Florence had been on my bucket list for ages! I was so happy to finally explore it with one of my best friends. It is one of the most famous European cities. Around every corner there’s another gorgeous piazza. You can easily travel Florence on foot or by public transportation. You can spend 90 minutes on a bus or tram for only €1,50. I stayed at Cimarosa Harmony hotel and really liked it. The room was nice and clean and the owners of the hotel a super warm and friendly Italian family. If you want to watch my Florence Travel Guide in video format, HERE it is.
The best way to learn more about the city, is to go on a walking tour. We loved the one with Sylvia. Aside from the famous highlights, the city is great for shopping! It is home to lots of high street brands and designer brands like Gucci, which was founded in Firenze. There is little traffic in the city and I was amazed at how clean it was and the lack of pigeons. I would say you need at least 3 days to see all you need to see.
1. The Duomo
One of Florence’s most popular sites is the Duomo, the cathedral. You can visit it for free. The line went around the corner, but we didn’t wait longer than 30 minutes to enter. Especially the dome is impressive and beautifully painted. It’s possible to pay to see the view from the top, which costs €18, but doesn’t offer the best view over the city in my opinion. It’s cheaper to see the panoramic view from the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio or go to point 6 for free. It’s open daily from 8:30am – 7pm.
2. Galleria de Uffizi
The Uffizi was one the museums that was on top of my bucket list because it houses the world’s most important collection of Renaissance art. Be sure to buy tickets in advance to avoid long lines. You can buy a ticket that combines entry to the Uffizi and the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens for €38 or buy them a lot cheaper separately when you are under 25.
3. Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens
The Palazzo Pitti was built by the Pitti family, and later sold to the Medici family. The palace serves as a beautiful ode to the Medici family’s love for art. It holds paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, for example from Filippo Lippi and Botticelli. It’s open daily (except Mondays) from 8:15am-6:50pm. Behind the palace lay the Boboli Garden. There are lots of marble statues and 3 more museums which we didn’t visit. We had a hard time finding the exit, so use Google Maps to calculate a route.
4. The David
The David is one of the most impressive sculptures in the world and made by Michelangelo. It is very big and super detailed and is the one piece of art in the city that is a must see. The Galleria dell’Accademia is open daily (except Mondays) from 8:15am-6:50pm and entry costs €12.
5. Ponte Vecchio
This is the only surviving original bridge after the World Wars. It is lined with shops selling gold and silver jewelry. To see this bridge from another perspective, you can SUP on the Arno River. I love strolling over the bridge by night, because then all the shops are closed and it looks very Medieval.
6. Piazzale Michelangelo
This is the place to be for the best view over the city. It’s a good hike uphill, but it’s a great way to see the stunning city without paying to climb the steps of the Duomo. We decided to take a seat at the cafe with the best view and spent 3 hours chatting and drinking Aperol Spritz until the sun had set. It was absolutely magical. Who would have thought that doing nothing would be our favorite activity?
When you have climbed the hill, it’s worth visiting the Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte. It’s a beautiful church near Piazzale Michelangelo. The inside of the church is more impressive than the inside of the Duomo and the view is unreal.
7. Piazza Santo Spirito
Piazza Santo Spirito is a public square located in the quiet district of the Oltrarno. In the mornings you can find street markets and maybe even painters here. In the evening locals fill up the terraces of the bars and restaurants. There’s a nice church here too at and a fountain the center of it all.
7. Santa Croce
Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in Italy. Inside are the tombs of Michelangelo and the writer Dante. It’s an interesting visit if you have already covered the other highlights and have extra time in town. You pay €8 to enter daily from 9:30am until 5:30pm with shorter hours on Sundays.
8. Day trips from the city
You can go on many interesting day trips from Florence. The city is located in the famous Italian region Tuscany. A popular day trip is going on a wine tour, which costs around €40/person. Close to Florence is the picturesque town Fiesole, which you can reach by bus. Walk around the town and enjoy the beautiful vistas. The closest world-famous attractions outside of the city are in Pisa. Firenze is connected to Pisa and the rest of Italy with a great rail network.
9. The birth of modern Science
Florence was where modern science was shaped. It was the home of Leonardo Da Vinci and Galileo Galilei. The latter was the tutor of the Medici family. You can visit both the Leonardo Da Vinci and Galileo Galilei Museums.
10. Italian Food
If there is anything people associate with Italy, it’s probably Italian food! Around every corner you can have an amazing fresh pizza or pasta dish. The best way to explore Florence is to get lost in all the streets and eat wherever you end up. However, Antichi Cancelli had amazing fresh pasta. All’Antico Vinaio sells a crazy sandwich filled with charcuterie and truffle mayo for only 6 euros. The line gets quite long, but it goes very quickly. The setting was the best at River Urban Beach “Terrazza Marasco – Spiaggia sull’Arno” along the river. After pizza and pasta, you’ll probably want dessert. Enjoy an incredible gelato ice cream, a tiramisu or anything pistachio flavored, my fave! End the day with a delicious Aperol Spritz or Negroni on one of the beautiful Piazzas. When you feel lik egetting your hands dirty, then try a pasta making workshop.
If you want to watch my Florence Travel Guide in video format, HERE it is. I hope you found this Florence Travel Guide handy. Thank you for reading it. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. If you’re interested in travel in Italy, you might also like my Rome Travel Guide or my Venice Travel Guide.