Florence, Italy: travel guide
Renaissance masterpieces and Tuscan food on the banks of the Arno
The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence dazzles with Uffizi masterpieces, Brunelleschi's iconic dome, cobblestone piazzas, and Chianti-drenched Tuscan cuisine. Every palazzo hides a fresco, every piazza a Michelangelo.
About Florence
Florence is the city where the Renaissance took hold, and its centre is still dominated by Brunelleschi's dome above the cathedral. The Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia, where Michelangelo's David stands, hold some of the best-known works in European art.
Things to do in Florence include crossing the Ponte Vecchio, climbing to Piazzale Michelangelo for the view across the rooftops, and crossing the river to the Oltrarno, where craft workshops and trattorias fill the lanes. Try a bistecca alla fiorentina, then head out to Fiesole or the Chianti hills for a slower day.
Florence suits art lovers, food-minded travellers and anyone who enjoys a compact city on foot. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons.
- Country
- Italy
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
- Nearest airport
- FLR
Last updated
Top places to visit in Florence
Basilica di San Miniato al Monte
church · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Florence's most beautiful Romanesque church, perched on a hilltop above Piazzale Michelangelo with a glittering gold mosaic façade and sweeping views of the city.
Chiesa di Ognissanti
church · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A Baroque church on Borgo Ognissanti where Botticelli is buried, housing Ghirlandaio's Last Supper and a fresco cycle with portraits of the Vespucci family — including the navigator Amerigo.
Parco delle Cascine
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Florence's largest urban park, a 3.5 km ribbon along the Arno, with cycle paths, fountains, a concert field and a popular Tuesday morning flea market.
Ponte Vecchio
Historic Bridge · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Florence's oldest bridge (rebuilt 1345), the only one spared by retreating Germans in 1944. Lined with goldsmiths since 1593, with the Vasari Corridor running secretly above.
Florence Cathedral & Brunelleschi Dome
Cathedral · 4.8 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Brunelleschi's 1436 masonry dome — the largest ever built — crowns Santa Maria del Fiore. Climbing 463 steps rewards with a 360° panorama of Florence and the entire Arno valley.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Panorama · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · free entry
The definitive panoramic viewpoint over Florence — the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, and Santa Croce all visible from the hilltop terrace above the Arno. A bronze replica of David presides over the square.
Uffizi Gallery
Art Gallery · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
The greatest collection of Italian Renaissance painting: Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's Holy Family, Leonardo's Annunciation, Raphael, Caravaggio — all housed in Vasari's 1565 Uffizi palace.
Galleria Accademia & Michelangelo David
Art Museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Michelangelo's David (1504) — 5.17 metres of perfect white Carrara marble — stands at the end of the tribune designed by Emilio De Fabris. Also houses four of Michelangelo's unfinished Prisoners.
Baptistery of San Giovanni
romanesque baptistery · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Romanesque octagonal baptistery (11th–13th c.) facing the Duomo, famed for Ghiberti's gilded bronze Gates of Paradise — Michelangelo's superlative.
Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
church · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · entry €7 (≈ ₹750)
Florence's first great Gothic church, with a Botticelli, Masaccio's Trinity, Filippo Strozzi frescoes by Filippino Lippi, and a green-and-white marble façade designed by Alberti.
Piazza della Signoria
public square · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · free entry
The civic heart of Florence, an open-air sculpture gallery with copies of Michelangelo's David, Perseus by Cellini, and Neptune's Fountain, all free to view.
Basilica di Santa Croce
gothic basilica · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · entry €15 (≈ ₹1,600)
Gothic basilica (1294) and the final resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and Ghiberti; its chapels hold Giotto frescoes and a Brunelleschi Pazzi Chapel.
