The Ultimate Florence, Italy Travel Guide (Stay, Do, Eat) -

This Ultimate Florence, Italy Travel Guide includes everything you need to know before your trip to Florence including where to stay, what to do, where to eat, where to shop, and the best day trips from Florence. You can see most of Florence in 2-3 days, however it is a great central point to stay in for longer if you want to use it as a home base for easy day trips out of the city!

Views from top of Giotto’s Bell Tower in Duomo Complex

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, and is on the smaller side making it very walkable. I have visited Florence twice now, once for a couple of days on a 21 Day Euro Contiki tour, and the other time more recently with my sister and parents for 5 days total following an unforgettable week in Tuscany, Italy. This is a must visit city at least once in your lifetime! It has the perfect mix of charming streets, incredible food, rich history, and world famous Renaissance art.

Jump to Sections in this Florence, Italy Travel Guide

Where to Stay in Florence
What To Do in Florence
Where to Eat in Florence
Where to Shop in Florence
Best Day Trips From Florence

Where to Stay in Florence

Best for Day Trips out of Florence: This is the hotel we stayed at which was perfect for day trips out of Florence as it was right across the street from the train station. More information on best day trips out of Florence further below! Our room was clean, affordable, comfortable, and we felt very safe here.

Luxury Hotels in Florence Top Picks:

Il Tornabuoni by Hyatt Luxury, palace like hotel with stunning details. It has all modern amenities with renaissance like decor and artwork on the walls/ceilings. The location is in the heart of Florence next to luxury stores and a short walk to Palazzo Vecchio and Ponte Vecchio (bridge).
Portrait Firenze Luxury hotel owned by the high fashion Ferragamo family. Offer suites overlooking the river along with an all day restaurant and extensive breakfast selection. Located right next to Ponte Vecchio and close to Palazzo Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery.
Corte Calzaiuoli Elegant Suites Quiet luxury rooms in a great location close to the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio. Many reviews rave about the comfort of the beds, spacious rooms, and amazing breakfast. More affordable luxury hotel option in Florence.

Mid Range Hotels in Florence Top Picks:

Hotel Calimala – Very popular boutique hotel gone viral on social media with an amazing location close to Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, and Duomo.
Casa G. Florence Gorgeous, chic, boutique hotel with gorgeous rooms and marble bathrooms with a perfect location in Florence. Close to the train station, Mercato Centrale, and Duomo.
La Terraza sul Duomo if you want a hotel with an incredible rooftop view of the Duomo, then this is your spot!! It is also a charming bed and breakfast boutique hotel with luxury styled rooms at an affordable price.

Search for Additional Hotel Options on Booking.Com

What To Do in Florence

Click on each name to jump to more detailed information further down in the post!

Duomo di Firenze – book in advance
‘The David’ Accademia Tickets – book in advance
Uffizi Galleries – book in advance
Boboli Gardens
Piazzale Michelangelo
Ponte Vecchio
Pitti Palace
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Duomo di Firenze

One of Italy’s most famous churches, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), and a UNESCO World Heritage Site completed back in 1436. It is easily the most famous attraction in Florence for good reason! The Duomo complex is extensive including the Cathedral with Brunelleschi’s Dome—one of the largest brick domes ever built—as well as the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Opera del Duomo Museum, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and the Crypt of Santa Reparata. There is no way to describe the feeling of awe as you first walk up to this massive complex and admire the intricacy of detail that has been well maintained for centuries.

I recommend booking Skip-the-Line Duomo Climb Tickets or a guided tour in advance since tickets for climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome sell out quickly. Both ticket options give you access to the whole complex, including the climb up Giotto’s Bell Tower (separate tower with a view). I’ve only done the Bell Tower climb myself, but the views were incredible and well worth the trek up!

