing to see in Florence – the spectacularly beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or Duomo di Firenze in Italian.
When standing next to it, we honestly thought the Duomo looked like a cardboard cutout that had been plopped into a grand cobbled plaza – and we think you’ll agree when you see it in person. It really is special.
We took this photo of the Duomo from the top of Torre di Arnolfo in Palazzo Vecchio
You can enter Florence Cathedral for free anytime between 10:15am-3:45pm from Monday to Saturday. But what you might not know is that there’s 5 additional sites you can visit with paid tickets. They are Santa Reparata (crypt), a museum, a baptistery, a bell tower and a dome.
Here are your ticket options:
- Ghiberti Pass – Baptistery, Museum + Santa Reparata (€15/adult)
- Giotto Pass – Bell Tower, Baptistery, Museum + Santa Reparata (€20/adult)
- Brunelleschi Pass – Dome, Bell Tower, Baptistery, Museum + Santa Reparata (€30/adult)
This was Kristen walking through the Santa Reparata site which is included with all ticket options for the Duomo
The most important thing you need to know is that Brunellechi’s Dome is only included on the most expensive pass with all 5 sites. And because it’s so popular, this pass sells out a long way in advance – so you must book tickets online before you travel to Florence.
All passes are valid for 3 consecutive days, so you don’t have to hurry around every site in one day (here’s the official site to book tickets).
Here’s Mark enjoying city views from the top of the cathedral dome
Now, you absolutely don’t have to buy a ticket to see any of these additional sites – you can simply admire the cathedral’s intricate detail from the outside. But we did visit all 5 sites and thought they were all well worth doing, especially the dome which had awesome views over the city.
Tip: We climbed 463 steps to reach the dome. It was a bit of a lung-buster and some sections were steep, narrow or enclosed – so we don’t think it’s suitable for everyone.
Enjoy The Uffizi Gallery
Florence is the epicenter of Renaissance art and there’s no better place to see its masterpieces by Botticelli, Michaelangelo, da Vinci and Raphael than the world famous Uffizi Gallery.
Both the Uffizi and Accademia (which we cover next) were at the top of our Florence bucket list, simply because they contain such iconic works of art.
The Uffizi Gallery was much quieter than we expected – in the best possible way
Now, we’ll happily admit we’re not art history experts. But we can appreciate historical importance and significance, and that’s what we found in abundance inside the Uffizi.
Every inch of its two floors held notable ancient paintings, sculptures and architecture like the Birth of Venus (Botticelli), Annunciation (Da Vinci) and Medusa (Caravaggio).
This was Kristen enjoying a painting in the Uffizi Gallery (note our backpack had to be worn on the front)
One of our favorite parts of the visit was how quiet it felt inside. It genuinely surprised us, but we were grateful not to have the dreaded packed-in-like-sardines feeling that we’ve experienced in places like the Vatican, Louvre and Palace of Versailles.
We learned afterwards it’s because the Uffizi has a maximum limit of 900 people inside at once – and that works for us!
Don’t forget to look up at the ceilings as you walk through the corridors, and take your time going through each room because there are famous pieces scattered around the whole gallery. Overall we thought it was a great experience and we’d definitely go again.
We loved looking up at stunning ceiling frescoes like this one in the corridors
The Uffizi Gallery is open 8:15am-6:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday, but it’s closed on Mondays. Tickets cost €25/adult – and if you want to reserve a time slot (so you don’t have to wait in line), it costs an extra €4.
Tickets sell out quickly, so we recommend booking online in advance at the official site well before you arrive in Florence.
Tip: The Vasari Corridor was used by the Medici family to walk between Palazzo Vecchio and Pitti Palace safely. It closed for 8 years before reopening in 2024, and you can now by a ticket add-on that allows you to enter the corridor through Uffizi, before exiting into the Boboli Gardens. It costs an extra €18 to walk the corridor.
See David At The Accademia
The Accademia Gallery is the second most visited museum in Florence after the Uffizi Gallery, and you absolutely must do both.
For us, the obvious and glaring difference between the two was that the Uffizi didn’t have one single standout masterpiece, but the Accademia did – Michelangelo’s iconic white marble statue of David.
We took this photo of David from way back to show you the crowds inside The Tribune
Don’t get us wrong, we found “David” to be mightily impressive. The lifelike detail is incredible, his stance and expression have meaning, and it was intended to be viewed from below so parts of his anatomy were created to appear larger on purpose – just not the one you’re thinking!
