Florence is the cradle of the Renaissance, a compact city of masterpieces, domes, and golden light on the Arno. Walkable, overwhelming in the best way, and essential for anyone who loves art and beauty.
Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Brunelleschi still shape the skyline. Climb the dome, stand before David, and watch the city glow from Piazzale Michelangelo. If you want museums, gelato, and views that stay with you, Florence is waiting.
Brunelleschi’s dome still dominates the skyline of Florence. Climb it for the classic view over the city, then stand inside the cathedral and feel the scale of the Renaissance ambition that built it. Book the dome climb in advance — it is one of the defining experiences of Florence.
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One of the world’s great art museums. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Leonardo, Michelangelo and room after room of Renaissance masterpieces. Book timed entry and give yourself several hours — this is not a place to rush.
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Michelangelo’s David stands in quiet power at the Accademia. Seeing the statue in person is different from every photograph — the scale, the detail, the sense of life in stone. Combine with a short walk through the surrounding galleries.
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The oldest bridge in Florence, lined with goldsmiths’ shops and still carrying the corridor that once linked the Medici palaces. Cross it at different times of day — morning light, evening crowds, and the Arno flowing beneath.
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The vast Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens behind it. Grand rooms, the Medici collections and formal gardens with views back over Florence. A perfect half-day of art, history and open space away from the densest crowds.
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Florence’s political and civic heart. The open-air sculpture gallery of Piazza della Signoria, the tower of Palazzo Vecchio, and the sense of power that still fills this square. Stand where the Republic once ruled.
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The classic panoramic viewpoint over Florence. Come at sunset when the dome and the towers glow and the whole city spreads out below. A short walk or bus ride rewards you with one of the most memorable views in Tuscany.
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Florence’s central market. Ground floor for produce and local specialties, upper floor for casual eating. Come hungry, taste the region and feel the everyday energy of the city beyond the museums and monuments.
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Elegant rooms overlooking the Arno and Ponte Vecchio. Part of the Ferragamo family’s Lungarno Collection, with refined design, a Michelin-starred restaurant and one of the best riverside locations in Florence.
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Stylish and sophisticated Lungarno Collection hotel right on the river, steps from the Ponte Vecchio. Beautiful design, spacious suites and a superb central location for exploring the historic center.
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Welcoming boutique hotel in a historic building in the very heart of Florence. Warm service, excellent location near the main sights and strong value for a central stay.
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Charming and intimate stay set in a historic residence overlooking one of Florence’s great private gardens. Unique atmosphere, beautiful rooms and a more personal, residential feel.
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Climb the Duomo complex with skip-the-line access and walk the skywalk for unforgettable views over Florence’s terracotta rooftops, the Arno and the hills beyond. Standing beside Brunelleschi’s dome, looking out over the city he helped define, is one of the most memorable moments you can have in Florence. This is more than a viewpoint — it is a way to feel the scale and beauty of the Renaissance city from above. Book ahead, wear comfortable shoes and give yourself time to absorb the panorama; few experiences in Italy combine history, architecture and pure wonder the way this one does.
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Skip the line at the Accademia Gallery and stand face-to-face with Michelangelo’s David — still one of the most powerful encounters with art anywhere in the world. A focused, expert-guided visit brings the sculpture and the surrounding works into clear, human scale. You leave not only with photographs but with a real sense of why this single statue has captivated travellers for centuries. Ideal for first-time visitors who want depth without a rushed, overcrowded experience.
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Skip-the-line entry to the Uffizi with a guided tour of Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and the highlights of the Medici collection. The gallery can overwhelm on your own; a good guide turns the corridors into a story of beauty, power and genius. Essential for first-time visitors to Florence — and equally rewarding for anyone who wants to understand why this city became the cradle of the Renaissance. Move slowly, look closely and let the paintings do the rest.
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Hands-on small-group cooking class in Florence. Learn to prepare classic Tuscan dishes with a local chef — pasta, sauces, regional flavours — and then sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve created together. It is social, delicious and rooted in the everyday food culture of the city. One of the best ways to take a piece of Florence home with you, not only in recipes but in the memory of a shared table, good wine and the simple pleasure of cooking in Tuscany.
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Semi-private day trip through the heart of Tuscany: medieval Siena with its shell-shaped square, the towers of San Gimignano rising above the hills, and the small fortress village of Monteriggioni — with lunch included along the way. A classic itinerary, well paced and full of the landscapes and towns that define this region. You leave Florence in the morning and return with a deeper sense of Tuscany beyond the city walls: stone streets, open countryside and the slow beauty of places that have stood for centuries.