Views from the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower

Know Before You Go:

This climbs aren’t for anyone who might struggle with steep ascents—there are no elevators, and the staircase is narrow with over 400 steps to the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome and the Bell Tower.
Read through your ticket information in advance and ensure you are dressed modestly to explore the cathedral (shoulders and knees must be covered).
The Cathedral is closed for visitors on Sundays during worship and during religious celebrations

Linking some Additional Tour/Ticket Options:

‘The David’ Accademia Tickets

Another must visit, world famous attraction in Florence is Michelangelo’s ‘The David’ sculpture located in the Accademia Gallery. Seeing this sculpture in person is an experience like no other, and we were in awe seeing the incredible detail of the sculpture in person. I am SO happy we booked tickets to see it in person! It is truly mind boggling how Michelangelo could create such lifelike detail out of stone. These are the exact skip-the line tickets we booked in advance. These tickets also include an audio tour. Make sure to get there early to give you time to find the guides transferring your tickets to you.

A guided tour is also a great option to hear the history first hand with a knowledgable guide, something we could’ve enjoyed in retrospect. There are also a few other amazing rooms to explore during your time at The Accademia including the Hall of the Colossus, Hall of the Prisoners, Gipsoteca, Musical Instrument Collection, and Painting Rooms. I loved the Gipsoteca room of plastered casts pictured below.

Know Before You Go: The Accademia Gallery is not crazy large, so it took us about an hour max to get through all of the rooms. The David is definitely the main attraction here and is easy to find inside!

Additional Ticket or Tour Options

Uffizi Galleries

Another must visit art gallery in Florence, you can easily spend hours perusing the incredible collections of Renaissance art here. The extensive collections include artwork from famous artists including Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. These are the exact skip-the-line tickets we booked in advance! Note, they do not come with a tour, but there are audio tours available for purchase upon arrival. You can also book a small group guided tour here.

This gallery also is home to the famous Venus painting by Botticelli. It was surreal seeing the original in person as we grew up with a replica of the painting in our home! Make sure to listen to the audio guide if not doing a guided tour to learn all of the amazing history of the artworks.

Know Before You Go:

There is a cafe rooftop you can grab a snack after exploring the endless rooms of artwork.
The Uffizi Galleries is massive you could easily spend hours here if you really wanted to. Make sure to know in advance which pieces of art you want to prioritize seeing so you don’t miss any of your favorites!

Additional Uffizi Tour Options

Boboli Gardens

Another highlight of our time in Florence: exploring the Boboli Gardens. These are located behind Pitti Palace and covers over 111 acres of land. The gardens are stunning to explore and the views at the top are well worth the climb! We purchased tickets upon arrival without a problem (visited in June), however you can also book a guided tour or reserved time in advance to be safe!

Explore Ticket and Tour Options

Piazzale Michelangelo

Visit this stunning viewpoint of Florence for sunset. Note it does get insanely crowded here, but it is worth visiting at least once! Just know that it is a very Instagram vs. reality moment as it gets PACKED at sunset. We made sure to get there well in advance of sunset to secure a spot on the steps and brought pizza from Gustapizza and wine to watch the views on the steps! There is also a restaurant at the top.

Instagram Vs….

REALITY

Ponte Vecchio

Walk across one of Florence’s oldest bridges and an iconic landmark. The bridge is colorful with boats passing underneath. There are many jewelry shops adorning the sides as you cross through. You can walk across the bridge for free to explore the South side of Florence which includes many amazing restaurants and the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.

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There are a few photo booth locations around Florence you can pop in for pics for a fun souvenir!

Where to Eat in Florence

Starring* all the restaurants we tried during our 5 days in Florence! This is a full roundup of breakfast, lunch, elevated dinner, Buca, Trattoria, and Osteria restaurants along with the best gelato spots! Make sure to also pop in at Babae for their iconic wine window.

