I will forever remember Florence as the city of red-roofed buildings and colorful alleyways, with cobblestone streets and mesmerizing Renaissance art. As the capital of Tuscany, Florence is friendly and romantic, and arguably captivates everyone who visits. In just two days, Florence gave me a deeper appreciation for art and made my heart yearn for more European history. Here’s what you need to know if you travel to Florence…
When to go
Florence has very hot summers and very cold winters. I went to Florence during a semester abroad while I was in college (which, by the way, you have to do if you’re going to college). In my experience, the end of April is an excellent time to go because summer hasn’t arrived just yet, making the heat completely manageable. The crowds, of course, are beginning to grow as the summer months approach, and they will remain throughout August and part of September. The heat and the crowds begin to decrease again in September after the school season starts, and the weather becomes cooler in October, making it another ideal time to go, though you will miss spring being in full bloom.
Where to stay
Hostels
I’m always going to recommend hostels in Europe because they are affordable, accessible, and very clean (if you pick the right ones). Hostelworld has a variety of hostels listed all over the world with detailed reviews and essential commodities. It doesn’t take long to find one that meets your needs and expectations, whether you want something private and modern, or just a bed to sleep on with a roof over your head.
When I traveled to Florence, my friends and I stayed in a hostel called “WOW Florence.” Although this hostel wasn’t as clean as some of the others we had stayed in, I enjoyed how rustic it was as well as its location. We reserved three beds in a four-bed female dorm with a private bathroom, kitchen access, and a rooftop balcony just across the hall. It was the perfect place for afternoon naps when the crowds were crazy and the sun was scorching, or for watching the sunset at the end of the day. (Sadly, it looks like this hostel has since been permanently closed as this was over three years ago.)
Airbnbs
Airbnb is also a great resource to use when looking for affordable and unique places to stay. Airbnbs are usually more private than hostels and have reliable hosts who will kindly welcome you to their city. Wherever you stay — whether in a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb — you should try asking your hosts about the area or country you are visiting, as they are available to help you and will have first-hand experience.
Transportation
Flights
Flights to Florence are fairly affordable within Europe, but if you travel from another continent you’ll want to be more strategic. I’ve been told and have personally experienced that fares seem to be lowest when booked about three months out for international travel. During this time you can find roundtrip flights for as little as $600, though you will more realistically spend around $800. Within Europe, of course, budget airlines offer flights to and from other European countries. I’ve even seen flights available for as little as $20. For this reason, I would highly recommend visiting more than one country during any European vacation, and stay for as long as possible.
Anything but the Eurail Pass
This is a good opportunity for me to talk about the Eurail Pass and why you may or may not want to use it for yourself. With a single Eurail pass, you can travel to 33 different countries by train as long as they are partnered with the train you ride. All you. hav to do was bring our pass along with us to have stamped at the included train stations. This proved difficult, however, whenever the attendants were unfamiliar with the pass, and we had to be very specific about our departure points and destinations.
One of the biggest issues I found with this pass is that, even though it wasn’t essential for us to reserve a seat on the trains we took, we would not be guaranteed a seat if our desired train was already full. To prevent this, we could reserve a seat through Eurail, but for many of their train routes this came with an additional charge (especially in Italy!), sometimes costing us over $100 per reservation.
In addition, the train routes included in our plan had few departure and arrival times per day. This made our journey very challenging whenever we had to take several different trains to get to our destination, as we would need to strategically plan which train routes to take and when, and it increased our levels of stress as we could not afford to miss the trains available. There were very few direct routes. It wasn’t impossible to find our way, but it certainly required more planning than we expected. We likely would have saved a lot of time and money if we opted to reserve train tickets independently or even chose to fly to our desired destinations.
Trains
We traveled to Florence from Paris by train, and chose to reserve beds because the train traveled through the night. Traveling on an overnight train is a very interesting experience. What made the experience especially interesting for me is that I stayed in a room with travelers who spoke almost no English, so even when I wanted to communicate with them, this was difficult. I also struggled to sleep because I was unfamiliar with my bunkmates (and I can usually sleep anywhere).
Another issue when traveling by train is the service. While traveling, it can be very hard to get a good internet connection, even when you try to connect to the Wi-Fi or have a good phone plan. This was challenging because I was separated from my travel partners and worried we would somehow get off at different stops. At one point, the train was stopped for an extended period of time due to an animal (supposedly) getting hit on the tracks. The whole experience still feels like a weird dream.
Walking
Once in Florence, be prepared to walk. Walking was hands down the best way to get around in Florence. Everything in this beautiful city is fairly close together when compared to other major European cities, like Rome, in which everything is very spread out. For this reason, walking was the only mode of transportation we used. The hardest of our walks was the mile from the train station to the hostel, but only because it was a bit of a challenge dragging our luggage over Florence’s cobblestone streets and bumpy sidewalks.
