Florence is a metropolis that is aware of make an entrance: grand domes, marble piazzas, masterpieces round each nook. Nevertheless it’s additionally a spot that rewards slowing down.
You may hit the large sights in a few days, however the most effective experiences usually come once you linger a bit longer: a second glass of wine at aperitivo, an empty chapel at golden hour, a quiet avenue that smells like leather-based and baking bread.
My checklist blends the important with the extra lived-in – a mixture of iconic artwork, hidden corners, and some excuses to eat your approach by means of town.
Whether or not it’s your first go to or your fifth, listed here are 20 issues to do in Florence which might be completely price your time.
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1. Discover the Duomo advanced
Finest for: First-timers, structure lovers, and anybody up for a climb
High tour to ebook: Duomo Terraces and Dome Climb Tour in Florence
Florence’s cathedral – formally Santa Maria del Fiore, however everybody simply calls it “the Duomo” – is town’s coronary heart and most recognisable landmark.
Nevertheless it’s not simply concerning the dome.
The total advanced contains the cathedral inside, Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery, crypt, and the Opera del Duomo Museum.
Every half tells a distinct story, from hovering structure to early Christian mosaics and jaw-dropping Renaissance engineering.
Insider tip: I’d actually advocate reserving a tour that features entry to the Duomo terraces. Few folks know they exist, they usually supply an unimaginable, uncrowded perspective over the rooftops and the dome itself.
Learn my final information to visiting the Florence Duomo.
2. Go to the Uffizi Gallery
Finest for: Artwork historical past lovers and anybody with a tender spot for Renaissance drama
High tour to ebook: Uffizi and Accademia Small Group Strolling Tour
Sure, it’s probably the most well-known artwork galleries on the planet – however it’s additionally surprisingly human in the event you take your time.
The Uffizi is a sluggish burn: early non secular works lead into the Renaissance blockbusters, with acquainted names like Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio.
The constructing itself is simply as stunning as what’s on the partitions, with views of the Arno from the higher flooring and quiet corners that most individuals stroll straight previous.
Insider tip: Don’t rush the early rooms. Everybody sprints to The Beginning of Venus – however a number of the lesser-known works at the beginning are unusually hypnotic, and also you’ll have them principally to your self.
Learn my information to visiting the Uffizi (with out shedding the plot!).
3. See Michelangelo’s David on the Accademia
Finest for: First-time guests and sculpture followers
High tour to ebook: Florence Accademia Gallery Tour with Entrance Ticket Included
There are many replicas of David round city – however seeing the actual factor is one thing else solely.
Michelangelo carved this from a single block of marble when he was simply 26, and it’s one of many uncommon items that really lives as much as the hype.
The remainder of the Accademia is small and simple to navigate, with just a few different unfinished Michelangelo sculptures and a few underrated work from lesser-known Florentine artists.
Insider tip: Ebook an early time slot – or go within the final hour earlier than closing, when the crowds skinny out and the area feels extra like a chapel than a museum.
4. Watch the sundown from Piazzale Michelangelo
Finest for: Iconic views, photographers, and golden-hour romantics
High tour to ebook: Florence by golf Cart Piazzale Michelangelo
Sure, it’s standard. Sure, it’s a little bit of a climb. However the view from Piazzale Michelangelo is a kind of uncommon Florence moments that really lives as much as the hype.
You’ll see the entire metropolis specified by entrance of you: the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, the Arno, and distant Tuscan hills.
It’s particularly magical simply earlier than sundown, when the sunshine softens and town turns gold.
Insider tip: Skip the crowds on the high and head to the Rose Backyard just under the piazza. It’s quieter, has an identical view, and also you’ll be surrounded by roses and sculptures as a substitute of selfie sticks.
5. Wander the Boboli Gardens
Finest for: Escaping the crowds and pretending you’re in a interval drama
High tour to ebook: Florence Gardens: the Boboli and the Bardini Gardens Personal Tour
Behind the grand facade of the Pitti Palace lies considered one of Florence’s greatest locations to only… breathe.
The Boboli Gardens aren’t manicured to perfection – they’re a bit wild across the edges, in one of the best ways.
Suppose gravel paths, hidden fountains, weathered statues, and tree-lined avenues that make you’re feeling miles from town.
It’s the sort of place the place you may spend an hour with a ebook or simply sit and do nothing in any respect.
Insider tip: When you’re visiting in spring, the close by Bardini Gardens (included along with your ticket) are even higher when the wisteria is in bloom.
6. Eat your approach by means of Il Mercato Centrale
Finest for: An genuine meals market expertise
High tour to ebook: Florence Avenue Meals Tour and sightseeing with Central Market
Upstairs is a buzzing, trendy meals corridor stuffed with native distributors serving all the pieces from recent pasta and fried seafood to truffle burgers and cannoli.
Downstairs is a extra conventional market with butchers, cheesemongers, and Florentine classics like lampredotto (tripe sandwich — it’s higher than it sounds!).
