Travel Guide to Florence: What to See, Where to Stay and What to Eat

Florence is one of those cities that can make an ordinary walk feel like a sightseeing tour. Turn one corner and you find a marble-covered cathedral; turn another and you are looking across terracotta rooftops towards the Tuscan hills.

As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is filled with famous paintings, sculptures and historic buildings. However, you do not need to be an art expert to enjoy it. The city is equally good for slow lunches, evening walks beside the River Arno and sitting in a sunny square with a coffee.

Central Florence is compact and easy to explore on foot. In fact, walking is usually the best way to get around because many streets near the main attractions are narrow or restricted to traffic. Comfortable shoes are essential, especially if you plan to climb one of the city’s towers or viewpoints.

Two or three days will allow you to see the main highlights, but four or five days will give you time to explore at a gentler pace. It also leaves room for a day trip into the Tuscan countryside.

Florence can become very busy during spring and summer. Reserve tickets for the major museums before your visit and try to explore popular outdoor sights early in the morning or later in the evening.

Click here for a great selection of essential guides.

The Florence Sights You Shouldn’t Miss

Begin at Piazza del Duomo, where Florence Cathedral dominates the centre of the city. Its green, white and pink marble exterior is even more impressive in person than it looks in photographs.

The cathedral is topped by Brunelleschi’s enormous dome, one of Florence’s great architectural achievements. You can climb to the top, but be prepared for hundreds of narrow steps and enclosed passageways. The view across the city is spectacular once you reach the terrace.

If climbing the dome does not appeal, Giotto’s Bell Tower provides another wonderful viewpoint. You could also stay at ground level and explore the cathedral, baptistery and surrounding square.

Art lovers should visit the Uffizi Gallery, which contains works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and many other celebrated artists. The collection is enormous, so do not feel that you must study every room. Choose a few highlights and allow yourself time to enjoy them.

The Accademia Gallery is best known for Michelangelo’s David. You will see copies of the statue elsewhere in Florence, but the scale and detail of the original make it worth visiting. Book both the Uffizi and Accademia in advance if possible.

Piazza della Signoria feels like an open-air museum. The square is surrounded by statues, historic buildings and busy café terraces. Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s town hall, stands here and can be explored inside.

From the square, walk towards Ponte Vecchio. This medieval bridge is lined with jewellery shops and is one of the city’s most photographed landmarks. It becomes extremely crowded during the day, so visit early if you want a quieter experience.

Cross the bridge into Oltrarno, the neighbourhood on the opposite side of the Arno. This area has artisan workshops, smaller streets and a more relaxed atmosphere than the busiest parts of the centre.

Where to Stay in Florence

If this is your first visit, the historic centre is the easiest place to stay. You will be within walking distance of the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio and many restaurants.

Accommodation close to Piazza del Duomo is extremely convenient, but the surrounding streets remain busy throughout the day. You may also hear cathedral bells early in the morning, which can be charming or inconvenient depending on how lightly you sleep.

Santa Maria Novella is practical for travellers arriving by train. The area around the station has a wide range of hotels and places you close to both the centre and public transport. Some streets are more attractive than others, so check the exact location and recent guest reviews before booking.

Santa Croce is lively and full of character. It contains restaurants, bars, leather shops and one of Florence’s most beautiful churches. The area is a good choice if you want to be close to the sights while having plenty to do after dark.

Oltrarno is ideal if you prefer a slightly more local atmosphere. The districts around Santo Spirito and San Frediano are filled with small restaurants, cafés and artisan businesses. You can still walk to the main landmarks, but the streets usually feel less overwhelmed by tour groups.

For something quieter and more romantic, consider accommodation near the Boboli Gardens or on the edges of the historic centre. You may have a longer walk, but you will escape some of the central noise.

Florence hotels can be expensive during spring, summer and major events. Booking early will give you a better choice of location and price.

For more info, read the accommodation in Florence guide.

Nightlife in Florence

Florence’s nightlife is more about sociable evenings than enormous nightclubs. Dinner starts the night, and drinks often continue in a square, wine bar or neighbourhood pub.

Santa Croce is one of the busiest areas after dark. The streets around the square contain pubs, cocktail bars and venues popular with students and international visitors.

Santo Spirito has a more relaxed local atmosphere. In warm weather, people gather around the square to talk, drink and enjoy the evening. The surrounding streets have small bars, traditional restaurants and modern places serving cocktails and natural wine.