Walking is my personal favorite because you get to explore and see places you normally wouldn’t if you were on a tram or in a taxi. The historic center of Florence does not have a tram system, and Uber is not available, but if walking is not an option for you, there are taxis and buses that run throughout the day. Bus tickets are available at the bus stations and on the buses themselves, costing a minimum of $1.60, and a short taxi ride may cost between $3.50 and $5.50. For this reason, you will want to carry change and smaller bills.
What to eat
Pasta
Obviously. It’s Italy. As Florence is a popular Italian city, it has many good restaurants with amazing dishes on every menu. The smaller, somewhat sketchy restaurants, away from the crowds and major tourist attractions, are worth trying if you find some with good reviews. They tend to be more affordable and authentic, though this doesn’t mean you will be disappointed by the fancier restaurants flooded with tourists. Hannah, Grace, and I satisfied our pasta cravings at Trattoria Za Za, located just a half-mile from our hostel and recommended to us by one of the hostel receptionists.
Hole-in-the-wall pizza
I couldn’t tell you the name of the place where we got pizza even if I went back and walked every street. Fortunately, there are several pizzerias around Florence to choose from, depending on your budget and cravings. Our desire to get off the crowded streets and away from the tourists took us to a slightly dingy pizzeria, but our cravings were met without draining our pockets so I have zero complaints. Sometimes the best places are a bit out of the way and unexpected.
Gelato
This frozen Italian treat is on nearly every street but can seem unnecessarily expensive. It’s definitely worth trying, particularly to see how its consistency and richness is different from traditional ice cream. Gelato is especially nice during the summer, when the heat is extreme, so don’t forget to work this into your budget and itinerary.
What to do
Explore the Piazza del Duomo
This was our first stop after checking into our hostel and freshening up, as it was just a couple streets away. This historic plaza is home to the Florence Cathedral (the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore), one of the most magnificent sites in Florence. It’s impossible to miss this massive structure when walking around or looking over the city. The cathedral attracts attention from all over the world due to its intricate external features and history, and is complete with Giotto’s Bell Tower and Brunelleschi’s Dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the fifteenth century.
Explore the historic buildings
Below the cathedral is the Santa Reparata, the former cathedral of Florence, and just across the plaza from this cathedral is the Florence Baptistery (Baptistery of San Giovanni), another one of Florence’s beautiful buildings. There are several stunning landmarks and museums that are sure to appeal to your historic, artistic, and religious interests, all in one plaza. Whether you explore the inside or admire these structures from the outside, this experience is sure to leave you a bit speechless and in awe.
If desired, you can roam inside the cathedral free of charge, but are expected to respect the dress code as the cathedral is actively used as a place of worship. Tickets are required for Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Santa Reparata, and the local museums, all of which can be more expensive and typically should be booked far in advance. It may be worth considering tickets that include a skip-the-line feature, if you need to save time or simply don’t want to stand around long. It also may be worth paying for a tour of the different museums or to just go on walking tour around the city, as tours are a great way to be educated about the history and culture.
See the Basilica di Santa Croce
Though not as grand as the Florence Cathedral, this church (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is adorned with spectacular sculptures and stained glass windows worth seeing. Tickets can be purchased inside or online for €8 per person. Tickets for walking tours are also available.
Piazza/Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
This is another plaza and basilica worth seeing, whether you go inside or simply stroll past. Sometimes tickets are available to purchase online while other times of the year they are only available at the museum complex. Individual adult tickets are €7.50.
The Piazza Della Signorio and the Palazzo Vecchio
This structure is recognized as the town hall of Florence and is located in Florence’s main square. Tickets can be purchased to climb the Arnolfo Tower or simply for a museum and video guide, though these tickets can be more expensive, costing anywhere from €15 to €50. Just in front of the town hall is the Fountain of Neptune and a copy of Michelangelo’s David. There is a variety of other impressive sculptures and pieces of art in the the plaza to admire free of charge in the Loggia dei Lanzi, and even more in the museums that surround it, including the Museo di Palazzo Vecchio.
Tour the local museums
The Uffizi Gallery is right next to the Palazzo Vecchio along with many other art museums, and tickets can be purchased for €20 per person, unless eligible for reduced prices or free entry. I would highly recommend purchasing these tickets in advance online, and consider a skip-the-line option as the lines can take up more of your time than the actual museum.
One reason why you might choose to go to this museum instead of the ones surrounding it is that this is one of the biggest and oldest Italian museums, featuring a large collection of Italian Renaissance artwork. Some of the art featured in the museum include works by Giotto, Botticelli, Raffaello, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, in addition to ancient sculptures from the Medici family. This building was designed by Giorgio Vasari and constructed during the Medici rule in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Like many of the other structures in Florence, the Uffizi Galllery contains incredible history and will give you insight into what has made Florence the remarkable city it is today.
The Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze
If you are only able to go to one museum while in Florence, the Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze (“Gallery of the Academy of Florence”) should be at the top of your list. This museum is home to Michelangelo’s David, a sculpture that will almost certainly take your breath away. This gallery also houses several beautiful Renaissance paintings, instruments, and other sculptures created by highly celebrated artists.
Upon entry, you are welcomed by the Hall of Colossus, which hosts Giambologna’s famous sculpture, “Rape of the Sabines,” followed by the Hall of Prisoners. The placement of the Hall of Prisoners, which hosts several of Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures, is brilliant because the first piece you see in the next hall is Michelangelo’s David. It’s stunning, impossible to miss, and truly magnificent compared to the unfinished pieces displayed before it. In another hall, you will find the life’s work of Lorenzo Bartolini, which includes even more impressive sculptures. Standing in the midst of the masterpieces in this museum will give you chills.
This is another museum I would highly recommend purchasing tickets for in advance, and maybe considering a skip-the-line option. We purchased tickets the morning we visited for €20 per person and, even though we were there before opening, we waited in line for about an hour and a half. You can purchase tickets online for similar rates, even as part of a bundle with the Uffizi Gallery, and skip the lines so you spend more time admiring the masterpieces displayed inside.
Take in the view at the Piazzale Michelangelo
On the other side of the Arno from where the Piazza del Duomo and the Piazza Vecchio stand is this large square on the hillside of the Oltarno, providing some of the best views of Florence for absolutely no charge. From this perspective, you can really see how small the city is and how close together everything is. The walk to the top can be draining but is well worth it. This side of the river was also far less crowded, though there were several street vendors at the top of the hillside drawing the attention of more tourists.
Explore the local gardens
Florence has several impressive gardens to explore, though some charge a small fee. Among these are the Boboli Gardens, which are sometimes compared to Versailles, the Giardino Bardini, and the Giardino Torrigiani. You can find tickets for these and more on GetYourGuide.com.
Tour and picnic in front of Pitti Palace
The Pitti Palace became the primary residence for the Medici family during their rule in Florence and now hosts over 500 paintings in its Palatine Gallery. When visiting this massive complex, it becomes clear just how powerful and wealthy the Medici family was. Tickets to see the gallery and the Royal Apartments inside the palace are available for purchase online, but if you are on a tight budget I would recommend at least visiting the Boboli Gardens for a smaller fee, or simply getting something to eat and having a picnic in front of the palace itself. My friends and I ended up sitting in front of the palace before sunset, listening to locals and other tourists engage in conversation over bottle of wine, which gave us a taste of the culture we might have easily missed if we hadn’t strolled over to this magnificent structure.
Walk across the Ponte Vecchio
Given its name for being the oldest Florentine bridge, the Ponte Vecchio was once home to butcher shops and farmers, but now hosts a variety of jewelry and souvenir shops. Whether on your way to the Piazzale Michelangelo or returning from the Pitti Palace, you should certainly cross this bridge going over the Arno, and consider purchasing souvenirs here as well. If you have time, I would recommend seeing the bridge during the day, in addition to seeing it at sunset. You can even go on a boat ride along the river Arno, if desired.
What not to do
Rush through it
Seriously, SLOW DOWN, because you may never get this opportunity again. Forget about the other tourists, forget about the locals judging you (which, by they way, they probably won’t if you’re simply admiring their culture), and forget about the next checkpoint on your itinerary. Don’t become overly paranoid about being pickpocketed — hang on to your belongings, of course, but don’t forget to look up. Before going anywhere in Europe, I was told to be careful and watch out for this kind of behavior. This is one thing that was constantly on my mind, but probably a little too much. It’s important to remember, but don’t let it take away from your experience. It’s awful if you have something stolen from you, but if you’re constantly paranoid or rushing while traveling, then your experience is stolen from you instead. Find a balance.
Wait to buy tickets
As I said before, pre-purchasing tickets will potentially save you time so that you can skip the ticket lines and go into Florence’s museums and galleries almost immediately. This is especially important if you’re short on time. Additionally, it‘s a good idea to purchase tickets in advance so you can know exactly what days the museums are open and tours are held, rather than getting there and discovering you can’t go where you want to go or that it’s been fully booked. GetYourGuide has several bundles and attractions to choose from.
So, whether you’re going with family, friends, or with your significant other for your honeymoon, Florence is absolutely stunning. You can do as much or as little as you like and still have an incredible time in this dreamy Italian city full of art, history, and beauty.