It’s tourist-friendly with out feeling too polished, and an excellent choice once you desire a break from restaurant menus.
Insider tip: Go mid-morning to browse downstairs and snack earlier than the lunch crowds hit. When you’re there within the night, seize a seat upstairs and check out a little bit of all the pieces – it’s excellent for sharing.
7. Take a Florence meals tour
Finest for: Those that journey by means of their abdomen!
There’s no higher solution to get your bearings (and eat nicely doing it) than becoming a member of a local-led meals tour.
One of the best ones combine avenue meals staples like lampredotto (a traditional Florentine tripe sandwich), pecorino, and schiacciata with visits to tiny wine bars and old-school delis you’d in all probability stroll previous by yourself.
Bonus: you get a dose of Florence’s culinary historical past alongside the best way, with out it ever feeling like a lecture.
Listed here are my favorite excursions to ebook:
Insider tip: Search for a tour that features the Sant’Ambrogio market — it’s the place the locals really store, and far much less touristy than Mercato Centrale.
8. Discover artisan workshops within the Oltrarno
Finest for: Consumers, sluggish wanderers, and anybody craving a much less touristy vibe
High tour to ebook: Personal Florence Oltrarno Artwork and Crafts Strolling Tour
Cross the river and head into the Oltrarno, the place Florence’s centuries-old craft traditions are nonetheless alive – not in a staged, tourist-trap approach, however in correct working studios.
You’ll discover bookbinders, leatherworkers, jewellers, and marbled paper makers, usually tucked behind humble doorways with hardly an indication outdoors. Many welcome guests in for a peek or a chat.
Insider tip: Don’t miss Through Maggio and the little lanes round Piazza della Passera. When you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind memento, that is the place you’ll discover it.
9. Cross Ponte Santa Trinita with a gelato in hand
Finest for: A traditional Florence second (minus the Ponte Vecchio crowds)
Everybody flocks to Ponte Vecchio, however Ponte Santa Trinita, only one bridge west, presents the identical view – with out the crush.
It’s additionally arguably probably the most elegant bridge in Florence, with excellent symmetry and stonework.
The easiest way to cross? With a gelato from Gelateria Santa Trinita on the south aspect, or Sbrino a couple of minutes away.
Insider tip: Go simply earlier than sundown for tender mild and fewer folks. When you’re into pictures, this is likely one of the greatest spots within the metropolis.
10. Go to the Brancacci Chapel
Finest for: Artwork lovers, quiet moments, and individuals who suppose they’ve “performed” the Renaissance
High tour to ebook: Brancacci Chapel’s Secrets and techniques Uncover the Early Renaissance
Contained in the unassuming Church of Santa Maria del Carmine is considered one of Florence’s best hidden masterpieces – a cycle of frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino that mainly kick-started the Renaissance.
The storytelling, perspective, and emotion have been revolutionary on the time, and even at the moment they hit in another way. It’s small, uncrowded, and way more highly effective than you’d anticipate.
Insider tip: Entry is by timed slot, and only some individuals are allowed in without delay – ebook forward and benefit from the uncommon luxurious of getting area to really see the artwork.
11. Get misplaced within the Bargello Museum
Finest for: Sculpture lovers, second-time guests, and anybody escaping the Uffizi crowds
High tour to ebook: Bargello Museum Tour in Florence
The Bargello flies beneath the radar, however it quietly holds probably the greatest collections of Renaissance sculpture on the planet; together with works by Donatello, Michelangelo, Giambologna, and Cellini.
Housed in a former jail, it has a really completely different power from the polished galleries elsewhere. It’s quiet, moody, and the artwork feels uncooked in one of the best ways.
Insider tip: Don’t miss Donatello’s bronze David – it was the primary free-standing male nude sculpted since antiquity, and it’s simply as provocative now because it was within the 1400s.
12. Go to Officina Profumo–Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Finest for: One thing a bit completely different
High tour to ebook: Personal Guided Go to of Florence Santa Maria Novella Basilica and Officina Profumo Farmaceutica
That is no bizarre store. Based by Dominican monks in 1221, Santa Maria Novella is the oldest pharmacy on the planet – and nonetheless probably the most elegant.
Step inside and also you’ll discover frescoed ceilings, vintage furnishings, and rows of lotions and potions made utilizing centuries-old recipes.
Even in the event you’re not shopping for, it’s price visiting for the interiors alone.
Insider tip: Don’t skip the small historic museum rooms tucked behind the primary halls — they’re free to enter and filled with fascinating particulars most individuals miss.
13. Step inside Santa Croce and pay respects to Florentine legends
Finest for: Historical past buffs, structure followers, and anybody craving a quieter different to the Duomo
High tour to ebook: Florence SANTA CROCE Basilica Personal Tour
Much less showy than the cathedral however arguably extra atmospheric, Santa Croce is the place Florence’s greats are buried: Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and extra.
