Brunelleschi's Dome
The largest masonry dome ever built. You climb on foot to the lantern: 463 steps, passing between the two shells and beneath the Last Judgment frescoes. Entry by timed reservation only.
City guide · original photos
Florenceby day and by night
What to see, where to stay, what to eat and where to spend the evening. Written by someone who keeps coming back.
What to see
The things not to miss
The historic center is easy to walk: the Duomo is ten minutes from Ponte Vecchio. Book the main museums ahead, especially from April to October.
Ponte Vecchio
Goldsmiths' shops hanging over the river and, above them, the Vasari Corridor that linked Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti. Also worth seeing from the riverbank at sunset.
Palazzo Vecchio
Florence's town hall since the 1300s. The square is an open-air museum, with the Loggia dei Lanzi and often large contemporary art installations.
The Arno and the hills
Looking east from Ponte Vecchio: the Uffizi on the left, the San Niccolò Tower ahead and the hill of Piazzale Michelangelo. A walk along the river is the best way to get your bearings.
Uffizi Gallery
Botticelli, Leonardo, Caravaggio. Book your entry: in high season the line without a ticket can take over an hour.
Accademia Gallery
Home of Michelangelo's David. The visit takes about an hour; go early in the morning.
Piazzale Michelangelo
The view over the whole city. A 15-minute walk up from San Niccolò, perfect at sunset.
Basilica of Santa Croce
The tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, and Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel.
Tours and experiences
Book ahead, skip the line
Timed-entry tickets and guided tours in English and Italian. Free cancellation on most experiences.
Museum
Uffizi guided tour
Reserved entry and two hours with a guide who takes you straight to the masterpieces.
Check availabilityMuseum
Accademia and the David
Skip-the-line ticket for the Accademia Gallery, also with a guided tour.
Check availabilityClimb
Dome and Bell Tower
Duomo complex pass with your Dome climb time already booked.
Check availabilityDay trip
Chianti and wine tasting
Half a day in the hills, with a winery visit and a tasting of wine and olive oil.
Check availabilityCooking
Fresh pasta class
Three hours at the stove with a chef, then you eat what you made.
Check availabilityEvening
Pub crawl and wine tour
An evening round of bars in the center: the easiest way to meet people.
Check availabilityDay trip
Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano
A full day in Tuscany: the Leaning Tower, Siena's Piazza del Campo and the towers of San Gimignano, with lunch at a winery.
Check availabilityOutdoor
Vespa in the Tuscan hills
Ride a vintage Vespa through the Chianti countryside, with stops for photos, wine and lunch.
Check availability
Where to stay
Choose the right area
In Florence the neighborhood matters more than the hotel. Each one has its own character. Here's how to choose. Read the full guide with hotels →
Duomo and historic centerFirst time in Florence
Everything within a few steps. Pricier and busier, but you never need transport.
Hotels in the area →Santa Maria NovellaArriving by train
Close to the station, handy for day trips to Pisa, Siena and Lucca. Lower prices.
Hotels in the area →Oltrarno and Santo SpiritoYoung travelers and nightlife
Artisans by day, busy squares at night. The most authentic area if you want to go out.
Hotels in the area →Santa CroceCouples and dinners out
Central but lived-in, with trattorias, pubs and the Sant'Ambrogio market nearby.
Hotels in the area →San NiccolòLooking for quiet
A small village below Piazzale Michelangelo, ten minutes from Ponte Vecchio. Quiet and peaceful.
Hotels in the area →Where to eat
What to order in Florence
Florentine food is simple and bold. Skip places with photo menus in six languages and look for where locals eat.
Bistecca alla fiorentina
TrattoriaA thick T-bone steak, cooked rare and sold by weight. Shared between two or more people.
Lampredotto
Street kiosksThe classic Florentine sandwich, served by tripe vendors with green sauce and chili sauce.
Stuffed schiacciata
Bakeries and delisTuscan focaccia filled with cured meats and cheese. The classic quick lunch.
Ribollita and pappa al pomodoro
TrattoriaTuscan bread soups, real home cooking. Best in winter.
Mercato Centrale and Sant'Ambrogio
MarketsFresh produce stalls and hot food counters: the cheapest way to eat well.
Artisan gelato
Gelato shopsAvoid the colorful mountains. Good gelato is kept in covered tubs and has natural colors.
Aperitivo and nightlife
Evenings in Florence
Florence is a university city, full of Italian and international students. People go out early, stay out late, and meeting people is easy.
Aperitivo
A spritz or a glass of wine with snacks, often a buffet. The first stop of the evening.
- Santo Spirito: the square fills up and people drink on the church steps too
- Sant'Ambrogio: bars and wine shops popular with locals
- San Niccolò: wine bars below the hills, before heading up to the Piazzale
Pubs and cocktail bars
After dinner people move on. This is where you meet the most people, especially in student areas.
- Santa Croce: pubs and international bars, very popular with foreign students
- Oltrarno: more refined cocktail bars and live music
- Historic center: rooftop bars with a view of the Duomo
Dancing
Clubs open late and fill up after 1 am. Many have themed student nights.
- Center: clubs near Santa Croce and Piazza della Repubblica
- In summer: outdoor events and venues along the Arno and in the Cascine park
- Outside the center: big clubs, reachable by taxi
First time and don't know anyone? An organized pub crawl takes you to four or five bars in one night, with entry included.
See pub crawls
