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

Last Updated on October 16, 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 for it instantly. It’s hard to put into words: the beauty, the food, the feeling of walking 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 as a newlywed. Max and I got married in Puglia in June 2025, and Florence was part of the 12-day Italian honeymoon that followed. Watching Max experience it the way I did in 2019 made it feel new all over again. The city more than holds up.

This guide is written with both trips in mind, for first-timers and returning visitors alike. For the details, I’ve written separate guides to the best boutique hotels in Florence, the best Airbnbs in Florence, and where to eat in Florence. This is the big picture.

The short version: plan three to five days in Florence, visit in April–May or September–October, book the Duomo dome, Accademia, and Uffizi in advance, and stay in the walkable historic center. We stayed at Stella d’Italia on Via de’ Tornabuoni on our honeymoon and loved it.

What Makes Florence Special

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

What sets Florence apart from a city like Rome is its intimacy. It rewards you for slowing down and paying attention, for wandering without a plan. One afternoon we stumbled onto a restaurant my college roommate had raved about from her study-abroad days. We walked in, mentioned her name, and were treated like family. That’s Florence.

How to Get to Florence

Once you’re in Italy, getting to Florence is easy, and with the right routing it’s very manageable from the U.S.

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 Rome, Florence is about 1.5 hours by high-speed train, often easier than a domestic flight. Search flights to Florence (FLR) or Rome (FCO) on Expedia, and if you’re flexible on dates, here’s how I use Google Flights to find cheap fares.

By train: The best way to get around Italy. The Frecciarossa high-speed train connects Florence to Rome in about 1.5 hours and to Milan in under two. Florence’s main station, Santa Maria Novella, is central and walkable to most hotels in the historic center. Book in advance through Trenitalia or Italo, and see my guide to train travel in Italy if it’s your first time.

By car: If you’re exploring Tuscany more widely (I highly recommend it; the wine country alone is worth it), renting a car gives you flexibility. Just know the historic center is a ZTL, a limited traffic zone, so park outside it and walk in. A private transfer is a lovely (if pricier) alternative; you can book a private driver on Viator or ask your hotel.

Best Time to Visit Florence

Florence is beautiful year-round, but timing shapes the trip.

Spring (April–May)

Arguably the ideal time. Warm but not scorching, the city lush and blooming, crowds not yet peaking, outdoor dining in full swing, and dreamy late-afternoon light. As with spring anywhere, pack for a gray or drizzly day or two.

Summer (June–August)

Peak season: heat, crowds, and higher prices. By mid-June it gets hot, and Uffizi and Accademia lines are brutal without reservations. That said, summer evenings are magical, with piazzas full of life and gelato non-negotiable. Book everything ahead, and save strenuous outings (like the walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo) for morning or evening.

Fall (September–October)

Fall in Europe has been calling my name since my trip to Spain and Portugal in the fall of 2023, and everything I’ve heard says early fall is Florence’s sweet spot too. Crowds thin, temperatures stay comfortable, and the Tuscan countryside turns golden. September into October is also harvest season in Chianti, the perfect time for a wine-country day trip.

Winter (November–March)

The off-season, and for the right traveler a wonderful option: fewer tourists, lower prices, and an atmosphere all its own. The big museums are far less crowded, so you can get close to the art. It’s colder and can be rainy. Pack layers.

Things to Do in Florence

You could fill a week in Florence and still feel you’d barely scratched the surface. Here’s what I did, and what I’d add on a return trip.

See the Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)

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

We didn’t make it up on either visit (a regret!), so it’s on my list for next time. The panoramic views are supposed to be breathtaking, and a skip-the-line Duomo tour adds a Florentine history lesson from a local guide.

Visit the Galleria dell’Accademia

This is where Michelangelo’s David lives, and it’s worth every bit of the hype. Standing in front of the actual sculpture, not a replica or a photograph, is one of those moments that stops you. The museum also holds other works by Michelangelo and a collection of Renaissance paintings. Book ahead; the line without tickets is significant.

Stroll the Ponte Vecchio

Florence’s oldest and most iconic bridge spans the Arno with a row of jewelry shops built right into it, and it’s as photogenic as every photo suggests. Go early, before the crowds, or at golden hour, when the light on the river is extraordinary. The views from the bridge, and from the riverbanks on either side, are some of the best in the city.

Visit Palazzo Gucci (Formerly the Gucci Garden)

For fashion lovers, the house’s home in Florence reopened in April 2026 as Palazzo Gucci, in the 14th-century Palazzo della Mercanzia on Piazza della Signoria. Its new exhibition, Gucci Storia, tells the brand’s story across two floors, with a boutique on the ground floor and Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura for lunch or dinner. Even if fashion isn’t your thing, the building alone is worth a look.

Take in the View from Piazzale Michelangelo

If you do nothing else on this list, get to Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset. The hilltop terrace just south of the Arno has the most iconic view of Florence: the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the Palazzo Vecchio tower, all framed by terracotta rooftops and the green Tuscan hills. It’s the kind of view that stops you mid-sentence.