Plus, Michaelangelo was only 26 years old when he carved it. Impressive work by an undoubted genius, but as a tourist visiting the museum to see David – boy was it busy.
We took this photo of the crowds waiting in line to get inside the Accademia Gallery
David is located in a specially designed room on the first floor of the Accademia Gallery called The Tribune – and it gave us flashbacks to Mona Lisa.
So many people all trying to get close for a photo, selfie sticks flying all over the place and the obligatory idiot who has to do something that makes everyone else tut. You know who we mean.
Anyway, the crowds were so heavy at David that it almost felt like there was nothing else inside the gallery. But there’s lots more to see!
Don’t miss Michaelangelo’s “Prisoners”, the Hall of Musical Instruments, tons of notable pre-Renaissance Italian paintings and the beautiful dome ceiling depicting The Last Judgement.
Don’t forget to look up in the Accademia to see The Last Judgement
The Accademia is open 8:15am-6:50pm from Tuesday to Sunday, but it’s closed on Mondays. Tickets cost €16/adult (free for under 18’s) – and if you want to reserve a time slot (so you don’t have to wait in line), it costs an extra €4.
Tickets sell out quickly, so we recommend booking online in advance at the official site well before you arrive in Florence. Alternatively, you can book an affordable guided tour like this one which includes skip the line tickets and guide.
Finally, you can enter the Accademia for free every first Sunday of the month, but you can’t book a time slot so the line to get in could be very long. If we were to try this, we’d go much later in the day after the morning rush.
Tip: The best way to make the most of your visit to both the Accademia and Uffizi is to take a trusted guided tour. Not only do you skip the lines, but you also get a knowledgable guide who explains what you’re looking at, which is something we should have done. We’ve taken lots of amazing tours around Europe with Take Walks and highly recommend them as a company. In Florence you can take this Accademia, Uffizi and Duomo tour or this cheaper Accademia and Duomo only tour – both have sky high reviews.
Pick A Few More Museums
Okay, Florence is overflowing with museums, galleries and palaces containing important works of art or history. And we know you want to see it all, but trust us, it’s so easy to overdo it.
Let’s be realistic for a minute – you probably have just a few days in Florence and there’s only so many museums you can visit, right? Remember, there are other things to see and do outside of museums that will eat up time on your itinerary.
We took this photo in the grounds of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi
So our advice is to do Uffizi and Accademia, then throw in a handful of other top priorities based on your preferences. The difficult part is trying not to get sucked into visiting every single museum you walk past.
This was the one major thing we struggled with in Florence. We like to do as much as humanly possible when we travel (we definitely have FOMO) but there were almost too many important museums, so we ended up overdoing it and getting museum burn out.
And if we’re being totally honest, by the end all the paintings and sculptures started blurring into one so we weren’t appreciating things as much.
This temporary 3D art installation was inside the Palazzo Strozzi when we were in town
Here are some of the top rated museums you should consider visiting in Florence (pick a few but not all):
We booked our hotel room at Palazzo della Stufa Residenza D’Epoca which was just 2 minutes walk from the Medici Palace so we did that one. It cost us €10 each to get in and we were two of maybe 10 people inside the whole time, which made a nice change.
If you’re visiting Florence with kids, we highly recommend both the Da Vinci and Galileo museums. They look fun, interactive and engaging – and it’s not all paintings or sculptures! We’d definitely do these two with our daughter.
Tip: If you think you’ll visit lots of museums it might be worth considering a FirenzeCard – it’s a museum pass that gets you into pretty much all the popular touristy places for €85/adult. But only get one if you know you’ll visit tons of museums!
Take A Cooking Class
Let’s step away from museums for a minute. Remember, you’re not just in Florence – you’re in Tuscany and you’re in Italy. This is one of the best places in the world, if not the best, for dreamy cooking classes and food tours.
In fact, food tours and cooking classes have become so popular for tourists that the competition is sky high – which has led to seriously high quality options. Honestly, we rarely see this many highly rated tours.
Food being prepared in a kitchen in Italy
Here are the best foodie tours and classes we can find in the region:
Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine – This affordable 3 hour class has sky high ratings and well, unlimited wine! You can choose between two types of cooking class with different starting times throughout the day.
Sunset Food & Wine Tour – This 3.5 hour food, wine and walking tour is a bit more expensive but it has near perfect reviews, 14 Tuscan specialties, 5 wine pairings, Negroni cocktails and Florence’s famous wine windows. It looks fantastic!