San Frediano is another good option for a quieter night. This part of Oltrarno has become known for creative restaurants and stylish bars while retaining much of its neighbourhood character.

Florence is an excellent city for an aperitivo. Order a drink in the early evening and it may be served with crisps, olives or small snacks. Some venues provide a larger selection of food, although the exact format varies from place to place.

Wine bars are found throughout the centre and provide an easy introduction to Tuscan wine. Ask for recommendations rather than choosing the most familiar name. Staff will often suggest an excellent local glass that you might otherwise overlook.

Florence does have clubs, particularly outside the historic centre, but the city’s most enjoyable nights are often simpler: a good meal, a glass of wine and a slow walk beside the Arno.

Getting Outdoors in Florence

Florence is best explored on foot, and some of its most memorable experiences take place outdoors.

For the classic view across the city, walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo. From the terrace, you can see the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio and the Tuscan hills beyond the rooftops. Sunset is beautiful but very busy, so arrive early or visit in the morning for a calmer experience.

Continue a little farther uphill to the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte. The church is beautiful, the views are excellent and the atmosphere is generally quieter than Piazzale Michelangelo.

The Boboli Gardens stretch behind Palazzo Pitti and contain fountains, statues, shaded paths and formal landscaping. They provide a welcome break from Florence’s crowded streets, although the slopes can be tiring on a hot day.

For a gentler walk, follow the River Arno. The area around Ponte Santa Trinita provides one of the best views of Ponte Vecchio, particularly in the evening when the buildings reflect in the water.

The Cascine is Florence’s largest public park and extends westward beside the river. It is popular with local walkers, runners and cyclists. Renting a bicycle can also be a good way to explore the flatter areas beyond the historic centre.

If you have an extra day, take a trip into the Tuscan countryside. Chianti offers vineyards, hilltop villages and wine tastings, while Fiesole provides archaeological sites and beautiful views only a short journey from Florence.

Siena, Lucca and Pisa are also possible day trips by train or organised tour.

For more info, read the Outdoor activities in Florence guide.

Food and Drink in Florence

Florence is a wonderful place to eat, especially if you enjoy simple dishes made with good ingredients.

The city’s most famous meal is bistecca alla Fiorentina, an enormous T-bone steak traditionally cooked rare and shared between two or more people. It is priced by weight, so ask about the size and cost before ordering.

For something more affordable, try a lampredotto sandwich. Lampredotto is made from slow-cooked beef stomach and served in a bread roll with green sauce. It may sound challenging, but it is a genuine Florentine street-food favourite.

Ribollita is a thick Tuscan soup made with bread, beans and vegetables. Another traditional dish, pappa al pomodoro, combines tomatoes, bread, garlic and olive oil. Both are comforting examples of how Tuscan cooking turns basic ingredients into something delicious.

You will see crostini topped with chicken-liver pâté on many menus. Fresh pasta, wild-boar sauce, pecorino cheese and cured meats are other regional favourites.

Mercato Centrale is a useful place to try several different foods. The ground-floor market sells produce, meat, cheese and other ingredients, while the upper level has prepared-food stands and shared seating.

For a more local market experience, visit Sant’Ambrogio. The surrounding neighbourhood has bakeries, cafés and traditional places to eat.

Florence is surrounded by important wine regions. Chianti is the familiar choice, but you can also try Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the local dessert wine known as Vin Santo.

Finish with gelato, but choose carefully. Look for shops where the gelato sits naturally in metal containers rather than being piled into brightly coloured mountains. Good pistachio gelato should usually look muted and nutty rather than neon green.

For more info, read the Food and drink in Florence guide.

Final Thoughts

Florence is filled with masterpieces, but you do not need to treat your visit like a race through an art-history textbook.

See Michelangelo’s David, walk beneath Brunelleschi’s dome and spend time inside the Uffizi. Then slow down. Cross the river into Oltrarno, order lunch somewhere without a picture menu and watch the sunset from a hill above the city.

The best Florence trips combine famous art with ordinary pleasures: a morning coffee, a market lunch, a glass of Tuscan wine and an evening walk beside the Arno.

It can be busy, expensive and hot—but it is also beautiful, welcoming and remarkably easy to fall in love with.

These products contain affiliate links.

Anton@thetravelguideshop.com

© 2025. All rights reserved.