Top things to do in Florence
Attractions, tours, and activities in Florence
Recommended museums in Florence
Where to find art and culture in Florence
Florence: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Florence
-
Florence Historic Center
In downtown
Our best advice for exploring the centre? Travel on foot. Pretty as the paintings that adorn its most illustrious galleries, Florence will charm you with stories and beg you to make your own. Get lost among the jewellery makers and trinket buyers of Ponte Vecchio; then tie your love to a lock on the bridge’s fence (for good luck).
Places to stay from $11 a night
-
Piazzale Michelangelo
1 miles from downtown
Hot, hungry, and dreaming of pecorino? Sounds like you made it through the tree-lined streets to the heights of Piazzale Michelangelo. The Duomo looms high above the terracotta rooftops. A few flights up, you’ll find the prettiest church in Florence called San Miniato. Picnic among the ornate tombstones of the church’s cemetery (if you dare).
Places to stay from $53 a night
-
Santa Croce
0.5 miles from downtown
Pay homage to Galileo and Michelangelo, both buried beneath this Basilica. But don’t pray and run. Giotto’s frescoes decorate the Franciscan church’s interior chapels. French writer Stendhal coined his syndrome of the same here (an illness of “awe” marked by symptoms of intense nervousness caused by seeing great art).
Places to stay from $25 a night
-
Santa Maria Novella
0.4 miles from downtown
Ready to cut your teeth on 20th century Italian art? Museo Novecento’s got just the collection. Afterward, let an espresso buzz you through Santa Maria Novella’s Gothic Basilica. Next door is Italy’s oldest apothecary and perfumery (1221), where aromatic elixirs steep in decanted bottles, and chemists still concoct colognes from the past.
Places to stay from $12 a night
-
Tornabuoni
0.2 miles from downtown
Gucci certainly approves of the high-fashion boutiques that abound in his hometown. Heels and cobblestone? Not a problem for the Florentine female. This block is a who’s who crash course of Italian high fashion–from Armani to Versace and everyone in between. Even the air smells expensive. Window-shop your heart out, honey.
Places to stay from $35 a night
-
Uffizi
0.2 miles from downtown
Both district and world-famous gallery. Art students stand agog in front of masterworks (ah, Botticelli) in the Uffizi Gallery. After a Renaissance morning, buy a gelato from “Perché no!" (the mozzarella with chestnut honey is a must!) and lick it all the way to Piazza della Signoria. Navel-gaze amidst pigeons, people, and sea-coloured statues.
Places to stay from $21 a night
About Florence
Including tips for the best time to visit Florence
Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is also the capital of Italy's Tuscany region and a powerhouse of culture, architecture, and art.
The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you never have to look far for things to do. The Uffizi Gallery is home to masterpieces like "The Birth of Venus" and "Primavera" by Sandro Botticelli, as well as Titian's "Venus of Urbino," while the Accademia Gallery is home to Michelangelo's "David" and the unfinished "Slaves." If you have time, be sure to visit other great museums like the Bargello, the Gucci Garden, and the former palace of the famous Medici family.
In the old town's center, you'll find the city's wonderful cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (also known as Duomo di Firenze) and Giotto's Tower, which offers a 360º view of the entire city. Then make a visit to Mercato Central to try some Florentine cuisine. It's the city's oldest and largest food market, packed with fresh, local produce, and even a bookshop and culinary school. You'll find all the local favorites, from tripe panini and pasta to gelato and Florentine steak.
Florence's Amerigo Vespucci airport is close, only a 15-minute bus or taxi ride from the city center.
