Surrounded by the Tuscan Apennines and located on the River Arno, Florence is a classic Italian city. Thanks to an abundance of bustling squares, it is arguably the best of all Italian cities to people-watch. It is also home to the most important collection of Italian and Renaissance art in the world, largely thanks to the world-famous Uffizi Gallery. But as the Tuscan capital attracts over 20,000 overseas students who study there each year, it is also surprisingly lively after dark and is laced with bars and nightclubs.
Download Florence Pocket Guide »
Don't Have Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Download GuideFlorence is by far my favorite city that I've been to so far in Italy. We went when there was great weather, but that aside there was so much to do. The people are incredibly friendly and we loved just walking around, eating, drinking, and talking to locals. Very beautiful and welcoming city.
Insider Tip:Definitely go to the Leather Market!! Make sure to haggle with the vendors though, you can always find a better price.
Florence is so beautiful and elegant. Ponte vecchio looks like a fairy tale, and Santa Maria Fiore (Duomo) will leave you breathless. There are good food and gelatos if you find the right places. If you are really into arts and architecture, you will fall in love with this city. Every attraction is within 30 minute walk. Also very close to Pisa, Lucca, and Siena, it is a very convenient location. If you want to go to Cinque Terre, however, I would make a day trip from Pisa.
Insider Tip:If you want to go out, Sant Croce is it. Good restaurant and Panini is in a little Piazza Cimatori. Go to Piazza Michaelangelo at sunset or at night, and have a drink and chillout there. There is also a little beach near the bridge where Piazza Michaelangelo is. Firenze card is worth purchasing if you want to see everything as you can skip lines and attractions are pricey. Knowing a bit of history here can make sightseeing more fun. Do free walking tours!
Great city with lots to do as well. However it has more museums to be seen than Rome, where a lot of the sights there were easily seen from outside.
Insider Tip:If your a museum person book the uffizi museum your first day there for later in your stay and make sure its early and you get there 30 minutes ahead of time. I tried to go to it but it was always a couple hours worth of waiting so be warned. You can eat out more here as compared to Rome because it tended to be a couple euros cheaper, so dig in! also great gelato, best i had my whole trip was at viccoli's!
Florence is a beautiful city and there are sooo many iconic buildings and sights unique to Italy situated there. There's a lot of art and political history centered there so its definitely a must see. The only thing I didn't so much enjoy was how touristy it was. I like travelling when you get to know the locals and get to live the life that the locals have on an everyday basis, but because sooo many people in Florence are tourists you don't really have a chance to do that.
Insider Tip:Watch out for tourist traps. We went to a couple gelato places that ripped us off because we would ask for a cup and before we can specify which size cup we want they just pick the largest size and charged us 15 euro for a cup and when we told them we that's not what we wanted they just shook their head and made us pay for it.
Definitely needing a couple of days here, there is so many places to see and do, even other than the obvious. Copious amounts of restaurants and cafes bring this city to life and more you walk through it's cobblestone streets, the further in love with it you fall. See the markets, and walk to Michelangelo's Square, the high point just outside the city, for the most magnificent view.
Insider Tip:Also see the Boboli gardens for a view you wouldn't see in the pictures but I think the most underrated view of Florence. The 'other' side, is the country side and roof tops which a just spectacular. Money well spent.
Win free nights, tours and more.
Watch our videos for tips on the world's top cities and more.
Download one of over 110 podcasts for the world's top cities.
Download one of over 90 pocket guides for the world's top cities.