Pizza/Pasta Class at Tuscan Farm – This 6 hour food class takes you from Florence to a Tuscan farm for a hands on pizza or pasta lesson. Includes 3 course meal, wine or beer, transport and recipes to take home. It has near perfect reviews and looks amazing.
Book A Wine Tasting Tour
Those food tours look irresistible, but what if you’d rather spend your travel money on wine tasting instead of cooking classes?
Well, you’re in luck – Tuscan wines are world famous, delicious, steeped in history and easy to visit by one of a few top rated tour options originating right out of Florence.
This was one of many large glasses of red wine that mysteriously disappeared into Mark’s welcoming belly!
Wine is so popular in Tuscany because the region has a perfect blend of climate and geography, and it’s the main area in Italy for growing the Sangiovese grape – which is unique because of it’s high tannin and acidity.
Plus, it’s Tuscany – rolling hills, cypress trees and picturesque towns. We don’t need to say any more than that.
Here’s another photo of Mark with pizza and wine in Tuscany
Here are the best wine tours we can find in the region:
Off Road Tuscany Wine Safari – Choose between half or full day wine tastings in either Chianti or Brunello and Montepulciano. They’re all highly rated options including meals, wine, cheese and expert guides.
Tuscany Wine Tasting Experience – Small group 4 hour tour through Chianti stopping at 2 wineries. Tour the cellars, taste cheeses and bruschetta, and drink wine. Choose between morning or afternoon start time, very highly rated.
Essence of Chianti – Top rated small group 8 hour tour through Chianti to 3 wineries. Includes lunch, Tuscan specialties and a stop in Greve. It’s a bit more expensive but it looks like so much fun.
Now that we’ve ticked off the famous museums and attractions in Florence, we’ll spend our next trip taking non-stop cooking classes and wine tours.
All three of the wine tours above look great but we really like the sound of the “Essence of Chianti” tour just from looking at the glowing reviews left by other visitors.
Walk Across The Ponte Vecchio
Okay, back in Florence – the Ponte Vecchio is a famous medieval bridge crossing the Arno River. But it’s not just a picturesque cobbled pedestrian walkway, it’s also lined on both sides by independent and mega brand jewelry shops.
We flew our drone to get this photo of the Ponte Vecchio and Arno at sunrise
Walking across “the old bridge” is a rite of passage for visitors to Florence, so don’t miss it. We must have walked over it at least 5 times during our visit, but our two favorite times were early in the morning and much later in the evening when it was quieter.
During the day the bridge was jam-packed and there were one or two suspicious looking characters lurking around so we were extra careful with our belongings.
This was one of the small independent jewelry shops we walked past on the bridge
Our favorite view of the Ponte Vecchio was from the Ponte alle Grazie as we crossed back over the river into the historic center after watching sunset from Piazzale Michaelangelo (which we cover next).
It was a fantastic photo spot because we could look straight up the Arno, which was lighting up as darkness rolled in. If you’re interested in photography, spend a bit of time walking around the streets near the Ponte Vecchio to find unique perspectives.
This was the photo we took of the Ponte Vecchio from the Ponte alle Grazie after sunset
Remember, you can walk across the Arno on top of the Ponte Vecchio’s buildings if you pay extra for the Vasari Corridor when you visit the Uffizi. We’re not sure we’d pay €18 each for it, but it would be a cool experience.
Oh, and don’t miss the long tunnel-like sequence of arches on the northeast side of the bridge near the Uffizi, it’s another of our favorite photo spots in Florence.
Watch Sunset From Piazzale Michaelangelo
Continuing with the photography theme, the serene and colorful sunset we had over Florence from Piazzale Michaelangelo is one of our favorite memories after spending 5 weeks exploring Italy.
It was peaceful, beautiful, romantic and of course as travel photographers we loved how photogenic the view was.
This was the stunning sunset we had from Piazzale Michaelangelo
We waited until late afternoon, crossed the Ponte Vecchio and climbed up to Piazzale Michaelangelo through the lovely Giardino delle Rose – and we highly recommend you do the same.
You can go up a different way via Porta San Niccolo, but we recommend going down that way instead when it’s dark. The rose garden is free and well worth doing in daylight. There’s even a small Japanese garden to enjoy.
