So you're heading to Florence? Smart choice! There is so much to do in Florence, it might seem overwhelming to try to get plan together for your trip. Let my guide make it easy for you (where to stay, activities, food, and drink recommendations and general must-have tips included)!
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. I only recommend activities I have personally been on and enjoyed or that friends/family have been on and enjoyed.
Where To Stay:
Florence is very walkable (as in you can walk end to end in about 30 mins), so there aren’t really any inconvenient areas. Some good neighborhood options:
-Duomo: The area southeast of the Duomo is where I stayed. Even just a couple blocks away from the main touristy area you can get to quiet(er) streets that still have all the conveniences of the central area but without the high prices and better food (imo).Â
-Oltrarno: This is the neighborhood across the river from the main central area. There are parts that are still touristy but here you can find truly residential-feel places to stay in quiet streets. Also great shopping and food on this side (my fav gelato was over here), but still only a 15min walk to the main sights.
Advanced planning is required in Italy to make sure you can do everything you want on your trip. Galleries, cathedrals, and other must-see places often sell out of tickets weeks, if not months, in advance. Making advance reservations is a must or you'll end up waiting in line for hours to maybe see what you came to see. It's definitely do-able, but you'll want to book out your trip at least a month in advance.
If you prefer easy planning or are only in Florence for a short time, there are a countless number of tour providers who can help you maximize your time in Florence. These tours can help you manage all the advance planning and timing without having to do all the hard work yourself. Plus, you'll learn a lot more from a live tour guide vs. going solo.
*Please note I only recommend tours I have personally taken and enjoyed or that friends/family have taken and enjoyed.
If you have more time and/or like planning in advance, below are my top sightseeing recommendations. If you're planning it on your own, I'd highly recommend looking into the Brunelleschi Pass and other advance ticket options on their direct websites.
I think I just stood gawking at the outside of this building for a good 30 mins it's so spectacular. It’s free to enter, but there are multiple lines so it gets confusing. If you’re looking at the main entrance of the church, the line to right is for entry to the cathedral. The line on the left side thats more towards the back of the church is for climbing to the top of the dome, which is quite gorgeous. You will need tickets to that part and they are timed entry, so purchase in advance! I’d recommend the Brunelleschi pass, which gets you the climb but also access to several of the other sights in the larger complex.
A site included in the pass, its a quick stop but the interior is beautiful and worth a few mins detour. There usually isn’t a line for this part so thats a plus.
The bell tower next to Duomo, as included in the pass. As a local described it: “if you have time, its nice. if not, skip. but climb the Duomo and not this one”
One of the old palaces of Florence. You can buy tickets to tour inside if you have the time. If you don’t have the time or couldn’t find tickets, there is a part in the front that you can walk through for free to get a sense of it. If you are looking at the front of the building, at your 3pm there is a display of impressive statues that are free to take a closer look at.
A grand palace built when the others were deemed too small. Now you can see the old Medici quarters and there are multiple art exhibits onsite too. Buy tickets in advance (part of the combo ticket if you’d like).
Boboli is the large garden at Pitti Palace which, if you are going there anyways, you definitely should make some time to stroll through. The grounds are quite impressive. If you buy the combo ticket, you also have access to Bardini, a much smaller and less crowded garden nearby, but I actually preferred this one at it was less crowded and had better views of the city.
Best views of the city! If you have some time, take a pizza and a bottle of wine up here and just relax for an hour or two. Sunset definitely has the most impressive views, but the place gets absolutely overrun with tourists cramming for a photo so if you do go for sunset, get their like at least an hour early so you can get a proper spot to enjoy, otherwise you will be looking at the view through other tourists phone cameras.
Original Medici palace and were many artists got their start. The family has a very fascinating history very closely tied to Florence and it’s definitely worth checking out at least one Medici family building and getting into more detail with their history.
The oldest bridge in Florence complete with building that now mostly function as shops.
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-Churches, Art Galleries, and more churches and art galleries:
If you somehow make it through your top sites and find yourself with some time to spare, there are no shortages of art galleries/museums and churches to explore. Basilica di San Lorenzo, La SS Annuziata di Firenze, Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze to name a few churches.
*Tip:Â Religious places will require you to cover your shoulders and knees, so plan ahead to have a scare or something with you on days you are planning on visiting.
Eat & Drink
As recommended to me by locals!Â
Most places won’t have online reservations so you have to call. Pretty much everyone speaks a bit of English though, so when they answer you can just say “Bongiorno! Parla Inglese?” and they’ll usually switch over to English for you to make the reservation.
Notes on food in Florence:
-Try the local cuisine! Of course you can get all the stereotypical Italian meals but as the locals will tell you, they aren’t know for all of them and best to enjoy what they do best and try the other dishes while in those regions. Some of the Florence classics include:
Lampredotto (streetfood sandwich that I won’t tell you what its made of, you just have to try it. You’ll pass by plenty of vendors; the one in Pizza dei Cimatori thats a classic)
Ribollita (another classic streetfood)
Peposo
Florentine Steak
Fiorentina
Pici (pasta style)
-Gelato: The best gelato is not going to be the very bright and colorful mounds of gelato you’re used to seeing. I’m not saying that stuff is bad, but the truly heavenly stuff can be found in a round metal vat with a lid on it or in smaller tubs with more natural colors. The colors may not be as bright and pretty, but you won’t care after a taste.