Breakfast

Melaleuca – Australian/American owned brunch spot on the river in Florence. They have the most incredible looking pancakes & cinnamon rolls! My top pick if I were to return to Florence.
Rooster Cafe – American style breakfast with 2 locations in Florence, and organic locally sourced food. They also serve delicious foamy coffee. They also have incredible reviews online!
Ala Grande Caffè – Cute, casual cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Have incredible looking stuffed pastries, fresh food, and amazing coffee. Delicious and affordable option in Florence.
La Ménagère – The most aesthetic cafe doubled as a bar, store, and restaurant in Florence. The decor is beautiful with a variety of flowers adorning the space with soothing jazz covers playing in the background. If staying in Florence longer, you can also work from here in the bar area!
Serre Torrigiani in Piazzetta – Hidden courtyard space which is tucked away as a secret oasis. Mixed reviews on quality of food for the price, but the space is adorable.
Shake Café* – Healthy breakfast cafe with smoothie bowls, lattes, toasts, and more! The food was good but wasn’t blown away by it. Good option if looking for something quick, easy, and healthy.
Coffee and Kitchen* – We also stumbled upon this restaurant which was cute and cozy and had a back room area for seating. Another place we weren’t blown away by, but was nice to have a more traditional American style breakfast in Florence.

Lunch

Il Teatro* – We came here for lunch and were very impressed with the service and pizzas! Have both outdoor and indoor seating. The pizzas and aperol spritz hit the spot.
Pino’s Sandwiches – Around the corner from Il Teatro. We wanted to try this spot for lunch, but the line was very long. We did not feel like waiting and also wanted more of a sit down spot. This is a viral spot for a reason, but would not recommend losing an hour of your day to wait in line if long!
Gustapizza* – Quaint, wood fired pizza shop where you can dine in or order to go. They make heart shaped pizzas upon request which were so cute! ♥️ The pizzas we tried were also delicious and would recommend.
Bar Pitti Di Bernoni Barbara – Great spot for a light snack and aperol spritz before heading to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. The burrata and bruschetta hit the spot!

Aesthetic and Elevated Dinners

La Giostra* – Our favorite restaurant we tried in Florence. Cozy, intimate vibes with amazing food and attentive, but not rushed service. You must reserve in advance as it books out quickly. If you aren’t able to book in advance, and have a few days in Florence, you may be able to stop by to get a table for a later day.
Trattoria Za Za* – Highly popular, large dining space with a stunning interior pictured below. I would recommend getting a reservation inside and not the outdoor space as the interior ambiance is far more unique and elevated. We came in here for a snack and spritz in the afternoon, but would love to return again for dinner! You must make a reservation in advance or highly unlikely you will get a table. This is very touristy, but the interior is stunning and the food is great.
Acqua al 2 – Cute, more spacious restaurant famous for their blueberry steak. Also offer a large pasta sampler with unique flavors such as ravioli with pear and balsamic and farfalle with yellow pumpkin.
Osteria Delle Tre Panche (Centro Storico)* – This is a really beautiful space on a rooftop with gorgeous views of Florence (pictured below). The food however was hit or miss. The truffle dishes were delicious but other dishes were just ok! However, we did not like that the service felt rushed to turn over our table. Would recommend this spot if you want gorgeous dinner views and delicious truffle pastas.
Osteria dell’Enoteca – Cave like restaurant known for their Florentine steak, served medium rare. Reviews also mention a delicious tiramisu. Make sure to make a reservation in advance here!

Classic Dinners

A Buca restaurant offers a rustic Italian dining experience with a focus on authentic, regional Italian dishes served family-style. It typically has an intimate, lively atmosphere with a menu that emphasizes high-quality ingredients, handmade pastas, and classic Italian flavors.

Buca Mario – Serving authentic Tuscan cuisine in Florence since 1886. They are also famous for their rolling dessert trolley which looks incredible!
Ristorante Natalino* – Came with our parents and loved this restaurant. Very family owned vibe in the heart of the plaza. Indoor and outdoor seating with amazing pear pasta and pistachio pesto ravioli. This may have arguably been the best pasta of our entire time in Italy! We were able to order some spritzes to drink while waiting for our table.
Trattoria 4 Leoni – SO many people online have raved about their pear pasta as being a must try in Florence. We didn’t make it here but would love to try in the future!
L’Osteria di Giovanni* – Famous for their Florentine steak. They will serve you champagne while you wait for a table. The house wine, tiramisu, and truffle pasta were all delicious. They also served us a complimentary shot with dessert. However, the ambiance felt a bit off to us, being more casual dining and less elevated so really depends on what kind of vibe you are going for!
Osteria Pastella – Famous for their truffle cheese wheel pastas prepared right in front of you. Look it up on TikTok and you will immediately start drooling! It gets packed so you must make a reservation in advance.