We took this photo of the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio from the rose garden
Now, we didn’t expect it to be so vast and open in the piazza at the top. There were food trucks and souvenir stalls dotted around a replica bronze statue of David, and even a few pop up bars selling drinks.
We found several different photo spots with direct city views – our favorites were Belvedere Franco Zeffirelli, on this nearby staircase and on this pedestrian ramp to the north – but they were all packed full of tourists.
Here’s Kristen enjoying quieter sunset views over the city from Terrazza San Miniato
We expected it to be busy, but it was even more crowded than we imagined. Understandably so, it’s a lovely view and it’s easy to reach.
Luckily we’d planned well and arrived in good time to get a prime time spot to set our tripod up. But by the time the sun set, it felt like we were at a concert or a sports game.
Tip: If you don’t like crowds or want to try something a bit different, we found a fantastic second viewing area which had trees in the way of the view but we were the only two people there – it was on this terrace right outside the Basilica di San Miniato (photo above).
Visit The Pitti Palace + Boboli Gardens
Sticking to the south side of the Arno, another popular place you can visit is the Pitti Palace – a huge Renaissance palace that was once the seat of the rulers of Florence and Tuscany, including the Medici.
Today the palace houses important paintings, sculptures, objects and artworks in various galleries. And directly behind the palace you can visit the Boboli Gardens – a vast Italian style garden with lots of hedges, fountains and statues.
We took this photo as we approached the entrance to Pitti Palace
You can visit the palace alone for €16/adult and you can visit the Boboli Gardens alone for €10/adult. Or, you can buy a combination ticket to both for €22/adult. Under 18’s are free to both. Here’s the official site to book tickets.
It’s important to know that if you buy a ticket to see Boboli Gardens, you can also visit the nearby and interconnected Bardini Gardens for free.
We actually preferred the Bardini Gardens because it had lots of flowers and awesome city views, whereas the Boboli Gardens were pretty dry and boring – at least when we visited in May.
We put our drone up in Boboli Gardens to get this photo of Ocean Fountain
The palace is open 8:15am-6:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday, but it’s closed every Monday. You shouldn’t have any issues turning up on the day for most of the year, but we would book tickets in advance if we visited in July or August.
Boboli Gardens is open the same times, but it only closes on the first and last Monday of each month. And Bardini Gardens is open 10:00am-7:30pm every day, but it closes the first and last Monday of each month. (You’d just make this less confusing, right?)
Tip: We enjoyed the palace and gardens, but we don’t think they’re essential if it’s your first time in Florence or if you’re short on time. Prioritize other attractions in this guide and visit Pitti Palace if you have time left.
Explore Palazzo Vecchio Museum
Located in the grand Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio is Florence’s town hall and second most recognizable building after the Duomo.
It houses a museum featuring Roman ruins, a medieval fortress and Renaissance artwork – and it also has a 94m tall tower called the Torre di Arnolfo which you can climb to a great vantage point.
We went out before sunrise to take people-free photos like this one of the Palazzo Vecchio
We found the buildings surrounding the massive square to be incredibly photogenic, but the Palazzo Vecchio was the standout piece of architecture because it looks like a castle.
But even better was the gigantic statues on display within the square like the Fountain of Neptune, the statue of Cosimo Medici and Perseus with the head of Medusa.
We took this photo of Perseus with the head of Medusa in Piazza della Signoria
Inside, we do think it’s worth paying to explore the museum and learn about Florence’s political history. But if you’re visiting on a tight budget or you’re short on time, skip the museum and just go up the Torre di Arnolfo instead.
We loved the view from the top because it gave us close up and unobstructed views of the Duomo. And the 200+ steps weren’t too bad.
Here’s Kristen at the top of Torre di Arnolfo enjoying views of the enormous Duomo dome
The museum is open every day 9:00am-7:00pm with the exception of Thursdays when it closes at 2:00pm. Tickets for the museum are €17.50 for over 25’s, €15 for 18-25 or free for under 18’s.
The tower is open every day 9:00am-5:00pm with the exception of Thursdays when it closes at 2:00pm. Tickets for the tower are €12.50 for over 25’s, €10 for ages 18-25 or free for under 18’s.
There was no line when we bought tickets in person, but you might want to book ahead through the official site if you’ll be visiting in July or August.
Tip: Go to the Fontana del Porcellino near Piazza della Signoria, find a bronze fountain of a boar and rub its snout. Why? Because it will ensure your return to Florence.