The basilica is huge however peaceable, with chapels coated in Giotto frescoes, a monumental nave, and cloisters that really feel like a world aside from the streets outdoors.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the Pazzi Chapel within the cloister – it’s a hidden gem of early Renaissance structure designed by Brunelleschi, and it’s nearly all the time empty.
14. Have an aperitivo in Piazza Santo Spirito
Finest for: Night folks, solo travellers, and anybody searching for a neighborhood vibe
Santo Spirito is the sort of place the place you could possibly unintentionally keep for hours, particularly round golden hour.
This lived-in sq. on the Oltrarno aspect of the river is lined with cafés and bars serving beneficiant aperitivi and native wines.
It’s extra native than polished, extra vigorous than scenic, however all the higher for it.
Insider tip: Seize a spritz or Negroni at Quantity or Pop Café, then take your drink out to the steps of the church – it’s what everybody does.
15. See the ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio
Finest for: Structure lovers, Medici historical past followers, and individuals who love a little bit of palace drama
High tour to ebook: Palazzo Vecchio guided expertise with entrance ticket
Palazzo Vecchio nonetheless capabilities as Florence’s metropolis corridor; however inside, it’s a Renaissance energy journey.
The Salone dei Cinquecento is the primary draw: an enormous corridor with frescoes by Vasari, coffered ceilings, and hidden particulars all over the place (together with a rumoured da Vinci portray beneath one wall).
The remainder of the palace is equally wealthy – from the Medici residences to secret staircases.
Insider tip: Ebook a “Secret Passages” tour for entry to areas you may’t see on an everyday ticket – together with trapdoors, secret research, and personal chapels.
Learn my information to visiting Palazzo Vecchio.
16. Sip espresso with a Duomo view at Biblioteca delle Oblate
Finest for: A quiet break, distant employees, or a low-key morning with a view
This public library isn’t precisely a vacationer attraction – which is precisely the purpose.
On the highest ground, there’s a bit café terrace that serves first rate espresso and appears straight onto the Duomo’s dome.
It’s the place college students go to check, locals learn the paper, and guests within the know sneak in for a breather from the crowds.
Insider tip: The doorway isn’t apparent – search for indicators for Biblioteca delle Oblate on Through dell’Oriuolo. You don’t want a library card to go to the café.
17. Go to the Medici Chapels
Finest for: Sculpture followers and anybody within the Medici (a.ok.a. Florence’s unique influencers)
High tour to ebook: Florence: Medici Chapels Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket
Tucked behind San Lorenzo church, the Medici Chapels are a marble-heavy tribute to the household that bankrolled a lot of the Renaissance.
The actual draw is the New Vestry, designed by Michelangelo, with highly effective sculptures of Night time and Day, Daybreak and Nightfall – a few of his most emotional, unusual, and human work.
Insider tip: Go early within the day to keep away from college teams.
18. Take a sluggish stroll alongside the Arno after darkish
Finest for: Romantics, evening owls, and those that’ve had an enormous dinner
Florence is even higher after hours, when the streets cool down and the Arno displays town’s glow.
Begin close to Ponte Santa Trinita and stroll east. You’ll move shuttered retailers, lit-up bridges, and locals strolling residence from dinner. It’s calm, stunning, and fully free.
Insider tip: I’d advocate bringing a bit cup of gelato and discovering a quiet spot alongside the riverbank. Nobody rushes at evening right here, so lean into it!
19. Browse the flea markets and vintage stalls
Finest for: Treasure hunters, classic lovers, and souvenir-seekers who don’t need one other magnet
Imagine me after I say that Florence does flea markets nicely; suppose outdated postcards, brass keys, classic books, and embroidered linen.
Head to Piazza dei Ciompi or Mercato delle Pulci for antiques, or Sant’Ambrogio for a mixture of meals, garments, and oddities.
It’s an effective way to see town at a slower tempo – and perhaps go residence with one thing actually one-of-a-kind.
Insider tip: Many stalls solely take money, and mornings are greatest for digging by means of the good things earlier than it’s picked over.
20. Folks-watch in Piazza della Repubblica
Finest for: Sluggish mornings and café lingering
Proper within the coronary heart of town, Piazza della Repubblica has been all the pieces from a Roman discussion board to a medieval market to its present type: open, elegant, and all the time lively.
Seize a seat at a café (sure, it’ll be overpriced however think about it hire for the view!), order a macchiato, and watch the world do its factor.
Insider tip: Skip the primary vacationer cafés and check out Transfer On, simply off the sq. – it doubles as a file retailer and has a extra laid-back vibe with views simply pretty much as good.
My choose of the 20 greatest issues to do in Florence offers you a deeper really feel for the place, from the big-hitters to the quiet corners.
Choose just a few, skip just a few, and don’t fear about seeing all the pieces. The actual magic often occurs in between the plans, someplace on a aspect avenue, mid-gelato, once you least anticipate it.
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