Daniel Lu / Wikimedia Commons (Ponte Vecchio, Florence)Personalized picks based on your interests and what's nearby.
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Renaissance, a compact city where an astonishing density of art, architecture and food sits within an easy walk. Michelangelo's David, Botticelli's masterpieces in the Uffizi, and Brunelleschi's terracotta dome crowning the cathedral are all within a few…
Best time to visit
Cross the river to the Oltrarno district for artisan workshops, quieter piazzas and some of the city's best-value trattorias.
The sights and experiences worth your time — with honest prices.
One of the world's greatest art museums, home to Botticelli's Birth of Venus, works by Leonardo, Raphael and Caravaggio. Book a timed ticket online in advance; same-day tickets are cheaper but mean long queues and exposure to touts.
The gallery built around Michelangelo's original David, along with his unfinished Prisoners. It is small and extremely popular, so a timed reservation is essential to avoid queues that can stretch for hours.
The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is free to enter, but climbing Brunelleschi's dome, the bell tower, baptistery and museum needs the combined Brunelleschi Pass with a timed slot for the dome, booked well ahead.
The fortress-like town hall on Piazza della Signoria, with lavish frescoed halls and a tower you can climb for rooftop views. Museum and tower can be visited separately or on a combined ticket.
The must-try local dishes, sweets and fruits — including the exotic ones you won't find back home.
DishMicrosoikos / Wikimedia Commons (Florence bistecca alla fiorentina)Florence's legendary steak: a thick T-bone cut of Tuscan beef, grilled rare over embers and seasoned simply with salt, pepper and olive oil. It is sold by weight and usually shared between two or more, and ordering it well done is considered a small culinary sin.
DishIthunn / Wikimedia Commons (Florence Tuscan ribollita)A hearty Tuscan bread-and-vegetable soup of cavolo nero, beans and stale bread, its name meaning 'reboiled' because it is traditionally cooked again the next day. It is peasant cooking (cucina povera) at its most comforting, thick enough to stand a spoon in and drizzled with good olive oil.
DishLucarelli / Wikimedia Commons (Florence lampredotto sandwich)Florence's signature street food: the fourth stomach of the cow slow-cooked in broth, chopped and stuffed into a crusty roll dipped in the cooking juices, usually with green salsa verde or a spicy sauce. It is sold from historic street carts and is far tastier than its offal origins suggest.
SweetSue Reynolds / Wikimedia Commons (gelato in Florence)Florence claims a founding role in modern gelato, and its best gelaterie make small batches with natural ingredients and seasonal flavours. Look for muted, natural colours and covered tubs rather than bright, artificially fluffy mounds, which signal a more industrial product.
SweetMatteo Bertini / Wikimedia Commons (Tuscan cantucci near Florence)Crunchy twice-baked almond biscuits from Tuscany, traditionally served at the end of a meal with a small glass of sweet Vin Santo wine for dipping. They are the classic Florentine way to finish dinner, and the dry, nutty biscuit softens perfectly in the golden dessert wine.
Ask travelers and locals — or help others and earn points.
Real restaurants, cafés, sights and things to do across the city — live from the map, with our fair-price and scam intelligence on top.
What locals pay — check a quote before you hand over cash.
Booked direct? Many suppliers offer free cancellation within 24 hours.
Booked direct? Many suppliers offer free cancellation within 24 hours.
Booked direct? Many suppliers offer free cancellation within 24 hours.
Prices like this often drop closer to the date — worth waiting if your plans are flexible.
Book direct — often cheaper than platforms, with free cancellation more often than not.
Book direct — often cheaper than platforms, with free cancellation more often than not.
Booked direct? Many suppliers offer free cancellation within 24 hours.
Real fares, not tourist prices.
A direct tramline between Florence Airport and the Santa Maria Novella station area in about twenty minutes, with no airport surcharge. The cheapest and simplest link if you are staying near the centre.
Licensed taxis charge a set flat fare between the airport and the historic centre, with a small evening and holiday supplement. Best for groups or lots of luggage; confirm the fixed rate and use only the official rank.
Many visitors fly into Pisa instead; a train connects Pisa Airport to Florence's Santa Maria Novella station in about an hour. A good-value option if flights into Pisa are cheaper than into Florence.
Florence's modern tram lines mainly serve the outskirts and the airport rather than the historic core. Useful for reaching the station and outer areas, though the centre itself is best on foot.
City buses fill the gaps the trams miss and reach viewpoints like Piazzale Michelangelo. Buy and validate a ticket before or on boarding, and watch your belongings on busy tourist routes.
The historic core is small, flat and largely pedestrian, with most major sights within a fifteen-minute walk of each other. Comfortable shoes and a relaxed pace are the best way to see Florence.
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) offer warm, pleasant weather and slightly thinner crowds. July and August are hot and very busy around the Duomo and Uffizi, while winter is cool and much quieter, with occasional rain and shorter museum queues.
Two to three days covers the Uffizi, the Accademia, the Duomo complex and the historic centre at a reasonable pace, with time for Piazzale Michelangelo, the Oltrarno and a proper Tuscan meal.
Yes for the Uffizi, the Accademia (David) and the climb up Brunelleschi's dome, which use timed entry and sell out or mean long queues. Booking ahead also helps you avoid touts selling overpriced tickets.
Yes. Florence's tap water and its public fountains are safe and good to drink. Bring a refillable bottle to save money and stay hydrated, especially in summer.
Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered for the Duomo and most churches, or you may be turned away. Comfortable shoes matter too, as the centre is best explored on foot over cobbles.
The T2 tram reaches the Santa Maria Novella station area in about twenty minutes and is the cheapest option, while fixed-fare taxis suit groups with luggage. Many travellers also fly into Pisa and take the train.