Ultimate Florence Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Where to Stay and Day Trips (2025)
Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is one of Italy’s most captivating destinations. With its world-renowned art, stunning architecture, and rich history, this city promises an unforgettable experience. It also holds a special place in my heart—Florence Florence was the very first European city I set foot in, and its charm has stayed with me ever since. Yes, it’s undeniably touristy, but for good reason.
From wandering through the masterpieces of the Uffizi Gallery to marveling at the grandeur of the Duomo and indulging in mouthwatering Tuscan cuisine and gelato, Florence offers something for every traveler.
In this in-depth guide, I’ll take you through the best things to do in Florence, from iconic landmarks to hidden gems you won’t want to miss. You’ll also find recommendations for top dining spots, accommodations, and the most picturesque locations to make planning your trip easy.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my business so I can create content like this for you!
BEST TIME TO VISIT FLORENCE:
Best time to go to Florence is in the early spring and fall, when weather is nice for exploring but the crowds are thinner than the peak of summer. Florence is a relatively small city that is walkable everywhere – this means that during the summer season the increased number of crowds will be very noticeable and you’ll find yourself competing for tickets to attractions and hotel pricing will surge.
HOW MANY DAYS IN FLORENCE?
- 2 Days: This is the minimum – Perfect for a quick trip, covering highlights but will likely feel a bit rushed.
- 3–4 Days (Ideal in my opinion): Allows time for a more relaxed pace and you can really soak in the charm of the city.
- 5+ Days: Ideal for adding day trips – Siena, Pisa, the Chianti wine region, Tuscany countryside or even the coastal villages of Cinque Terre (although I highly advise you to spend the night here rather than a day trip).
HOW TO GET TO FLORENCE:
✈️ Fly into Florence Peretola Airport (FLR), also known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport
It’s a small airport located about 20 minutes from the city center. From here you can take taxi or tram to get to the city center:
- 🚖 Taxi: A fixed fare of €28 to the city center. There are additional charge for luggage, and night time.
- 🚌 Tram: The T2 tram line runs from the airport to Piazza dell’Unità Italiana (near Santa Maria Novella train station) in 20 minutes (€1.50 per ticket).
Note that taxis are not easily found in Florence – if your hotel is far from the tram stop, and you don’t want to haul your luggage on the cobblestone streets (I have done this… would not recommend!) then I would take taxi from the airport.
✈️ Fly into Pisa International Airport (PSA)
The one downside of FLR is that there aren’t any direct flights from the USA (as of writing this post). Pisa airport offers more international flights so you can opt to fly into this airport if that is easier from your home airport. From Pisa, take the PisaMover train to Pisa Centrale station and then a direct train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station (total travel time: ~1 hour).
🚆 By Train
Florence’s main train station, Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN), is centrally located and well-connected to major Italian cities:
- 🚄 From Rome: 1.5 hours by high-speed train.
- 🚄 From Milan: 2 hours by high-speed train.
- 🚄 From Venice: 2 hours by high-speed train.
Trains are the best and most convenient way to reach Florence from other parts of Italy. Book tickets in advance for the best prices on Trenitalia or Italo.
HOW TO GET AROUND IN FLORENCE:
Florence is a compact and walkable city, with most major attractions located within a short distance of each other. While there are buses and trams that are useful for reaching places outside of the city center, most of the city center is best explored on foot.
Uber is not available and taxis must be booked by phone or an app – you can’t hail down taxis in the streets.
WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE:
I recommend staying in the city center if it’s your first time to Florence since everything will be close by. Alternatively, I also like the Oltrarno neighborhood just across the Arno River. We stayed in Oltrarno for one of our visits and it was a short 10-15 minute walk to get to the main sights, and the walk across the river was pleasant.
Best Hotels in Florence
These hotels all have a rating over 9.0 on Booking.com, and you won’t regret staying in any of these!
$-$$
The Social Hub Florence
Ponte Vecchio Suites & Spa
$$$
Hotel Calimala (My personal favorite boutique hotel)
Hotel La Gemma
Brunelleschi Hotel
Hotel Milu Florence
Soprarno Suites
$$$$
Hotel Lungarno
Portrait Firenze
Il Tornabuoni
BEST THINGS TO DO IN FLORENCE:
Churches / Cathedrals
⛪️ Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – Duomo
Florence’s most famous landmark is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, or also known as the Duomo. Seeing the Florence Cathedral in person feels like standing inside of a picture. It is beautifully decorated in pink, white and green marble.
Entering the cathedral is free, but other parts of the church complex requires tickets for a fee.
The Duomo has an impressive red-tiled dome roof that was designed by Brunelleschi. You can climb the Brunelleschi’s dome (463 steps) for panoramic views of Florence.
