Florence, Italy Travel Guide: What to See, Where to Stay & Why It Might Be Italy’s Most Beautiful City

Last Updated on February 23, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford

Florence has held a piece of my heart since the first time I set foot in it back in 2019. I was on a family trip — my very first time in Italy — and I fell in love with it instantly. It’s the kind of place that’s hard to properly put into words. The beauty, the food, the feeling of walking through streets that have looked more or less the same for centuries. Florence was my favorite stop on that trip, and it stayed with me long after we flew home.

Six years later, I went back, this time as a newlywed. Max and I got married in Puglia in June 2025, and Florence was part of our 12-day Italian honeymoon that followed. Showing it to Max for the first time, watching him experience it the way I did in 2019, made it feel completely new all over again. The city more than holds up!

This guide is written with both trips in mind — first-timer and returning visitor alike. Whether you’re building your first Italy itinerary or plotting a return, here’s everything you need to plan a trip to Florence.

What Makes Florence Special

Florence is one of those cities that genuinely lives up to the hype — and then somehow exceeds it. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, the city is home to some of the most celebrated art and architecture in the world: Michelangelo’s David, Brunelleschi’s Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio, to name a few. And yet Florence never feels like a quiet museum. It feels alive. Locals move through the piazzas with purpose, trattorias spill onto cobblestone streets, gelato shops are abundant, and the whole city glows a particular golden color in the late afternoon that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

What sets Florence apart from Italian cities like Rome is its intimacy. It’s a city that rewards you for slowing down and paying attention — for wandering without a plan and seeing what you find. On one of our afternoons there, we stumbled onto a restaurant my college roommate had raved about from her study abroad days. We walked in, told them the connection, and were treated like family. That’s Florence.

How to Get to Florence

Getting to Florence is straightforward once you’re in Italy, and with the right routing, it’s very manageable from the U.S. as well.

• By Plane: Florence has its own small airport, Amerigo Vespucci (FLR), but most international travelers fly into Rome Fiumicino (FCO) or Milan Malpensa (MXP) and connect from there. From Rome, Florence is about 1.5 hours by high-speed train — often easier than a domestic airline connection. Search flights to Florence (FLR) or Rome (FCO) on Expedia!
• By Train: This is the best way to get around Italy once you’re there. The Frecciarossa (high-speed rail) connects Florence to Rome in about 1.5 hours and to Milan in under 2 hours. Florence’s main station, Santa Maria Novella, is centrally located and walkable to most hotels in the historic center. Book trains in advance through Trenitalia or Italo, and check out my guide to train travel in Italy if you’re a first-timer.
• By Car: If you’re exploring Tuscany more broadly (which I highly recommend — the wine country alone is worth it), renting a car gives you so much more flexibility. That said, driving in the historic center of Florence is restricted by a ZTL (limited traffic zone), so parking outside the center and walking in is the move. Private transfer is always a great option (although more expensive) if you’d rather not drive yourself. You can book a private driver on Viator or work with your hotel.

Best Times to Visit Florence

Florence is beautiful year-round, but the timing of your visit will shape the experience significantly. Here’s what to expect each season:

Spring (April–May)

Spring is arguably the ideal time to visit Florence. The weather is warm but not scorching, the city is lush and blooming, and the crowds haven’t yet peaked. Outdoor dining is in full swing, and the light in the late afternoon is absolutely dreamy. If you can go in April or May, do it — but as with spring in most places, do prepare for the potential of some overcast or slightly drizzly days.

Summer (June–August)

Summer is peak season, which means heat, crowds, and higher prices. June is when crowds start to pick up, and temperatures start to rise. By mid-June, it can get hot in the city, so keep that in mind. The Uffizi and Accademia lines can be brutal without reservations. That said, Florence in the evening during summer is genuinely magical — the piazzas come alive, the gelato is non-negotiable, and there’s an energy to the city that is hard to replicate. Just book everything in advance and plan to do more strenuous outdoor sightseeing (like walking all the way up to Piazzale Michelangelo) in the morning or evening when it’s a bit cooler.

Fall (September–October)

A fall in Europe has been calling my name ever since my trip to Spain and Portugal in the fall of 2022, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about this timeframe in Firenze, too. They say that early fall is a sweet spot. Summer crowds begin to thin, temperatures are still comfortable, and the Tuscan countryside turns golden. September into October is also harvest season in Chianti — if a day trip into wine country is on your list (it should be), this is a great time to do it!