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Explore the Tuscan countryside on a classic Vespa — scenic hills, olive groves, quiet roads and a taste of local Italian cuisine along the way. It is fun, slightly adventurous and completely memorable: the wind, the views and the freedom of moving through the landscape at your own rhythm. One of the most joyful ways to experience the countryside around Florence, whether you have ridden a scooter before or are trying it for the first time with a guided group.
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Day trip from Florence to the colourful villages of Cinque Terre and the beautiful Gulf of Poets at Portovenere. Dramatic coastal cliffs, pastel houses stacked above the sea and a complete change of pace from the Renaissance streets of the city. A long but rewarding day that trades museums for salt air, harbour walks and some of the most photographed coastline in Italy — perfect when you want the sea and the mountains in a single outing.
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Cooking class and lunch at a Tuscan farmhouse, often combined with a local market visit in the morning. Hands-on experience of regional recipes — olive oil, fresh pasta, seasonal ingredients — in a beautiful countryside setting just outside Florence. You cook, you taste, you sit at a long table with a view of the hills. It is less a tour than a day of living a little of Tuscan life, and one of the most satisfying experiences you can book from the city.
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Classic no-frills trattoria near the Mercato Centrale, loved by locals since 1953. Shared tables, simple Tuscan cooking and famous bistecca. Lunch only, cash preferred, no reservations — arrive early.
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Florence’s legendary schiacciata sandwich shop. Towering filled focaccia with cured meats, cheeses and spreads. Expect a queue — and a very satisfying reward. Perfect casual lunch near the Uffizi.
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Tiny historic trattoria (also known as Il Troia) famous for its butter chicken cooked in a steel pan over coals. Unchanged since 1869, pure Florentine character. Reservations strongly recommended.
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Florence’s oldest restaurant (since 1880), set in a vaulted cellar. Excellent bistecca alla fiorentina, traditional Tuscan dishes and an atmospheric old-world setting. A classic special-occasion choice.
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Florence Airport (FLR / Peretola) is small, modern and only about 20–30 minutes from the historic center by taxi or tram. Many visitors also fly into Pisa (PSA), which has more international connections, and continue by train (about 1 hour) or transfer bus. Both airports are straightforward; Florence itself is the more convenient arrival if you can find a direct flight.
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Santa Maria Novella station is right in the heart of the city and one of the best-connected stations in Italy. High-speed Frecciarossa and Italo trains link Florence with Rome (1.5 hours), Milan, Venice, Bologna and beyond. Regional trains serve the rest of Tuscany. From the station you can walk to most central hotels in 10–20 minutes. Trains are comfortable, frequent and usually the easiest way to arrive.
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A car is excellent if you plan to explore the Chianti hills, Siena, San Gimignano or the wider Tuscan countryside. Inside the historic center, however, the ZTL (limited traffic zone) makes driving impractical and expensive. Most visitors park at a garage near the edge of the center or leave the car at their hotel and explore Florence on foot. Book parking in advance during high season.
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Florence is inland, so cruise passengers typically arrive via the ports of Livorno or La Spezia. From either port it is an easy train or organised transfer into the city (roughly 1.5 hours from Livorno). Many cruise itineraries offer full-day shore excursions to Florence, but independent travellers can also reach the city comfortably by public transport.
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Three full days are a solid minimum to see the Uffizi, the Duomo complex, the Accademia and still have time for the Oltrarno and a leisurely evening. Four or five days let you add day trips to Siena, Pisa or the Chianti wine country and enjoy the city at a more relaxed pace without museum fatigue.
April to June and September to October offer the best combination of pleasant weather, beautiful light and manageable crowds. July and August are hot, humid and very busy. Winter is quieter and can be atmospheric, though some secondary museums have reduced hours and the weather is more unpredictable.
Italian is the main language, though English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and major attractions. The currency is the Euro (€). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but small cafés, market stalls and some taxis still prefer cash. ATMs are plentiful in the center.
The historic center is compact and best explored on foot — wear comfortable shoes for the stone streets and occasional hills. Taxis are available but can be hard to hail on the street; buses cover longer distances and the tram links the airport. Many hotels are within easy walking distance of the main sights, so you rarely need transport once you arrive.