The Best Views in Florence, Free and Paid

Florence sits in a bowl of hills, which means the city looks its best from the edges. The classic viewpoint is famous for good reason, but there are quieter alternatives within ten minutes of it.

Piazzale Michelangelo

The big terrace above San Niccolò was laid out in the 1860s, with bronze copies of Michelangelo's statues in the middle. The view takes in the river, the bridges, Palazzo Vecchio and the dome against the hills.

• Getting there: walk from Porta San Niccolò up the steps and ramps (about 15 minutes), or take a city bus. Walking up through the Rose Garden is the nicest route.
• When: sunset is the event, and you will share it with hundreds of people, buskers and souvenir sellers. Early morning is empty and the light is behind you.
• Cost: free.

San Miniato al Monte

Keep climbing for five more minutes, up the steps behind the piazzale, to the Romanesque church of San Miniato. The view from the church steps is just as wide and much calmer. Go inside too; the church is one of the most beautiful in Florence and has usually been free.

The Rose Garden and the Bardini Garden

The Giardino delle Rose, just below the piazzale, is a free terraced garden with a framed view over the rooftops. Best in May and June.

The Giardino Bardini, further west along the hill above Via de' Bardi, is a paid garden with a belvedere terrace that many locals consider the best view in the city: closer to the dome than the piazzale, and rarely crowded. The wisteria tunnel flowers in spring.

Boboli Gardens

From the top of the Boboli Gardens behind Palazzo Pitti you look back over the palace to the city, and out over the countryside to the south. Part of the Boboli ticket.

From the top of the Duomo

• Brunelleschi's dome: the highest viewpoint in the centre, about 460 steps up, on a booked slot with the Brunelleschi Pass.
• Giotto's bell tower: a little lower, a little over 400 steps, and the only place to see the dome at eye level.

See the Duomo guide for passes and timing.

Palazzo Vecchio's tower

The Arnolfo tower of Palazzo Vecchio puts you above Piazza della Signoria, with the dome to the north. It has its own ticket and shorter hours, closes in bad weather and has restrictions on age; check the Musei Civici site.

Fiesole

The hill town above Florence looks back over the whole valley. The best viewpoint is the steep lane up to the convent of San Francesco, beside the town square. A city bus takes about 20 to 30 minutes from the centre; combine it with Fiesole's Roman theatre.

Rooftop bars

Several hotels open rooftop bars in the warmer months. La Terrazza at Hotel Continentale, on a medieval tower by Ponte Vecchio, is the best known, with views along the river to the dome. Expect high prices, dress codes and, often, a booking or minimum spend for outside guests. Most rooftops are seasonal and close in bad weather.

Sunset timing

• In June the sun sets around 21:00; in December around 16:40. Check the exact time for your date.
• Arrive 30 to 40 minutes early for a spot at the piazzale.
• Light on the city is best in the half hour before sunset; after sunset the buildings light up.
• For a calmer sunset, choose San Miniato or the Bardini Garden (if it is open late enough on your date).