Eat At Mercato Centrale
Let’s change the pace again and talk about a slice of foodie heaven at Mercato Centrale – a massive food market spread across two floors in-between the train station and historic center.
This was one of the many food stands we browsed inside the market
Mercato Centrale is a place you go to browse and try the tastes of Tuscany without having a sit down meal or going on a tour.
There’s plenty of opportunity to buy souvenirs from local vendors, before choosing something to eat from a wide range of culinary delights in its vast food court.
On the ground floor we browsed shops selling olive oil, meat, cheese and much more. Then we ate pizza and sfogliatella, and washed it all down with a Peroni in the food court.
This was a shop in the market selling lots of different types of olive oil
We really liked the atmosphere in the food court and think it’s well worth visiting, even if you don’t eat. But we weren’t huge fans of pushy vendors selling clothes, handbags and a range of other souvenirs in the streets outside the market.
If you want to take home souvenirs, this is a great place to do it. Or simply walk past the stalls without stopping until you get inside the market and enjoy the food.
See The Medici Chapels
We didn’t do this one – but the Medici Chapels are a must visit if you’re interested in history, art and the Medici family’s influence on Florence. You can find the chapels inside the Church of San Lorenzo, which is the oldest church in the city (4th century).
Inside you’ll find Michaelangelo’s sculptures of “Dawn” and “Dusk” along with more Renaissance art, sculptures and frescoes – in addition to the tombs of the Medici family, who were of course one of the most influential families in Italian history.
Our hotel room overlooked the Church of San Lorenzo which was cool
The chapels are open 8:15am-6:50pm from Wednesday to Monday, but they’re closed on Tuesdays.
Tickets cost €9 for over 25’s, €2 for ages 18-25 or free for under 18’s – and there’s a €3 booking fee. You can also pay a pretty hefty €32 to see Michaelangelo’s secret room. We’re intrigued! Book your tickets at the official site.
The intricately detailed interior of the chapels do look amazing, so we’ll definitely do this next time we visit Florence. But again, we don’t think it’s necessarily a must-do-at-all-costs attraction for your first visit.
Tip: You can get free admission to Medici Chapels the first Sunday of every month.
See The Basilica Of Santa Croce
The Basilica of Santa Croce is most famous for being home to the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and other famous figures who had a significant influence over the history of Florence.
We took this photo as we approached the entrance to Basilica di Santa Croce
But it also houses notable artworks, sculptures, frescoes (most famously by Giotto) gardens, and cloisters, so there’s plenty to see inside.
After doing a bit of research online we discovered lots of people saying this is one of the very best churches to visit in Florence, which is saying something in a city with so many churches!
We thought the church exterior from outside in the lovely Piazza di Santa Croce was one of the most beautiful in the city. And it only got better once we were inside looking at tombs of some seriously famous people from history.
We found the story behind Dante’s remains the most interesting (you’ll have to read about it in person!)
The basilica is open 9:30am-5:30pm from Monday to Saturday, and 12:30pm-5:45pm on Sunday. Tickets cost €10 for adults, €6 for ages 12-17 or free for under 12’s – and there’s a €1 booking fee.
Visit The Basilica Of Santa Maria Novella
Another church we visited was the Basilica Of Santa Maria Novella – and this one is a bit of a hidden gem that you might want to add to your Florence itinerary.
We took this photo before going inside the basilica (clearly after a beer because it’s not straight!)
It’s a stunning Gothic style church that was built in the early 1300’s by Dominican friars, and its facade is the only original remaining in all of Florence.
Inside you’ll find Giotto’s “Crucifix”, Masaccio’s “Trinity” and the Strozzi Chapel among other notable works. There’s also two cloisters to walk around – the small and grand cloisters – which are included with the ticket price.
This was a garden we walked through next to the church entrance
Tickets cost €7.50 for adults, €5 for ages 11-18 or free for under 11’s – and there’s a €1 booking fee (here’s the official site). Or you can book tickets in person, and it usually isn’t too busy.
The opening hours here vary:
- Monday to Thursday: 9:00am-5:30pm
- Friday: 11:00am-5:30pm
- Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm
- Sunday: 1:00pm-5:30pm
Tip: We stumbled into a great Irish Pub near the church called The Joshua Tree Pub – it was perfect for a quick pit stop before cracking on with sightseeing.