- At a lot of restaurants they will give you the check and you have to get up and pay at a cash register when you’re ready(with the exception of some fancy places).Â
-Tipping is not expected but you can go up to 10% if you had great service.Â
-The house wine is generally really good here, obviously because their wine standards are higher. So don’t hesitate to order some; you’re not getting Barefoot I promise.
Still central but a good half mile off the main trail which helps knock some euros off the price. I had the seafood pici (one of the pasta styles the region is known for) and it was heavenly. Cheesecake was also super good and house wine was delicious.
I can best describe this place as eating at grandmas. Like, is it the most phenomenal/innovative/dazzling food you’ll ever eat? No. But is it all homemade, fresh and made with care? 1000%.
If you aren’t patient enough for the lines at All’Antico Vinaio (that sandwich shop you’ve seen all over tiktok with the crazy lines), this is a great alternative. A favorite of locals and international students alike (as you’ll see when you go), this place makes a great sandwich. As the locals will tell you, All’Antico Vinaio is good but there are tens of other good sandwich shops without the wait so try something different.
Another one a good half mile off the main trail for when you want pizza. A local described it as the best Neapolitan style you can get in Florence, although Florence in general is not known for pizza. I got their truffle pizza which was to die for.
On the second floor of the central market you can find a bunch of vendors selling everything from full plates to snacks to drinks. Its a great places to buy a couple little plates from different places and try new things out.
Get your wallets ready! Florence has great shopping options and is known in particular for its leather and gold products. Buyer beware, thought, there are a lot of sub-par vendors in Florence.
Florence is touristy, so there are going to be a million places selling subpar quality products. If you’re really looking to invest in something in these categories, make sure you ask someone you trust where you should be shopping. Or at least ask multiple different locals (that aren't vendors) before deciding so you can choose a place that overlaps with multiple lists.
You can find some quality things at San Lorenzo market but you really have to work for it (ie dig through all the fake stuff). Honestly this place gave me a headache and I didn’t stay long, but a friend told me one easy tell is whether a vendor approaches you. Higher quality vendors won’t try to get you to come over. They’ll be helpful once you are looking at their products, but if you feel someone is getting pushy, be critical.Â
Perfume:
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Touristy but visiting their main location is an absolute must (via della Scala 16). The oldest pharmacy in Florence and their flagship location is like a museum in its own right. They are know for their fragrances and “Acqua Della Regina” being their famous one apparently made for Catherine di Medici, hence the name Queens Water. Personally, it wasn’t my favorite scent so I went with a different one, but they have really unique fragrances and use them to create soaps, candles, etc. in addition to perfume so its a great place to get some gifts as well. Tip: when you are cashing out you can ask for samples of other fragrances. They don’t advertise it but I’ll thank the German couple behind me in line that were talking about it and clearly did their research. It worked - so if you want to take some mini extras home, just ask!
A leather school in the back of a church that has been around for ages and is known for having some of the highest leather standards. You can get pretty much any leather product you’d like, so if you’re looking to invest in a bag or jacket, this could be the place (but fair warning, it will cost you). They also have plenty of smaller leather items like belts, wallets, cosmetic bags, etc. that are in the reasonable price range. They’ll also stamp your initials in whatever you purchase for free.
Full disclosure I did not go here but a local recommended it to me as another good place for leather products.
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Explore Tuscany Region:
There is so much to see nearby and Florence is a great base for it all! Chianti Region (wine), Cinque Terre, Pisa, Lucca, and Sienna are all great options. For more details, check out my Tuscany Without a Car guide. Even if you have a car, the guide still goes into detail of some of the best stops!
Take your travel advice from someone who has lived there đź‘€
When I started traveling full-time, I learned very quickly that travel burnout is real and changing destinations every couple of days or even weeks was really not for me. I quickly pivoted to slow travel and now spend 1-3 months in each destination I visit. Spending more time in fewer locations means I am able to truly immerse myself into local culture and connect with the community on a deeper level...
And it also means I can provide the best travel recommendations!
Through my own in-depth experience and tapping into knowledge of the locals I meet along the way, I'm able to provide high quality travel tips to help you make the best out of your trip!
I specialize in USA Travel, where I've explored 46/50 states extensively (with plans to reach all 50 by the end of 2025). I am a proud Michigan native and will never pass up the opportunity to introduce more people to it's beauty! My work has been featured on tourism boards such as UP Travel (MI), Saugautck/Douglas (MI), TN Vacation (TN), Visit Kentucky (KY), and more.
While I specialize in USA Travel, I also love sharing my international adventures. Most recently, I spent one month chasing the Northern Lights in Norway and have also traveled extensively through Europe and Central America.
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