Guides
Florence travel guides
Practical guides to the art, food and neighbourhoods of Florence.
Florence by season
When to visit →
March · April · May
Florence in Spring: Gardens, Easter and Long Walking Days
"The gardens are at their best and so are the crowds: book early and start early."
June · July · August
Florence in Summer: Heat, Calcio Storico and Long Evenings
"Museums at midday, the river at night, and never the dome climb at two in the afternoon."
September · October · November
Florence in Autumn: Harvest, New Oil and Thinner Crowds
"September is still busy; by November you get the city, the food and the light with half the queue."
December · January · February
Florence in Winter: Quiet Museums and Ribollita Weather
"Cold, sometimes grey, and the best time of year to stand in front of a Botticelli."
Landmarks
Florence Duomo: Dome Climb, Bell Tower and Tickets Explained
How to visit Florence's cathedral: what is free, which pass you need for the dome climb, how the time slots work, and the order that saves you queuing.
museums
Uffizi Gallery: Tickets, Timing and What to See
How to book the Uffizi, when to go, how long to allow, and the rooms worth your energy, from Giotto and Botticelli to Leonardo, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.
museums
Accademia and Michelangelo's David: How to Visit Without the Queue
Seeing the David in Florence: booking, how long the Accademia takes, what else is inside, and why the copy in Piazza della Signoria is not the same experience.
museums
Florence Museums: Which to See, Which to Skip, and How to Book
A practical guide to Florence's museums: the big two, the quieter ones that are just as good, combined tickets, free days, and how to fit them into a short trip.
Culture & History
Ponte Vecchio and the Oltrarno: Crossing to Florence's Working Side
The story of Ponte Vecchio, the best times to see it, and a walk into the Oltrarno: Santo Spirito, San Frediano, artisans' workshops, wine windows and the Brancacci Chapel.
Culture & History
Florence's Churches: Santa Croce, Santo Spirito, San Lorenzo and More
The churches worth visiting in Florence beyond the Duomo: what each one holds, which are free, dress codes, and how to fit them between the big museums.
Landmarks
Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens: A Half-Day on the South Bank
How to visit Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens: which museums are inside, combined tickets, the best route through the garden, and when to go.
Landmarks
The Best Views in Florence, Free and Paid
Where to see Florence from above: Piazzale Michelangelo and the quieter alternatives, the dome and bell tower, garden terraces, Fiesole and rooftop bars, with timing tips for sunset.
Food & Drink
Where to Eat in Florence: Bistecca, Lampredotto and the Trattorias Worth Booking
What to eat in Florence and where: bistecca alla fiorentina, lampredotto, ribollita and schiacciata, the trattorias worth booking, and how ordering and paying work.
Food & Drink
Florence Food Markets: Mercato Centrale, Sant'Ambrogio and Where to Eat in Them
A guide to Florence's markets: the Mercato Centrale's two floors, the local Sant'Ambrogio market, the San Lorenzo stalls, and what to eat and buy at each.
Food & Drink
Aperitivo in Florence: Wine Bars, Negronis and Where to Drink Before Dinner
How aperitivo works in Florence, the city's claim to the Negroni, and the best places for a pre-dinner drink, from Santo Spirito wine bars to a rooftop by the river.
Food & Drink
Gelato in Florence: How to Spot Good Gelato and Where to Find It
Florence's gelato: the Buontalenti story, how to tell real gelato from the show-off kind, and the gelaterie worth crossing town for, from Santa Croce to San Frediano.
Nightlife
Florence Nightlife: The Best Areas for a Drink After Dark
Where to go out in Florence: Santo Spirito, Sant'Ambrogio, Santa Croce and San Niccolò, plus cocktail bars, rooftops and the local rules on noise and drinking outside.
Travel Tips
One Day in Florence: A Realistic Itinerary
How to spend one day in Florence without running: the Duomo, one great museum, lunch at the market, the Oltrarno and sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo, with what to book ahead.
Travel Tips
Three Days in Florence: An Itinerary That Follows the Map
A three-day Florence itinerary organised by area: the cathedral and Uffizi on day one, the Accademia, San Lorenzo and Santa Croce on day two, the Oltrarno and Boboli on day three.
Travel Tips
How to Avoid the Crowds in Florence
Florence's crowd problem and how to beat it: the worst months, days and hours, timed tickets, first and last slots, quieter alternatives to the big sights, and when skip-the-line is worth paying for.
Travel Tips
Florence on a Rainy Day: What to Do When the Weather Turns
Rainy day ideas for Florence: museums that are better without sunshine, churches, markets and food halls, a historic pharmacy, exhibitions, and a few indoor tips that save the day.
Travel Tips
Florence on a Budget: Free Sights and Ways to Spend Less
How to see Florence for less: free churches and viewpoints, free museum days, eating well at markets and lunch counters, standing at the bar, the tourist tax, and what is worth paying for.
Day Trips
Day Trips from Florence: Siena, Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano and Chianti
The best day trips from Florence and how to do them without a car: travel times by train and bus, what each place is good for, and when a tour makes more sense.
Travel Tips
Florence Airport Transfers: From Florence, Pisa and Bologna Airports to the City
How to get from the airport to Florence: the tram from Florence airport, taxi fares, the PisaMover and train from Pisa, and buses from Bologna, with times and costs to check.
Travel Tips
Getting Around Florence: Walking, Trams, Buses, Taxis and the ZTL
How to get around Florence: why you will mostly walk, how trams and buses work, ticket prices, taxis, bikes, and the ZTL traffic zone that fines unwary drivers.