Things to do
- Uffizi Gallery Tour Museum · 3 h · from EUR 47 per person
- Accademia & David Tour Museum · 1.5 h · from EUR 35 per person
- Piazzale Michelangelo Sunset Scenic · 1.5 h · from EUR 16 per person
- Duomo Climb & Brunelleschi's Dome Sightseeing · 2 h · from EUR 32 per person
- Piazzale Michelangelo Sunset Viewpoint · 1.5 h
- Brunelleschi Dome Climb & Cathedral Tour Adventure · 2 h · from EUR 25 per person
- Siena & San Gimignano Day Trip Day Trip · 11 h · from EUR 100 per person
- Uffizi Gallery Skip the Line Museum · 3 h · from EUR 49 per person
Day trips and tours
- Uffizi Gallery Skip-the-Line Guided Tour 3 h · from EUR 30
- Accademia Gallery & David Skip-the-Line Tour 2 h · from EUR 25
- Tuscany Wine & Chianti Day Tour from Florence 9 h · from EUR 74
Where to stay in Florence
- Duomo / Centro about EUR 220 per night
Absolutely central; walk everywhere; ideal for short stays though busiest and loudest area
- Oltrarno about EUR 160 per night
Authentic Florentine neighbourhood south of the Arno; artisan workshops, quieter crowds, great restaurants
Hotels
- Hotel Lungarno 5-star · INR 18,000 to INR 45,000 per night
- Four Seasons Hotel Firenze 5-star · INR 45,000 to INR 180,000 per night
- Portrait Firenze 5-star · INR 22,000 to INR 55,000 per night
- Hotel Brunelleschi Florence 5-star · INR 12,000 to INR 30,000 per night
- Hotel Regency Florence 5-star · INR 11,000 to INR 25,000 per night
- Hotel Savoy Rocco Forte 5-star · INR 40,000 to INR 150,000 per night
Where to eat
- Gusta Pizza italian, pizza, neapolitan · about EUR 15 per person
- Mercato Centrale italian, tuscan, international · about EUR 25 per person
- Café Gilli italian, tuscan, brasserie · about EUR 35 per person
- Acqua al 2 italian, tuscan, modern · about EUR 55 per person
- All'Antico Vinaio italian, tuscan, traditional · about EUR 12 per person
- Vivoli italian, tuscan, dessert · about EUR 7 per person
- Café Rivoire italian, tuscan, brasserie · about EUR 25 per person
- Trattoria ZàZà italian, tuscan, traditional · about EUR 45 per person
Getting to Florence
Airport: Florence (FLR)
How visitors arrive in Florence
- Train to Santa Maria Novella By train from Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples · common
Direct trains link Florence with Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples; Santa Maria Novella is the main hub. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Fly into Pisa or Bologna, then train or bus By air from Pisa or Bologna airports · common
Florence's own airport has limited flights, so many travellers use Pisa or Bologna and continue by land. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Fly into Florence airport By air from Peretola airport · possible
Amerigo Vespucci airport is close to the centre but has relatively few flights. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Bus or car via A1/A11 By road from Italian and European cities · possible
FlixBus uses the station by Piazzale Montelungo; the historic centre is restricted to cars. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Tram T2 from Florence airport
Tram T2 links Amerigo Vespucci airport (Peretola) with Santa Maria Novella station. Buy tickets at the stop machines before boarding. Source: visittuscany.com
- Taxi with flat rate to the historic centre
Taxis charge a flat rate to anywhere in the historic centre, with a supplement for large bags. Source: visittuscany.com
- Bologna and Pisa airports have more routes. If you land there late, taxis may refuse the run to Florence, so take the train in daylight. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the railway station to the centre
- Train to Santa Maria Novella
Nearly all trains arrive at Santa Maria Novella, on the north edge of the old town near most hotels and sights. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Transit Pass
In Florence, bus tickets are sold at tobacconists, kiosks and ticket offices and must be validated when boarding; the compact historic centre is mostly covered on foot.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Fake Tour Guides
Near Uffizi and Accademia queues
Unofficial guides approach tourists in queue offering to "get you in faster" for cash
How to avoid it: Only use guides pre-booked through official websites or licensed operators
Bracelet Scam
Ponte Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo
Men weave a friendship bracelet onto your wrist claiming it is free, then demand payment
How to avoid it: Keep both hands in pockets; walk away if approached
Best time to visit Florence
- Jan 6°C
- Feb 7°C
- Mar 11°C
- Apr 15°C
- May 20°C
- Jun 25°C
- Jul 29°C
- Aug 29°C
- Sep 23°C
- Oct 18°C
- Nov 11°C
- Dec 7°C
More in Italy
Frequently asked questions about Florence
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Florence?
- The highest-rated places in our Florence guide are Basilica di San Miniato al Monte, Chiesa di Ognissanti, Florence Cathedral & Brunelleschi Dome, Piazzale Michelangelo, Uffizi Gallery.
- Where should I stay in Florence?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Florence: Duomo / Centro, Oltrarno.
- How do I get around Florence?
- Ways to get around Florence covered in our guide: Transit pass, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Florence?
- Scams reported to us for Florence include Fake Tour Guides; Bracelet Scam. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Florence?
- Average daytime highs in Florence run from 6°C in Jan to 29°C in Aug.
- Which airport is nearest to Florence?
- The nearest airport to Florence has the code FLR.