Florence Italy Travel Guide: What to See, Eat, and Do on Your Visit

What is Florence, Italy famous for?

Florence (called Firenze by the locals) is located in Tuscany, a region in central Italy, Europe.

The city is known for being the birthplace of the renaissance period. It was the city of progress and innovation after the dark Middle Ages.

Great artists and people were born, lived, and died in Florence.

Some of the most notable figures include the Medici family, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, Botticelli, Amerigo Vespucci, to just name a few.

Florence is famous for all those people, sculptures, paintings, philosophy, discoverers, finance, and commerce.

Things to do

Florence is a compact city, which means getting around is easy.

You can walk around to see all the sights. It's all within walking distance. Even the train station is about 10 minutes from the city center.

You won't need to move around by public transport, but you can get a taxi to get from one end to another if need be.

The city streets and the charming buildings are the first things that you will see.

Here are some of the major attractions that you will most probably come across while walking around:

• Ponte Vecchio — Stone bridge crossing the Arno river with the jewelry shops on it
• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the Piazza del Duomo
• Palazzo Vecchio and the Piazza della Signoria
• Pitti Palace
• The Boboli Gardens
• Other Basilica churches such as the Basilica di San Lorenzo
• The house of Galileo Galilei

The city has a grand selection of museums and galleries that you can visit.

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi is the most well-known art gallery with art pieces from Boticceli, Leonardo da Vinci and Michaelangelo.

We didn't have to wait because we visited during social distancing times (you know what I mean) but usually, there is a 1-2 hour waiting time to get in.

So, I recommend reserving in advance! The entry ticket is about €25 per person, if you purchase it directly and not through a third-party site.

If you are a renaissance lover, then visiting the Uffizi is a must.

Other Museums

Generally speaking, museums are big in Florence. It's expected with that history!

There are other museums worth visiting if you are there for some days. Here are some of the most notable museums in Florence:

• Galleria dell'Accademia — where you will find Michelangelo's David
• Pitti Palace — Divided into 4 Museums
• Bargello — National Art Museum
• Museo Galileo
• Dantes House Museum
• Riccardi Medici Palace — Former home of the great Medici family
• Leonardo Da Vinci Museum
• Orto Botanico di Firenzi — University Botanical gardens

Food in Florence

Food is big in Florence! I mean, you have to eat your way through all those wonderful bites.

Places to go eat out

We loved the local sandwiches. Some are puff pastry sandwiches stuffed with ham and cheese.

I recommend a sandwich, or little surprising local bites, with an Aperol spritz or a chianti wine!

We also had an incredible Caprese salad at the Trattoria de Garibardi.

But the best food we encountered, and then by surprise, was at the Ristorante la Martinicca.

They served us the most beautiful ravioli dishes with local shaved truffles.

It appeared to be a secret local insider place for lunch business meetings. Their specialty is white truffles.

Tips when ordering food

When you get your food bill, don't freak out if you see some weird charges called coperto on your bill.

Coperto is due in most restaurants and is a service cover charge to offset the price of bread, salt, and oil served on the table.

Tips are not added to the bill, but you can leave some tips. It's not always expected, but I think it's good manners if the food and service were good. Even if you just rounded up.

Shopping and Things to get from Florence

You can visit any of the outdoor markets or the marcato centrale indoor market hall to get gifts for your family and friends.

Here are some of the things that you can get.

• Pottery
• Leather gloves (just as in Venice)
• Jewelry (from one of the jewelers on the bridge)
• Pasta
• Cheese
• Wine from Tuscany
• Cured Meats
• Olive Oil from Tuscany
• Balsamic Vinegar

You will also find luxury articles in the city center near the Ponte Vecchio and Florence has a couple of designer outlets too.

Grocery stores are more located on the outskirts of the city. We found a coop and bought all our food from there!

Hotels

We stayed in a hotel called La Fortezza with private parking attached. They had a security system in place too.

I recommend the hotel because the rooms, service, and price were top too. Besides, it's within walking distance from the city center.

Try booking directly with the hotel if possible. They may offer you a deal if it's the shoulder season.

It's also easy to reach the place by car! This was super important because a decent hotel with a good price tag and a car parking place is difficult to find in Florence.

Always ask the reception if they have a car park on the hotel premises! Most do not!

If you are looking for something more luxurious, then the best place to check in is the Four Seasons in Florence. They have a massive garden attached to the premises, but the rooms are priced at around €1800 per day.

I have also heard that the Strozzi Palace hotel is a popular choice for many visiting Florence.

Read More: Europe Hotel booking Checklist and why you should book rooms directly and not via third-party websites.

Getting to Florence by Car (roadtrip)

We drove from Venice to Florence over Bologna and took about 4 hours over the highway. The highway toll was about €20.

When you enter the surrounding roads of the city, it can get a bit wild.

Motorbike and Vespa drivers are all around you, and they can take you over from anywhere.

Police presence is great in the peripheries of the city, so make sure to respect all driving rules to not get fined.

Get a hotel on the outskirts, never in the city because driving in the city center is difficult and stressful and because you need permission to drive through the city.

If you book with a hotel in the city (which has parking on-premises), know about ZTL car zones.

They have cameras in the city and every time they see you crossing a corner you will be fined because only residents can enter the certain city areas with their cars.

Pay attention to safe sparking spots. Car burglaries are common in Italy, and especially in Florence.

Tip: Collect helpful information about driving on the Italian Highway and general driving tips for Italy.

When to visit?

One would argue that the best time to visit is from May to October, and yes, they might be right.

However, when people get to travel again, and Florence is packed with tourists, you might want to reconsider that and travel at a time that is less busy.

Winter's can be nice too, and the food is anyway always great! Just pack some warm clothes!

Summers can get very hot in Florence, so pack some light city-appropriate summer clothes.

If you want to visit to see the Calcio Fiorentino end game, you will have to come at the end of June.

It was canceled in 2020 for obvious reasons, but the 2021 end game was last announced to happen on the 24th of June 2021.

Calcio Fiorentino is an age-old game that only exists in Florence. It's like football, boxing, and wrestling in one. It's very strategic!

Read More: The Best time to visit Italy.

FAQs