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Florence is a beautiful city in the heart of Tuscany. Often overshadowed by Venice or Rome, Florence should not be skipped during your trip to Italy. A single day walking around the city, and you will definitely feel the charm. Visit the high-end shops at Ponte Vecchio, sample local cuisine at Mercato di San Lorenzo, or take in the view from atop il Duomo. Even during a rainy day, we had a great time! Come explore Florence with us.
Getting to Florence
Most visitors to Florence arrive either by train or plane. Because many people fly into the larger airports in Venice or Rome, train is a great option. We took the train from Rome to Florence for only 47 Euros per person, booked at the very last second. We could have probably saved money by booking further in advance. You can book tickets on Trenitalia, and you should look for Santa Maria Novella station. The train station is centrally-located, so you should be able to walk to your accommodations. Express trains take 2 hours from Venice or 1.5 hours from Rome to reach Florence.
Each major alliance has at least one airline represented at the Florence (FLR) airport. However, award tickets may be harder to find, since FLR is a smaller market. Use AwardHacker or Google Flights to find the best option, if you choose to fly.
Where to Stay
Florence only has a couple chain hotel options. The two Marriott properties offer the best point price at 35,000 per night. The Sina Villa Medici property seems like a solid option, due to its central location.
If you don’t have a ton of Marriott points to spend, AirBNB is always a great option. Lots of places are available in the city center, starting around $60 per night for a full apartment! If you use our referral link, you can save $40 on your first AirBNB stay. We stayed with friends, who will actually be running an AirBNB soon. I’ll provide that link once it’s available.
Our wonderful hosts!
What to Do in Florence
The city is very walk-able, and most of the sites are pretty close together. We only had one full day in Florence, and we did everything listed below on foot, at a leisurely pace. Afterwards, we even had time to meet up with our friends for a pizza dinner.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Head up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a bird’s eye view of the city. From this vantage point, you will have a beautiful look at all of Florence, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria’s famous dome towering over the area. On a clear day, you can even see the mountains in the background.
Incredible view from Piazzale Michelangelo
Ponte Vecchio
As you descend from Piazzale Michelangelo, down toward the river, take a left. Follow along the riverside until you reach Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s oldest bridge. This was the only bridge allowed to stand during WWII by the retreating German forces. Today, Ponte Vecchio is home to many luxury shops. Stop in and try on a way-too-expensive watch, if that’s your sort of thing.
Ponte Vecchio and the Arno River
Cathedral of Santa Maria/Il Duomo
Now we will venture into the center of the city for an up close look at the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria and the famous Duomo. This beautiful cathedral was mostly built during the 1300’s. The striking exterior of the basilica is decorated with marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white. You can explore this entire complex with a single ticket, but you must reserve a specific time to see the top of the dome. Be sure to make a reservation early if you want to climb up the dome! We almost missed our chance, because when we arrived around 11am, only 20 or so spots remained.
Wander through the cathedral, check out the baptistery, and climb the steps to the bell tower. Each of these is spectacular in its own way, but the dome is what most people come to see. At your appointed time (or a bit earlier), you can enter the side door of the cathedral and start the long climb. You will pass along the edge of the dome’s fresco, which depicts the Last Judgement. Next head up some steep, narrow stairs until you finally emerge on the dome’s outer walkway. Take in the scene as you gaze over the burnt orange rooftops. It’s truly a must-do for any visitor.
View From the Top at Night
L’Accademia
If you’re into sculptures, L’Accademia Museum holds Michaelangelo’s David, one of his masterworks. We decided to skip the museum, but we learned that you can find an exact replica of the David in Piazza della Signoria. This replica is actually in the statue’s original location.
The Fake David
Sample the Cuisine!
Mercato di San Lorenzo
The Mercato di San Lorenzo is a fantastic, central marketplace, where you can taste a selection of local foods and beverages. Inside the warehouse-style building, on the second floor, you will find a bustling crowd of visitors. In the center of the space stands a long, two-sided bar. Here you can sample local beers, wines, and all sorts of cocktails. Apertol Spritz anyone?
Along the outsides of the large room, you will see a wide variety of food vendors offering pay-as-you-go service. We sampled pizza, pasta, flatbreads, truffles, cannoli, and more! Simply walk along, and buy a small plate of whatever sounds good. Tables between the bar and food stalls give you a space to sit, enjoy your food, and take in the scene. If you time your visit right, you can even take a cooking class here!
Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori
Near Piazza Signoria, on one of the side streets, you can find this tiny restaurant serving traditional Tuscan food. We stopped in for a quick bite, because we heard their pasta was incredible. My wife and I shared a plate of ravioli in a Rosé sauce… mmm! This was definitely some of the best pasta we have ever eaten. The 20-seat restaurant boasts nearly perfect ratings on TripAdvisor and Yelp. Make a reservation, or get there early, but don’t miss this one!
Little Pasta Snack, split plate
Vivoli
If you need a mid-day pick-me-up, swing by Vivoli for a caffelate, a pastry, and some gourmet gelato. Vivoli is known for its gelato, and the flavors here are some of the more unique we encountered.
Caffelattes after Gelato
Arà: è Sicilia
Holy cannoli! If you’re looking to taste fresh, authentic cannoli, then you must visit Arà. The girl at the counter told us that cannoli must be filled when you order. According to her, if you find any that are pre-filled, just walk away. We also sampled an arà (the store’s namesake), which is a fried rice ball filled with various meats or veggies.
Explore Tuscany
If you have the opportunity, take a day or two and get out of the city. Drive through the Tuscan countryside and gaze over the rolling hills, covered with vineyards and olive trees. Stop in at some small villages, dine at a local shop, and explore the beautiful town of Siena.
Butcher Shop of Dario Ceccini – Lunch
We stopped in at the small town of Panzano in Chianti to visit the shop of famous butcher Dario Ceccini for lunch. Dario is famous for his Bistek Florentine. We had to wait for a table in the small restaurant, so we grazed on the fresh bread and meat samples. They also offer Chianti wine while you wait, so it really wasn’t bad to spend 15-20 minutes waiting.
When we sat down, we had the choice of a few fixed menu options. We each ordered something different and tasted from each other’s plates. Items included Chianti sushi (beef tartar), Chianti tuna (a pork dish), pork roasted with herbs and garlic, meatloaf with bell pepper sauce, vegetables with olive oil, Tuscan beans, and tomato stew. I highly recommend stopping for lunch or dinner here. Even though waiting and drinking wine is ok, you should make a reservation here well in advance.
Siena
After lunch, we drove to the very old city of Siena. We visited the Piazza del Campo (central square) and the Siena Cathedral. This city is built for wandering around, with its narrow laneways and interesting architecture. We learned that Siena boasts the world’s first official bank, opened in 1472.
Final Thoughts
When you plan a trip to Italy, of course you should visit Venice and Rome, but please do not overlook Florence. This city, and its surrounding area, is absolutely wonderful. Take in the views from Piazzale Michelangelo and the top of Il Duomo. Sample local fare at Mercato di San Lorenzo and enjoy a scoop (or two) of gelato at Vivoli.
What are your favorite things to do in Florence? Did we miss anything? Leave a comment below and let us know!
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