Florence – a true gem in the Tuscany. That charming Italian city quickly captured my heart and I tell you exactly why: I had some of the best Italian food there, everything is walkable, it felt like there are mostly locals (which cannot be said about every Italian city), Florence is absolutely beautiful and I just felt at ease in that place and had the best time. Here is a quick guide to Florence and all the things you shouldn’t miss when visiting!
THINGS TO DO IN FLORENCE
Explore the Duomo Di Firenze
A true landmark of Florence, the Duomo Di Firenze needs to be on everyone’s Florence bucket list. The exterior is absolutely breathtaking, as it is covered completely with marble. Entering the cathedral is free of charge, but be aware of the long lines. However, I would recommend to get the OPA pass (18€) to explore the different parts of the Duomo, especially the top of the cupola (you need to reserve a time slot) and the bell tower. Both will give you an incredible view of Florence and are worth the climb in the tight corridors.
Cross the Ponte Vecchio
No visit to Florence is complete without crossing the famous Ponte Veccio bridge at least once. Ponte Veccio is the oldest bridge in Florence and therefore the most well-known. Nowadays, you can find gold smiths and jewelry stores in the small houses on the bridge. Although crossing the bridge should be on your list of things to do in Florence, I actually rather enjoyed seeing the bridge from afar.
Discover art and history at the Palazzo Pitti
Build in the 15th century for the Pitti family, the Pitti Palace houses several museums: the Palatine Gallery (collection of 16th and 17th century paintings), the Royal Apartments (fancy furnishings), the Treasury of the Grand Dukes (collection of Medici household treasure), the Gallery of Modern Art (collection of 19th and 20th century paintings) and the Museum of Costume and Fashion (collection of the last 300 years). The palace is enormous, so take your time, if you want to view most of the museum.
Stroll around the Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens are part of the Pitti Palace and besides a garden, it also functions as an open-air museum. Fountains, an amphitheatre, statues and sculptures can be found here. A must-see is definitely the Buontalenti Grotto that is decorated impressively.
Watch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
This is probably the best place to watch the sunset in Florence. Situated on top of a hill, Piazaale Michelangelo is a classical tourist spot, but nonetheless will not fail to amaze you. Grab some pizza and a drink and walk up to the Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic skyline view of Florence.
Take a look at Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria is Florence’s main square and a popular meeting point full of cafés and restaurants. The Palazzo Vecchio, which is the city hall, the Gucci Garden museum and an open-air sculptures museum can all be found here. The outdoor museum is mostly known for the copy of Michelangelo’s statue David (the original is located at the Galleria dell’Accademia).
WHERE TO EAT IN FLORENCE
Il Pizzaiuolo
I found recommendations of that place before traveling to Florence, so one afternoon we got two pizzas to go and had lunch in the sun in a nearby park. Il Pizzaiolo makes delicious Naples-style pizza in the Santa Croce neighborhood. It seems to be a popular place, so make sure to reserve a table beforehand.
Via dei Macci 113
Italian Tapas
Located in Santo Spirito, we actually came accidentally across Italian Tapas when looking for a place to have dinner. It was so good, that we came back another night. All meals are tapas style, so that you can try many dishes and it’s perfect for sharing. Everything that we tried was really good!
Via Sant’Agostino 11
Babae
We discovered this cute place accidentally, as it was located near our apartment, that we rented during our time in Florence. We had breakfast and some cappuccino there (they have plant based milk!). In the evening on our way home, we passed Babae and it was pretty busy, so that it seems to be a popular dinner place among locals.
Via Santo Spirito 21
L’Pizzacchiere
Located near Piazzale Michelangelo is the rather small and inconspicuous restaurant called L’Pizzacchiere. We had dinner there after watching the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo and the pizza was really good!
Via S. Miniato 2
All’Antico Vinaio
Famous for its yummy sandwiches, All’Antico Vinaio is the ideal lunch place. They have opened up several small shops next to each other, as it will get quite crowded. Grab one of these Florentine sandwiches or have lunch in the restaurant.
Via dei Neri 65
Gelato
Florence is the birth place of gelato, thanks to architect Bernado Buontalenti, who invented gelato. There is even a special flavor called Buontalenti that you can get in Florence.
Gelato places that we liked included:
Venchi Cioccolato e Gelato
several locations in Florence
Galeteria dei Neri
Via dei Neri 9
Sbrino Gelatificio Contadino
Via dei Serragli 32
Gelateria La Carraia
Piazza Nazario Sauro 32
WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE
Florence isn’t as large as Rome for instance, so everything is actually in walking distance. We stayed in an Airbnb in the neighborhood Santo Spirito, which is situated on the other side of the Arno river. The neighborhood was full of locals, there were restaurants, bars, a few vintage shops and also supermarkets. It felt lively, safe and we really enjoyed our stay there and hence, would pick this neighborhood again.
As we haven’t stayed at a hotel, I unfortunately cannot give any recommendations.
HOW MANY DAYS SOULD YOU STAY IN FLORENCE?
We stayed three full days in Florence. I think this is enough time to see most of the city without feeling rushed. If you don’t have much time, you could squeeze the main sites into two full days. However, when traveling I like to
HOW TO GET TO FLORENCE
Although Florence does have an airport, most visitors will actually arrive in Pisa, as the airport of Florence is quite small. From Pisa airport we took the Pisa Mover directly to Pisa Centrale (the central train station), which takes about 5 minutes. From there, take a train to Florence. Depending on the train, it will take you about 1-1.5 hours. It’s easy, convenient and affordable to travel by train in Italy.
However, an alternative to the train would be taking the bus.
Have you been to Florence? If yes, would you add anything to this list?