Spritz while waiting for our table at Ristorante Natalino

Gelato

Sbrino – Gelatificio Contadino – The cutest gelateria serving authentic and high quality gelato. Hidden gem in the city center. Also have vegan options.
Gelateria Edoardo* – recommended by our Contiki guide who has been to Florence countless time during my 21 day Contiki Tour Euro trip. They have a variety of organic and vegan gelato with many unique flavor options. I remember loving this spot + location made it great for a gelato in the air pic!
My Sugar – ranked #2 on TripAdvisor for desserts in Florence.
Gelateria dei Neri* – One of the most recommended gelaterias in Florence with a variety of flavors and the sweetest staff.
Gelateria Perchè No* – Another popular gelato spot, but upset my stomach a bit after eating so lowering my rating compared to other gelato spot in Florence.
Vivoli – Visit here for their iconic classic affogato or pistachio special.

Where to Shop in Florence

L’Albero Capovolto: Adorable shop we walked by in Florence and wish we could have spent more time shopping in!
Loompa Friulane: 100% handmade in Italy gorgeous flats in a variety of styles and colors. We were obsessed with this store and would’ve bought a pair but they were sold out in the size and color I wanted.
Santa Maria Novella – The oldest pharmacy in the world and perfumery in Florence, dating back to the 1200’s! The space is stunning and elegant and a must visit if able to incorporate into your itinerary in Florence. Great spot to pick up gifts for family and friends.
Piazza Santo Spirito Flea Market – Free and open to the public every Sunday from 9am-6pm. Great spot to find authentic designer fashion but just be cautious as not always able to authenticate when sold by private sellers. If deal seems too good to be true, it likely is!
Mercato Centrale: Italian food hall packed with local chefs, bakers, and artisans serving up amazing Italian eats all in one spot. You can grab fresh pasta, pastries, cheeses, and more, while soaking up a fun, foodie vibe. It is massive with endless stalls to explore along with sit down dining option both down and upstairs.

Best Day Trips From Florence

Bologna, Italy

Very easy day trip just about 40 minutes away by train. We did this one of our days in Florence, and loved exploring a different style Italian town! Bologna felt much less touristy, more residential vibes with endless popular stores such as Zara, H&M, etc to explore.

Chianti

There are many wineries you can visit in Chianti, we chose to do a day trip to Castello di Verrazzano with a tour and lunch tasting. This was a highlight of our time in Italy as the views were stunning and the history was amazing to learn. Note, this was a more difficult place to get to from Florence. We took the bus out and note it is a bit of a hike to the top of the castle which is located at the top of the hill. We were SO grateful for an employee driving up offering to take us to the top! Another couple we met during the tasting drove us back to the bottom by the bus stop.

Siena

A great option for a day trip from Florence, just an hour and a half away by train. We did not do a day trip from Florence ourselves to Siena, but we did visit it during our week in Tuscany. Refer to Day 3 for everything we did in Siena followed by San Gimignano! I would recommend getting a city guide if you do a day trip to Siena to learn the history of the city while exploring.

San Gimignano

You can take the bus, train and bus, or taxi to San Gimignano for a day trip out of Florence. This is a bit more of a challenge to get to, taking roughly 2 and a half hours to get there from Florence. An alternative option could be to rent a car and visit Siena and San Gimignano for a day. We did not personally take a day trip to San Gimignano while in Florence, however we did visit it during our week in Tuscany. Refer to Day 3 for everything we did in Siena & San Gimignano!

Pisa

An easy and popular day trip from Florence. I have also not personally been to Pisa, but would be an easy and fun city to check off the bucket list to see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa! The train takes roughly 50 to 70 minutes to get there followed by a 20 minute walk or short bus ride to the Tower and other sites.

Lucca

If you plan to visit Pisa, Lucca would be another great town option to add on to the daytrip. It is just 25-30 minutes away by train from Pisa. It takes about an hour and 20 minutes by train to return to Florence. I always recommend checking the train schedules in advance to ensure you know all the times you need to make for each train to the next city.