Eat Pizza, Pasta + Gelato
Phew, are you as churched out and museumed out as we are? No, well wait until you arrive into the city! We’ve covered all the top things to do in Florence, so let’s dive back into the tasty stuff – food and drinks.
We always overindulge with far too much pizza, pasta and gelato when we visit Italy. Here’s a funny story – Florence was the final stop on our most recent 3 week Italian adventure, and straight after we started our 8 day trek on the legendary Tour du Mont Blanc Trail.
Let’s just say we could have prepared better – those first few days were so hard!
This was a pizza one of us had at Mister Pizza near the Duomo
Considering the pizza and pasta is as good as it gets anywhere in the world, we always find eating out in Italy to be surprisingly affordable – even in a place as popular as Florence.
Sure, you can try high end restaurants or take cooking classes if you want a luxury experience. But you absolutely don’t have to, and you can easily keep food costs down which helps with your overall travel budget.
There are of course tons of great places you can eat pizza and pasta in Florence, so make sure you have a good look around on a map and do your research.
We had excellent pizza at Ciro and Sons near the Basilica di San Lorenzo and Mister Pizza near the Duomo. For pasta we tried Vini e Vecchi Sapori and Coquinarius – and both were fabulous.
We had to join this line of people waiting for a sandwich at All’Antico Vinaio
For lunch, look no further than sandwiches at I’ Girone De’ Ghiotti and All’Antico Vinaio – both had long lines when we visited, but the sandwiches were fantastic.
Or if you want a true Tuscan treat, take a look at Ristorante Braceria Auditore for Florentine steaks and La Fettunta for more Tuscan classics.
Gelato in Italy is amazing and you absolutely must try it when you visit Florence. We had at least 2 gelatos every day – which sounds so bad but it’s just too good! We recommend Perche no, Edoardo il Gelato and My Sugar.
We really liked the atmosphere at restaurants with outdoor seating areas around the city
The food is amazing, but let’s talk about drinks – Florence has something fun and unique that you must try called wine windows.
Essentially, there’s over 150 tiny arch-shaped windows dotted around the city from which you can be served a glass of wine or any other drink (learn more). Social media has kind of made it a bit gimmicky, but we still think it’s a cool experience.
What else should you drink outside of wine? Well, one of our personal non-negotiable rules is an Aperol Spritz during the aperitivo hour before dinner. And did you know the Negroni cocktail was invented in Florence? Give it a try!
Tip: If you need a break from Italian food, we highly recommend Rooster Cafe for brunch – the waffles and pancakes were superb.
Take A Day Trip
Okay, let’s finish with something you can (and should) do from Florence if you have more than three days – take a day trip.
We love Siena, it’s like a smaller and way less crowded version of Florence in many ways. The two things you must do in Siena are Palazzo Pubblico and Siena Duomo.
We took this photo of Palazzo Pubblico in Siena a few days before arriving into Florence
But you could also visit Lucca, Pisa, Arezzo, Chianti or even the Cinque Terre on day trip from Florence. They’re all within 1-2 hours drive.
There’s plenty of affordable public transport options or you could hire a car to do it yourself. And although hiring a car is more expensive, it allows you to winery-hop around gorgeous little Tuscan villages.
This is one of the photos we took on our hike along the Cinque Terre on a different trip to Italy
Or if you’d rather have someone else do the driving and explaining – you could always book a day trip tour instead. Florence is a hugely popular place to take tours, so higher competition has resulted in tour quality being better than most other places.
Here are some of the top rated day trip tours we can find:
Tuscany full day trip – Top rated and affordable full day guided tour stopping at Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa and lunch at a winery. This is the easiest way to see more places on the cheap.
Cinque Terre full day trip – Very highly rated and affordable full day guided tour with transport to the 5 colorful coastal villages. Hiking is totally optional, but we loved our hike between the villages.
Tuscany half day vespa – What a fun and very Italian way to see Tuscany! This unique guided tour takes you out into the hills on your own vespa with a meal at a Tuscan estate.
Florence Attractions Map
Click or touch the map below to activate, zoom in and out, and scroll around. If you’d like to see a bigger version, click the “view larger map” icon in the top right, and if you’d like to see anything specific, click the arrow and square icon in the top left.
Map key:
- Red – Top attractions and museums
Next Steps
We hope our guide helps you figure out what to do when you visit Florence, but please let us know if you have any other questions in the comments box a little further below.
Still figuring out your plans for Italy?
Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our Italy travel guide for helpful tips and advice.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.
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