Take an Italian Cooking Class

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

Get Lost in the Oltrarno and Santo Spirito

Cross the Arno into the Oltrarno and let yourself wander. It has a slower, more residential feel than the historic center: artisan workshops, small wine bars, neighborhood trattorias. Santo Spirito in particular feels like the Florence that appears when the tour groups thin out. Il Santino is here, reason enough to cross the river; I cover it in my Florence restaurant guide.

Just Walk

It sounds like a non-tip, but I mean it: save blocks of unscheduled time. Florence rewards wandering. We found a restaurant a friend had raved about simply by turning down a street we hadn’t tried yet, and shops run by the same families for decades. Some of my favorite moments in Florence happened with nowhere to be.

Where to Eat in Florence

Florence has incredible food (this is Tuscany, after all), from casual neighborhood trattorias to white-tablecloth dining. My top recommendation, without hesitation, is Buca Mario. We went on our very first night of the honeymoon (with a reservation, of course) and loved it.

One of Florence’s oldest restaurants, Buca Mario has the history and atmosphere that earn a reputation without trying. Reserve ahead; don’t show up and hope. The Seggiano pecorino with apples and Casentino honey is a perfect starter, and order “Grandma Isabella’s” lasagna. It’s easily the best lasagna I’ve ever had.

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.”

For the full list, from that lasagna to a rooftop Duomo view that made me forget what I’d ordered, see my guide to where to eat in Florence. A few quick extras: Gelateria dei Neri for gelato (you’ll go back twice), Enoteca Marione for a glass of wine before dinner, and Trattoria Marione al Trebbio for a reliable classic Florentine dinner. And if you’d like a guided food tour, browse Florence food experiences on Viator.

Where to Stay in Florence

For every option side by side, see my guide to the best boutique hotels in Florence, or the best Airbnbs in Florence if you’d rather have an apartment. I’ve stayed in Florence twice, and each stay shaped how I see the city.

Hotel L’Orologio – Santa Maria Novella (2019)

On the first trip in 2019, my parents chose Hotel L’Orologio, and you cannot argue with the location: steps from the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and the Medici Chapels. It was comfortable, well placed, and a lovely place to stay. These days, left to my own devices, I lean toward something more design-forward (and occasionally luxury-leaning), which is exactly how we landed where we did on our honeymoon.

Stella d’Italia – Via de’ Tornabuoni (2025, Our Honeymoon)

While planning our honeymoon, I came across Stella d’Italia and knew immediately it was the one. It sits on Via de’ Tornabuoni, Florence’s famous luxury shopping street, with the Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and Santa Maria Novella all within easy reach. The design is beautifully eclectic, the staff made us feel cared for (celebratory prosecco on arrival), and the rooftop, with views over the rooftops to the hills, is the kind of place you linger with a glass of wine long after you meant to leave. I’d go back.

While we were in town, I did what I always do in a city I love and popped into a few other hotels. IL Tornabuoni is practically next door and a beautiful spot for a drink even if you’re not staying. The Place Firenze caught my attention, too, and is worth a look if you’re comparing.

Best Day Trips from Florence

Florence is an excellent base for exploring Tuscany.

• Chianti wine country: The rolling hills between Florence and Siena are some of the most iconic wine landscapes in the world. A guided Chianti wine tasting tour takes you through vineyards, cellars, and hilltop villages.
• Siena: About 1.5 hours by bus or car, a stunning medieval city with its own famous cathedral and the Piazza del Campo. Pairs perfectly with a wine-country day.
• Cinque Terre: A long day (about three hours each way by train) but worth it if you haven’t been. Book a Cinque Terre day trip from Florence on Viator.
• Pisa: About an hour by train. Yes, the Leaning Tower is touristy, and worth seeing if that’s your thing.
• San Gimignano: A beautifully preserved medieval hill town known for its towers and its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano. A half-day from Florence.

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

We shared the tasting with another honeymoon couple and a mother-daughter duo, all American, all lovely. Something about a Tuscan wine tasting on a sun-drenched morning turns strangers into old friends by the last pour. If Poggio Torselli isn’t your speed, browse Florence tours and Tuscan wine tastings 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.

Florence has a way of staying with you long after you leave. I’ve been twice now and would go back a third time without a second thought. If you haven’t been, I hope this gives you the push you needed.

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

Plan Your Trip to Florence

• Getting there: Fly into Florence (FLR) if you can, or Rome (FCO) or Milan (MXP) and connect by train. Explore flights on Expedia.
• Getting around: A guide to train travel in Italy and renting a car and driving in Italy.
• Where to stay: The best boutique hotels in Florence and the best Airbnbs in Florence.
• Where to eat: The best restaurants in Florence.
• Day trips and experiences: Browse Florence tours, wine tastings, and cooking classes on Viator.