BASIC GUIDE TO FLORENCE, ITALY

One of the best cities on a trip to Italy is Florence also known as Firenze Italy. This means Florence in Italian. Florence, Italy is filled with amazing food, a ton of history, and some great views! I have been there three times now and really enjoy the city! It’s a quick train ride from both Rome and Venice so it’s a perfect stop on a trip to Italy.

Florence can easily be done in a day however, I recommend spending at least two days in the city. If you want the flexibility to go on a day trip throughout your stay, add a third day to your itinerary. Below I’ll go through everything you need to know before your trip including the best things to do in Florence Italy as well as a few day trips from the city.

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At about two hours from Rome and Venice by train, Florence is a great stop on a trip to Italy. The train station in Florence is Florence S. Maria Novella. The easiest way to travel Italy is by train but you can also rent a car. If you anticipate travelling by train I recommend packing light! From the train station, you can grab a cab outside to your hotel. If your hotel is close, walk! Cab drivers in Italy charge an arm and a leg for luggage and other extras for tourists.

Train tips: I’ve found it’s easiest to book your train ticket online. I generally use Trenitalia but there are a few other companies. I like booking online because you don’t have to validate your ticket. If you purchase your ticket at the station, you have to validate your ticket. There are validation stations near the train tracks. You can book tickets last minute but I recommend doing it ahead of time.

If you’re planning to fly directly to Florence you can fly into Florence Airport or Pisa International. The flights into Pisa tend to be less expensive than Florence. The airport in Pisa is a quick hour and fifteen minutes from Florence by bus or train.

There are several options when booking Florence Italy Hotels. There are all the major hotels, boutique hotels, hotels, and airbnbs. I’ve utilized Airbnb a few times in Florence. I’ve found there are a ton of excellent listings in the heart of the city. Since the city is extremely walkable so it’s nice to be close to town. I’ve linked one of my favorite Airbnbs; it was clean and in a great location! It’s a 2 Bedroom and can host up to 4 guests.

The Florence Italy weather includes all 4 seasons. As such, I recommend visiting during the shoulder seasons from April-June and September-October. Summers can be hot and busy especially in the bigger cities! My favorite time to visit is in October. The Florence weather is cooler and perfect for walking around and site seeing. If you’re headed to the coast, the sea is still warm enough for a swim (if you’re daring)!

The most well known attraction in the city is the Florence Duomo and it’s honestly spectacular! The Duomo is in the heart of the city making it absolutely impossible to miss. You are able to climb the Duomo and the adjacent Bell Tower. It is over a 450 step climb to the top of both the Duomo and Bell Tower and there isn’t an elevator available. The lines at the Duomo can be very long so I recommend either going first thing in the morning or buying a skip-the-line ticket.

Fun Fact: Per our tour guide, the Florentines believed that the Duomo should be in the center of the city and be visible at all times from anywhere in Florence!

Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence and is another can’t miss in the city! Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Italy that was not destroyed in WWII. The Bridge survived because of the beautiful views along the bridge. Ponte Vecchio has been filled with shops selling jewelry and other items since the 13th century. These shops look like little houses from a far giving Ponte Vecchio such a unique look. Take your time walking across the bridge as there are a number of incredible views of the river along the way!

Fun Fact: There is an elevated passage way that was constructed on the Ponte Vecchio that allowed the Grand Duke to move freely between the government palace and his Residence. This passage way is called the Vasari Corridor. In 1939 the Grand Duke had the original openings in the center of the bridge reconstructed into a large viewing gallery with a panoramic view of Florence. He did this all in an attempt to impress Adolf Hitler a view of Florence.

Piazza della Signoria is one of the main squares in Florence. It is most well known for being the center of political life in Florence. The square is also home to Loggia dei Lanzi, an open-air museum. Loggia dei Lanzi is filled with a number of sculptures including a copy of the statue of David. The museum is free and open all hours! Piazza della Signoria is popular for street performers as well!

Head to the central market in Florence for some excellent food! The central market has it all from prepared food to groceries such as meats and cheeses to bring home. The second floor has a ton of vendors offering fresh pasta, juices, sandwiches and more. You can grab something to eat and sit at one of the tables at the market. I’m not going to lie, the market is overwhelming as there are so many options. We went during lunch on the weekend and it was absolutely packed. If your schedule is flexible, I recommend avoiding the market at this time. The Central Market is a must in Florence!

There is an amazing view point just a short walk from the city center. I would say it is a quick 20 minute walk from Ponte Vecchio and is definitely worth the trek. There are a few stands at the top where you can grab wine, beer, or a snack to relax and enjoy the view.

Pisa is just over an hour from Florence making for an easy day trip! You can either drive, take public transportation, or book a tour to Pisa. The leaning tower is definitely a site to see! While the Leaning Tower of Pisa is really cool to see in person, there isn’t much else to do in Pisa. There are a number of tours from Florence to Pisa and some of these tours make a stop in Lucca or Tuscany as well. Viator has some great options.

If you’re a wine lover like me, I highly recommend exploring Tuscany! There are a number of tours that leave from Florence ranging in price from $50-$150 USD. Tuscany is absolutely stunning and all of the wineries are so different from one another. Tours will generally take you to two or three wineries with plenty of time to wine taste and explore the wineries. The wine is obviously incredible and the views are amazing – win win!

Tours to Tuscany –

• Small-Group Wine Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside – This is the tour we took which I highly recommend!

The Cinque Terre is made of five small villages along the Italian Riviera. It’s honestly spectacular! I spent a few days in the Cinque Terre however, there are a number of day trips that can be taken from Florence. Most tours I’ve seen are about 13 hours making for quite the day! Most of the tours will make a stop in each of the villages before heading back to Florence.

I’ve linked two great options to the Cinque Terre if you’re short on time or prefer tours!

• Cinque Terre Day Trip with Transport from Florence
• Cinque Terre & Portovenere Day Trip from Florence

You can also visit the Cinque Terre on your own by taking the train to La Spezia. From La Spezia, grab the local train to visit the villages. You’ll have to purchase the Cinque Terre card at the train station which allows unlimited access to trains and hiking trails for the day. It takes just over two hours to travel from Florence to the Cinque Terre by train.

Read More: Hiking in the Cinque Terre

If you are looking for some incredible street food head to All’antico Vinaio. Our hotel was right next to All’antico Vinaio and let me tell you – it was constantly packed! There was literally a line out the door at all hours of the day so we decided we had to try a sandwich! It was amazing and well worth the wait! Of course, there are a million incredible restaurants in Florence, as it is Italy after all! Be sure to get your fill of pasta, gelato, and wine.

My rule of thumb to find some good Italian food is to try to avoid restaurants that have someone standing out front trying to real you in. If there are multiple languages and pictures on the menu it’s probably a touristy spot. Personally, I don’t think you can go wrong with the food in Italy but these are just a few tips that I try to follow!

As you can tell, I absolutely love Florence Italy! From the food to the city and surrounding day trips there is so much see.

Safe Travels,

Sarah :)

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