Winter (November–March)

Winter is Florence’s off-season, and for the right traveler, it’s a wonderfuloption. Fewer tourists, lower prices, and an atmospheric quality to the city that’s entirely its own. Imagine this: the major museums are far less crowded, and you can get up close and personal with the art. It’s cold(er), of course, and can be rainy, but that’s winter. Just pack layers.

Things to Do in Florence

Florence is one of those cities where you could fill a week and still feel like you barely scratched the surface. Here are the things I did — and the ones I’d add on a return trip.

See the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)

You’ll see the Duomo before you even know you’re looking for it — Brunelleschi’s dome truly dominates the Florence skyline in a way that never gets old. The cathedral itself is free to enter, but the dome climb requires a ticket and advance reservation.

We didn’t make it up on either visit (a regret!), but it’s on my list for a future trip. The panoramic views of the city are supposed to be breathtaking. You can book a skip-the-line Duomo tour on Viator, complete with a Florentine history lesson from an expert local guide!

Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia

This is where Michelangelo’s David lives, and it is worth every bit of the hype. Standing in front of the actual sculpture — not a replica, not a photograph — is one of those moments that genuinely stops you. The museum also houses other important works by Michelangelo, as well as a collection of Renaissance paintings by Italian masters. Book your tickets in advance; the line without them is significant.

Stroll Along Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is Florence’s oldest and most iconic bridge, spanning the Arno River with its row of jewelry shops built directly into the structure. It’s as photogenic as every photo you’ve seen suggests. Go early in the morning before the crowds arrive, or at golden hour when the light on the river is extraordinary. The views from the bridge itself — and from the riverbanks on either side — are some of the best in the city.

Explore the Gucci Garden & Shop

For anyone who loves fashion, the Gucci Garden in Piazza della Signoria is a genuinely special experience. The museum showcases the brand’s history through archival pieces, art installations, and multimedia exhibitions. The concept store attached to it carries exclusive merchandise you won’t find anywhere else. Even if fashion isn’t your thing, the building itself — a 14th-century palazzo — is incredible.

Take in the Views at Piazzale Michelangelo

If you do nothing else on this list, make it to Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. This hilltop terrace sits just south of the Arno and offers the most iconic panoramic view of Florence: the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the Palazzo Vecchio tower, all of it framed by the terracotta rooftops and the green hills of Tuscany in the background. It’s the kind of view that makes you stop talking mid-sentence.

Take an Italian Cooking Class

One of the best things we did in Florence, our first time around, was a pizza-making class — my dad is a die-hard pizza lover, so it was a no-brainer for our group. There are plenty of cooking classes in Florence for pasta, bread, gelato, and more. It’s the perfect mix of activity and dinner, and you leave with both a full stomach and a skill.

Get Lost in Oltrarno & Santo Spirito

Cross the Arno into the Oltrarno neighborhood and let yourself wander. It has a quieter, more residential feel than the historic center — artisan workshops, small wine bars, local trattorias. Santo Spirito in particular has a charm that makes it feel like the Florence that exists when the tourist crowds thin out. Il Santino (mentioned above) is here, which is reason enough to make the trip across the river.

Just Walk

This sounds like a non-tip, but I mean it as an actual recommendation: save blocks of unscheduled time to simply wander. Florence is a city that rewards wandering. We found a restaurant a college friend had raved about from her study abroad days just by turning down a street we hadn’t been on yet. We found adorable shops run by people who’d been there for decades. Some of my favorite moments in Florence happened with nowhere specific to be.

Where to Eat in Florence

Florence has incredible food — this is Tuscany, after all — and the restaurant scene ranges from casual neighborhood trattorias to proper white-tablecloth dining. My top recommendation, without hesitation, is Buca Mario. We ended up there on the very first day of our honeymoon (with a reservation, of course), and loved it so much!

One of Florence’s oldest restaurants, Buca Mario, has the kind of history and atmosphere that earns its reputation without trying too hard. Reservations are highly recommended — don’t show up and hope for the best. The Seggiano Pecorino Cheese with Apples and Casentino Honey is a delicious starter, and I highly recommend ordering “Grandma Isabella’s” Lasagna. It is quite easily the best lasagna I’ve ever had!