Alternatively you can climb the Giotto’s Bell Tower, or Giotto Campanile which is adjacent to the Duomo. We chose to climb the tower instead of the dome, because we wanted to have views of the dome itself.
You can get skip-the-line tickets that include climbing of the dome, as well as all the other complexes of the Duomo. You don’t have to do all in one day, you can spread the different parts over 3 days.
⛪️ Basilica of Santa Croce
Largest Franciscan church in the world and known as the burial site of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli, Santa Croce is a must-visit for history lovers.
⛪️ Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Another beautiful marble church, filled with paintings from 14th and 15th centuries.
Art Galleries & Museums
🖼️ Uffizi Gallery
Home to some of the most famous works of art in the world, the Uffizi Gallery showcases masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. Most famous paintings include The Birth of Venus and Primavera by Botticelli.
The exteriors of the building are beautiful as well – it was quite busy mid-day, but I went back in the morning to find it empty.
Recommend reserving tickets in advance as it sells out.
🖼️ Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze)
A trip to Florence isn’t complete without seeing the world-famous David sculpture. This masterpiece by Michelangelo is housed in the Accademia Gallery and is a must-see.
Places to Visit
🌉 Ponte Vecchio
An ancient medieval bridge over the Arno River, lined with jewelry and luxury watch shops.
🎠 Piazza della Repubblica
One of the main squares in Florence, the ancient heart of Florence with the famous antique carousel.
🏛️ Piazza della Signoria
Square located in front of Palazzo Vecchio, the center of Florentine political life. Houses famous sculptures and buildings including a replica of Michelangelo’s David.
🌅 Piazzale Michelangelo
Grab a bottle of wine and head to this piazza that offers panoramic views of Florence with Tuscan hills, with beautiful sunsets.
🕯️ Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Considered the world’s oldest pharmacy, now crafting the most beautiful fragrances in a space adorned with frescos and chandeliers.
👜 San Lorenzo Market
The outdoor portion of Mercato Centrale, there are endless stalls of leather goods. I loved walking through, but not everything here is authentic or high quality so do your research before purchasing.
🍷 Wine windows
These date back to the 15th century. While there’s 150+ wine windows throughout the city, only a few are actually in use. The one I visited is BABAE.
👑 Palazzo Pitti / Pitti Palace
Once home to the powerful Medici family, Palazzo Pitti is now a vast museum complex showcasing Renaissance art, lavish royal apartments, and stunning gardens.
🌿 Boboli Gardens
Behind the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens provide a green escape in the heart of Florence, filled with sculptures, fountains, and stunning city views.
Book a pasta cooking class!
Book a Tuscany wine tour!
WHERE TO EAT IN FLORENCE
BEST DAY TRIPS FROM FLORENCE
Florence is a fantastic base for exploring Tuscany and beyond. Whether you’re interested in medieval towns, vineyard tours, or breathtaking countryside views, here are the best day trips from Florence.
- 🍷 Chianti Wine Region – World-famous for its rolling vineyards, charming villages, and incredible wines. Rent a car or join a Chianti wine tour from Florence.
- 🏰 Siena – one of Tuscany’s most picturesque cities, famous for its medieval streets, stunning Piazza del Campo, the Palio horse race, and Siena Cathedral. Direct train, or drive, or join a tour.
- 🏰 San Gimignano – hilltop town with medieval towers. Drive 1 hr, or join this tour.
- 🏛 Pisa – visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, an hour away by train.
While renting a car is the ideal way to explore these destinations, you can also book a guided tour that covers several of them. These tours depart from Florence and return you to the city at the end of the day. On my first trip to Florence, I took a tour and it was a great way to get a quick introduction to each location, especially if you’re pressed for time. I ended up coming back another year to spend more time in each of the places, and it was well worth it.
- 🍇 Montepulciano & Val d’Orcia (🚗 1 hr 45 min) – quintessential Tuscan experience with rolling hills, medieval towns, and some of Italy’s best red wines, including Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino. Renting a car is the best option, as public transport is limited.
- 🌊 Cinque Terre – it’s about 2.5 hour drive or train ride to Cinque Terre (Read my full guide on Cinque Terre here) – I think this area is better done as a full overnight (or two) trip rather than a day trip, but if you are absolutely keen on seeing the coast while in Florence, here are some tours that make it easy.
SEE MY CINQUE TERRE TRAVEL GUIDE HERE
The Ultimate Cinque Terre Travel Guide
MAP & CONCLUSION
I hope I’ve inspired you to visit Florence, Italy, one of my favorite cities. With this list of things to do, hotel recommendations, and transportation tips, navigating through your Florence trip should be a breeze.
Here’s a map with all the locations mentioned in this blog! Enjoy!