Tonight
From $73 per night
This weekend
From $185 per night
Next weekend
From $262 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | € 1 = $1.09 |
| Language | Italian |
| Average weekend price | $222 per night |
| Average weekday price | $234 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Florence
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Florence
-
Ponte Vecchio
0.2 miles from downtown
-
Uffizi Gallery
0.2 miles from downtown
-
Pitti Palace
0.5 miles from downtown
-
Piazza della Signoria
0.1 miles from downtown
-
Artemio Franchi Stadium
1.6 miles from downtown
-
Santa Maria Novella
0.3 miles from downtown
-
Palazzo Vecchio
0.2 miles from downtown
-
Piazzale Michelangelo
0.8 miles from downtown
-
Piazza del Duomo, Florence
0.2 miles from downtown
-
Via Faenza
0.4 miles from downtown
Latest articles featuring Florence
Inspiration and insider tips for things to do in Florence
A taste of Tuscan cuisine
Take a journey through Florence’s tempting trattorias, bakeries and vineyards.
Where to stay near Florence’s Ponte Vecchio
5 beautiful Florence apartments right next to the city’s famous bridge.
Why travellers love Florence
How to make the most of your time in The City of Lilies, according to real travellers.
Where to stay near Piazza Della Signoria Florence
5 apartments within walking distance of Florence's most historic square.
Where to stay near Florence’s Santa Maria Novella
4 apartments within walking distance of Florence’s first great basilica.
Florence reviews
What other travelers say about Florence
If you didn't get the fast pass before visiting David...
December 1, 2023
If you didn't get the fast pass before visiting David the statue, don't go see that as the wait isn't worth it. There will be replicas all over the city. he no. of tourists in the museum didn't make the experience nicer either. Could've spent more time in Duomo and the night view by climbing up to Piazzale Michelangelo. T
Florence capital in Tuscany is a city full of renaissance...
November 29, 2023
Florence capital in Tuscany is a city full of renaissance arts, architectures, cathedrals. Most iconic will be the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto.
If you want to visit many many objectives, and don`t want to...
November 28, 2023
If you want to visit many many objectives, and don`t want to go for guided, private or some VIP tours, the "Firenze Card" is the best value for money. I`ve paid 85 Euros for it and visited locations worth of 110-120 Euros. Take very very comfy shoes. Paved streets are very nice in terms of storytelling, but a nightmare for your legs. The mainstream objectives are nice but don`t forget to go for the hidden gems of the city, cause there are many.
We were there in late October but the crush of tourists was...
November 27, 2023
We were there in late October but the crush of tourists was still apparent. Fortunately we had no problems getting into either the Uffizi or the Piti Palace. The Duomo, on the other hand, was a minimum of two hours even with tickets.
Beautiful location for a long weekend in early October,...
November 27, 2023
Beautiful location for a long weekend in early October, weather was warm enough to walk around without a jacket, even in the evening. Stunning views from piazza's around town and great restaurants on every corner of the city. The Gelato is the best I have tried.
Florence is a beautiful city.
November 24, 2023
Florence is a beautiful city. Walk everywhere, take in the sights and stop where-ever catches your attention. Don't eat within the squares stick to side streets for the best authentic food. If you MUST preplan anything make a reservation at Osteria Pastella. It currently has huge social media hype and is extremely busy however it is well deserved. It is the best food I have ever tasted. Order the Flambe Cheese wheel truffle pasta, dinner and a show ! If I am ever on death row this will be my last meal of choice. Service is impeccable.
Popular places to stay in Florence
Stay in some of the best accommodations Florence has to offer
-
Dépendance Machiavelli - Apartment and Wine Florence Historic Center, Florence
From $196 per night
-
Casa Gordigiani Novoli - San Donato, Florence
From $120 per night
-
La Firenze Sogna Florence Historic Center, Florence
From $151 per night
-
Silvia in S.Reparata Florence Historic Center, Florence
From $93 per night
-
Florence Feel Apartment Florence Historic Center, Florence
From $250 per night
-
Other accommodations in Florence
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Florence
-
Apartments
From $14 per night
-
Villas
From $69 per night
-
Cottages
From $53 per night
-
Serviced Apartments
From $53 per night
-
Vacation Homes
From $53 per night
-
Guest houses
From $11 per night
-
Hostels
From $26 per night
-
B&Bs
From $30 per night
-
Homestays
From $16 per night
-
Farm Stays
From $58 per night
-
Self-catering Accommodations
From $14 per night
