Travel Guide: Florence, Italy

June 21, 2019

Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Lauren Belzer

Florence is where I learned the most about Italian culture on a family trip in 2019. It also happened to be my favorite stop out of our three. Why? Because even though I was halfway across the world, the city made me feel at home.

Florence is stunning and full of so many things to do. In this post, I break down our 5-day stay in Florence and provide tips, tricks, and other info about things I’ve learned about Italy, traveling throughout the country, and some of my favorite spots in Florence!

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the quaint and unique Hotel L’Orologio during our time in Florence. It is in the heart of the city, surrounded by shopping, top tourist destinations like the Duomo, and the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which you can see from Hotel L’Orologio’s breakfast room, and so much more!

Hotel L’Orologio is approximately 1 mile to every major spot you might want to go: the Medici Chapels, Palazzo Strozzi, Ponte Vecchio…everything is so close. Not only that, but it was a very cozy hotel, with comfortable, modern furnishings. Our room looked out onto a narrow alleyway that led to our favorite restaurant of the trip (and maybe our top 5 in the world) plus a delicious gelato spot that we stopped in at for a treat each night,

Our Favorite Restaurant

If you are ever in Florence, forget about Trip Advisor or Yelp or any of those other “recommended restaurants in Florence” lists, and remember this restaurant and this restaurant only. It is called: Trattoria al Trebbio, and it is where we ended up going on our very first night in Florence. We loved it so much that we went back the very next day.

We were obsessed with a specific dish on their recommended specials menu. We cannot remember exactly how the menu read, all we know is that it was the Paccheri with some kind of gorgonzola cream sauce and truffles. Not only was it our favorite dish in Florence, but a favorite dish of the entire trip.

Things to Do in Florence

There are endless things to do in Florence, but here are a few things that we did:

Stroll Along Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is one of Florence’s most iconic landmarks, and exploring it should be on your itinerary. It is a famous medieval bridge spanning the Arno River.

Take time to admire the bridge’s unique architecture, lined with charming shops selling jewelry, art, and souvenirs. Take in the picturesque views of the river and the surrounding cityscape from the bridge, which has been a bustling hub of activity for centuries.

See the Duomo

Seeing the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, commonly referred to as the Duomo, is essential when visiting Florence.

The Duomo dominates the city’s skyline with its magnificent dome and is adorned with marble panels, statues, and stunning Gothic architecture. We did not get a chance to do this, but it is recommended to climb to the top of the dome for breathtaking panoramic views of Florence!

Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia

Including the Galleria dell’Accademia in your Florence itinerary provides an opportunity to appreciate some of the most celebrated artworks in history, particularly Michelangelo’s iconic sculpture, David. In addition to David, the museum houses other significant works by Michelangelo, as well as a collection of Renaissance paintings and sculptures by other Italian masters.

Explore the Gucci Garden & Shop

Immerse yourself in the world of fashion and luxury at the Gucci Garden, which showcases the brand’s rich history and creative vision. The museum features exhibitions of iconic Gucci designs, archival pieces, contemporary art installations, and multimedia presentations.

Visitors can also shop for exclusive Gucci merchandise at the concept store, which offers a curated selection of clothing, accessories, and collectibles.

Stroll Through the Streets of Florence

You never know what you’ll stumble upon when simply walking through the streets of an unfamiliar city. We found adorable shops run by sweet locals and stunning viewpoints of different parts of the city…we even stumbled upon a restaurant that my college roommate raved about from her study abroad experience in Florence.

We decided to stop in at that restaurant for lunch, and were treated to a delicious meal by the same people she got to know during her time abroad! They treated us like family, and the food was delicious.

Take in the Views at Piazzale Michelangelo

Be sure to add Piazzale Michelangelo to your Florence itinerary. This spot provides a panoramic view of the city, offering a breathtaking look at the city skyline, and a stunning spot to watch the sunset!

From here, you can see prime landmarks including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and Palazzo Vecchio, against the backdrop of the picturesque Tuscan countryside.

Enjoy an Italian Cooking Class

There are many options for cooking classes throughout Florence where you can really immerse yourself in the world of Italian cuisine. My dad is a big pizza lover so my parents booked us a pizza making class – the perfect way to combine a fun activity with a delicious dinner.

Italian Culture

While in Florence, I learned so much about Italian people and Italian culture and picked up on a few things as well. I thought I would share what I learned or observed:

Words/Phrases to Know

Even if this is all you know, Italians love it when you at least try to speak Italian as it shows that you are making an effort to assimilate to their day-to-day. Make it a point to order your food the way it is said in Italian (not the English ingredients) as much as possible.

Buon giorno: Good morning / good day

Ciao: Hello / goodbye

Buonasera: Good evening

Scusi: Excuse me

Si: Yes (just like Spanish but without the accent)

Grazie: Thank you

Cultural Things

“Siesta”

A majority of stores, restaurants, etc. will close around 3:00 pm and reopen around 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm. This is their “siesta” period. Restaurant owners/staff will not like you very much if you come in trying to eat a full meal at 2:30 pm.

Food

Salami, cheese, and other cold cuts are a normal breakfast item
Pepperoni is not what you think it is. In Italian, pepperoni means “bell peppers,” so if you are looking for what is typically a “pepperoni pizza” in America…think spicy salami.
Do not order “Fettuccine Alfredo.” It doesn’t exist. Alfredo is a human name and you will get laughed at. If you want something similar, look for dishes with cream sauce (panna) on the menu.

Other Things to Know

It is considered disrespectful to not finish your food (they think you didn’t like it). Ensure the wait staff that you liked it, but have a small appetite or simply cannot finish it. And do not take food to go unless it is specifically a takeaway restaurant (a lot of places won’t even have takeaway boxes).
People do not have the right of way in a lot of Italy like we do in the U.S. When crossing the street, you have to make eye contact with drivers, or stick your hand out, cross, and hope you don’t get hit. It’s scary at first but you will get the hang of it. Try to walk on the side of cobblestone streets instead of in the middle because Italian drivers don’t have much patience for pedestrians.
Never speak poorly about Italian people (family in particular), country, or food. Italians are incredibly proud to be Italian. Only they are allowed to poke fun at their country/culture.
Water is not free. You have to pay for it at restaurants. And you get the choice between sparkling and still.
Air conditioning doesn’t exist (well, it does, but it sucks). It is highly recommend asking for a standing fan upon check-in at your accommodations if they have them or travel with a small portable fan.
If you are in a grocery store/market and are looking for shampoo and conditioner… they will likely know what shampoo is, but not conditioner. It’s “Balsamo.” I just saved you 20 mins of searching/asking!

There is so much more that I could tell you about Florence or just Italy in general but nothing compares to experiencing it yourself. Book that plane ticket and get your butt to Firenze!