Beyond that, a few things worth knowing about eating in Florence:

• Most restaurants observe a “siesta” period, closing around 3:00 pm and reopening around 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm for dinner service. Don’t try to walk in for a full meal at 2:30.
• Pepperoni in Italy means “bell peppers,” not the cured meat that we get in the U.S. If you want what Americans call pepperoni on a pizza, look for spicy salami (salame piccante).
• Fettuccine Alfredo does not exist in Florence (or most of Italy). It’s an American invention. Order pasta with cream sauce (panna) if that’s what you’re looking for.
• Water is not free and not assumed. You’ll be asked whether you want sparkling (frizzante) or still (naturale). Budget a few euros per person.
• Finishing your food is culturally significant. Not finishing implies you didn’t enjoy it. If you genuinely can’t finish, a brief “era delizioso, ma ho mangiato troppo” goes a long way — it translates to “it was delicious, but I ate too much.”

A full guide to where to eat (and drink) in Florence is in the works…check back soon. For now, here are a few more recommendations:

• La Giostra
• Osteria delle Tre Panche
• Trattoria dei 13 Gobbi
• Enoteca Bellini
• Enoteca Marione
• Il Santino Bevitore (my favorite wine bar in all of Florence!)
• Gelateria dei Neri
• Schiacciateria dei Neri 18R (i migliori panini del mondo – the best sandwiches ever!)

As always, get in touch if you have any specific questions!

Where to Stay in Florence

I’ve stayed in Florence twice now, and both experiences shaped how I think about the city in different ways.

On the first trip in 2019, my parents chose Hotel L’Orologio — and honestly, you cannot argue with the location. Steps from the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and the Medici Chapels. It was comfortable, well-situated, and a perfectly lovely place to stay. But these days, left to my own devices, I tend to gravitate toward something a little more design-forward (and occasionally luxury-leaning) — which is exactly how we ended up at the hotel we did for our Florentine honeymoon stop.

A Stay I Loved: Stella d’Italia

While planning our honeymoon itinerary, I came across Stella d’Italia and knew immediately it was the one for that trip. It sits right on Via Tornabuoni, Florence’s iconic luxury shopping street, putting you in the heart of the city with Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Santa Maria Novella all within easy reach. The design is beautifully eclectic, the staff made us feel genuinely taken care of (with celebratory prosecco upon arrival), and the rooftop is the kind of thing you don’t forget — views over the Florentine rooftops with the hills in the distance. The kind of view you linger over with a glass of wine long after you meant to leave. I would go back.

While we were in Florence, I did what I always do in a city I love — popped into a few other properties just to see them. IL Tornabuoni is worth mentioning because it’s practically next door to Stella d’Italia and a beautiful spot for a drink, even if you’re not staying there. The Place Firenze is another one that caught my attention and is worth a look if you’re comparing options for your stay.

For a deeper look at all your options, I have two dedicated guides: my roundup of the best boutique hotels in Florence and my curated list of the best Airbnbs in Florence. Both are worth a read before you book.

Best Day Trips from Florence

Florence makes an excellent base for exploring Tuscany more broadly. Some of the best day trips include:

• Chianti Wine Country: The rolling hills between Florence and Siena are some of the most iconic wine country landscapes in the world. A guided wine tour will take you through vineyards, cellars, and hilltop villages with the backdrop of a classic Tuscan afternoon. Book a wine tour from Florence on Viator or directly with the winery of your choice.
• Siena: About 1.5 hours by bus or car, Siena is a stunning medieval city with its own famous cathedral and the iconic Piazza del Campo. It pairs perfectly with a day in wine country.
• Cinque Terre: A longer day trip (about 3 hours each way by train), but absolutely worth it if you haven’t been. The five colorful cliffside villages along the Ligurian coast are a beautiful coastal escape from the city. Book a Cinque Terre day trip from Florence on Viator.
• Pisa: About an hour away by train. Yes, the Leaning Tower is touristy. But worth seeing if you’re into that kind of thing.
• San Gimignano: A perfectly preserved medieval hill town famous for its towers and its white wine (Vernaccia di San Gimignano). A half-day from Florence.

One of my favorite days of our entire honeymoon was a half-day trip to Poggio Torselli, a stunning estate just outside Florence. I booked the 10:30 AM tasting in advance — before we even boarded the plane to Italy — which I’d recommend doing, so you can enjoy the rest of your afternoon back in the city. Our hotel arranged a taxi to get us there, and Poggio Torselli called one to bring us back, which made the whole thing wonderfully seamless.

We shared the experience with another honeymoon couple and a mother-daughter duo, all American, all lovely. There’s something about a Tuscan wine tasting on a sun-drenched morning that makes strangers feel like old friends by the time the last glass is poured. If Poggio Torselli isn’t your speed, or you’re looking for something different, be sure to explore Tuscan wine experiences and other day trips on Viator.

Practical Travel Tips for Florence

• How many days? Three to five days is ideal for Florence. Three days gets you through the major highlights; five days lets you breathe, wander, and add a day trip or two. We spent five days on our first visit, and it felt exactly right.
• Book in advance: The Uffizi, Accademia (David), and Duomo dome climb all require booking in advance, especially in peak season. Don’t leave this until you arrive.
• Shoes: Florence is a walking city with cobblestone streets throughout. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. Save the cute-but-impractical sandals for dinner.
• ZTL Zone: If you’re renting a car, be aware of Florence’s ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) in the historic center. Driving into it without authorization will result in a fine. Park outside the zone and walk or take a taxi in.
• Language: A little Italian goes a very long way. Buongiorno, grazie, scusi, and prego will be well-received wherever you go. Italians appreciate the effort, even if it’s just these four words.
• Cash: Cards are widely accepted in Florence, but carry some euros for smaller purchases, coffee at the counter, and any markets you wander into.
• Air conditioning: It exists in Florence, but can be inconsistent in older buildings. If you’re visiting in summer, ask your hotel about fans and try to book a room with AC confirmed.
• Gelato: Look for gelaterias with the gelato stored in covered metal containers (not the brightly mounded piles in tourist traps). The real stuff is denser, more flavorful, and made fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florence

Is Florence worth visiting?

Without question. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world — the art, the architecture, the food, the atmosphere. I fell in love with it the moment I arrived in 2019 and came back for my honeymoon in 2025. It’s the kind of place that earns a return visit.

How many days do you need in Florence?

A minimum of three days gives you enough time to see the highlights (Duomo, Accademia, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo) and enjoy the city at a reasonable pace. Five days is ideal if you want to add a day trip to Chianti or Siena and still have time to wander without a schedule. Don’t rush Florence — it rewards a slower pace.

Is Florence walkable?

Very. The historic center is compact, and most major sights are within comfortable walking distance of each other. That’s part of what makes Florence feel so intimate compared to Rome. Good walking shoes are a must, given the cobblestones, but you genuinely don’t need a car or public transit within the city center.

Is Florence expensive?

Florence sits in the mid-range for Italian cities — less expensive than the Amalfi Coast (generally speaking), roughly comparable to Rome, and more expensive than smaller southern Italian towns like Ostuni or Lecce. A nice dinner for two will run €60–90, depending on where you go; a coffee at the counter is still less than €2. Hotel prices vary widely depending on location and time of year. The best thing about Florence is that you can find something for every type of budget!

What language is spoken in Florence?

Italian, of course, and English is fairly widely understood in the tourist areas. That said, making an effort with a few Italian words and phrases (buongiorno, grazie, scusi) will genuinely warm people up to you. Italians are incredibly proud of their language and culture, and even a small effort is noticed and appreciated.

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Florence has a way of staying with you long after you leave. There’s something about the scale of the beauty there — the fact that you turn a corner and there’s the Duomo, or you walk across a bridge, and the light on the Arno stops you in your tracks — that doesn’t fade. I’ve been twice now and would go back a third time without a second thought. If you haven’t been, I hope this guide gives you the push you needed.

For more Italy inspiration, explore my Italy travel guides, including our 12-day Italian honeymoon itinerary, my guide to Ostuni and Puglia, and my roundup of the best boutique hotels around the world.

Plan Your Trip to Florence

• Getting There: If you can, search flights right into Florence (FLR). If that’s not an option, fly into Rome (FCO) or Milan (MXP) and connect by train. Explore flight options on Expedia.
• Getting Around Italy: Everything you need to know about train travel is in the following guides:
  • A Guide to Train Travel in Italy
  • Renting a Car & Driving in Italy: What to Know Before You Hit the Road
• Where to Stay: Take a peek at my lists of both the best hotels in Florence and the best Airbnbs in Florence to find the perfect place to stay.
• Day Trips & Experiences: Browse Florence tours, wine tastings & cooking classes on Viator.