Planning a bucket list trip to Italy? Your itinerary wouldn’t be complete without checking these top things to do see in Florence, Italy, off your list!
Florence is a beautiful city filled with history, art, and stunning architecture. From the famous Duomo and Michaelangelo’s David to the peaceful Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michelangelo, there are so many amazing sights to explore! Whether you love museums, delicious food, or simply wandering through picturesque streets, Florence has something for everyone.
In this blog, we’ll highlight the top things to see in this incredible Italian city and all the must-know tips for visiting!
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Top Things to See in Florence, Italy
Visit the Duomo di Firenze (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore)
The Duomo di Firenze, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, is one of Florence’s most famous landmarks. Built between 1296 and 1436 and is one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Renaissance. Designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, the cathedral took over a century to complete, with Filippo Brunelleschi later designing its famous dome. Over the years, the cathedral has remained a symbol of Florence’s rich history and artistic excellence, attracting visitors from around the world!
Visiting il Duomo should be at the top of your list of things to see in Florence! There are a few different areas and buildings to explore – Cathedral, Dome, Bell Tower, Museum, Baptistery, Ancient Basilica of Santa Reparata, and Duomo Terraces. While we’d encourage you to look into each site to see if you want to visit it, the most popular are the Cathedral and climbing to the top of either the Dome or Bell Tower (more on that below).
The Cathedral is free to visit (without a ticket) from Monday to Saturday, 10:15 am-3:45 pm. It’s closed to visitors on Sunday due to worship. Just a heads up, the queue to get inside the Cathedral is LONG! People will line up well before it opens to get a spot in line. So be prepared for that!
Although the Cathedral is free to visit, if you plan to visit any of the other areas mentioned above, you will need to purchase your ticket in advance! They offer a few different ticket passes on their website that provide timed entry access to specific sites all at different price points.
Hours of Operation: Each monument varies slightly, learn more on their website
Cost: Depends on the ticket package you choose, learn more on their website
Pro-tip: You must cover your knees and shoulders to enter the Cathedral! You must store any medium to large bags, backpacks, or suitcases at their baggage check and cannot take them inside.
Climb to the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower
Giotto’s Bell Tower is a beautiful part of Florence’s famous Duomo complex. Standing 84 meters tall, it features stunning white, green, and pink marble, just like the cathedral. The tower was designed by Giotto in the 14th century and is known for its detailed sculptures and decorations.
While you can actually climb to the top of the Cathedral’s Dome, we’d actually recommend climbing to the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower instead. That way, you can enjoy stunning views of the Dome and the surrounding city skyline from the tower!
Keep in mind that the summit balconies can ONLY be reached by climbing up 414 narrow steps!
We HIGHLY recommend you purchase your tickets in advance on their website. If you don’t, you will need to queue in a ticket line and then enter another long line to actually climb the tower. Trust us, book in advance, even if you are visiting in the non-peak season!
Sadly, they strongly advise pregnant women (even those in good health) against climbing the tower or any climbs in Italy, so we did not go to the top. Since I was five months pregnant at the time of our visit.
Hours of Operation: Daily from 8:15 am – 6:45 pm
Cost: Depends on the ticket package you choose, learn more on their website
Watch the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is a famous viewpoint in Florence that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the city! Located on a hill, it overlooks the Arno River and landmarks like the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. The square features a bronze replica of Michelangelo’s David and is a popular spot for tourists, especially at sunset. It’s the perfect place to take photos and enjoy the beauty of Florence from above!
Since seeing the sunset here is one of the top things to see in Florence, Italy, keep in mind it will be VERY busy! If possible, we’d recommend visiting on a weekday for sunset to help avoid some of the crowds. But regardless, it’s 10000% worth seeing at sunset because it’s breathtaking!
Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Cost: Free
Stroll through Boboli Gardens & Palazzo Pitti
Boboli Gardens is a beautiful park in Florence, behind the Pitti Palace. Statues, fountains, and lush greenery fill the gardens, making them a peaceful place to explore. The Medici family commissioned the gardens in the 16th century, making them one of the first examples of an Italian-style garden. As you walk around the gardens and scenic pathways, you can enjoy stunning views of Florence!
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 8:15 am, with closing times varying by season
Cost: €10
Pro-tip: Visit on the 1st Sunday of the month for free entrance!
See Michelangelo’s David Statue at the Accademia Gallery of Florence
The Accademia Gallery in Florence is best known for housing Michelangelo’s famous statue of David. This museum also has other incredible Renaissance artworks, including sculptures and paintings by great Italian artists. During your visit, you can learn about Michelangelo’s work and see unfinished sculptures that show how he created his masterpieces.
It probably goes without saying, but expect crowds when seeing the iconic Michelangelo’s David Statue. We HIGHLY recommend purchasing your ticket online in advance. Even with a timed entry reservation, you will have to wait in a queue before entering the museum.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am to 6:50 pm (last admission at 6:20 pm)
Cost: €16
Find a Wine Window & order a glass of wine
The wine windows in Florence are small, historic openings in the walls of old buildings used to serve wine. Dating back to the 17th century, they allowed people to buy wine safely during times of plague. Today, some of these windows have been restored and are still used by local shops and bars. While it’s a more touristy thing to do, they are a unique and fun way to experience Florence’s history and wine culture!
We visited two wine windows: Osteria Bella Donne and Buchetta del Vino. Both times, they actually served the wine in a plastic cup rather than a glass cup. Some were nicer cups you could either return or keep as a souvenir (for a small fee). While others were in disposable plastic cups.
Hours of Operation: Exact times vary depending on the wine window
Cost: €5 – €10, depending on the type of wine you choose
Watch our Florence travel vlog to see us experience the Top things to see in Florence, Italy!
Admire the art at Uffizi Galleries
The Uffizi Galleries in Florence are one of the most famous art museums in the world. They house an incredible collection of Renaissance masterpieces by artists like Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael. During your visit, you can admire paintings, sculptures, and some of the greatest artworks ever created!
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday from 8:15 am – 6:50 pm (Closed Mondays)
Cost: €25
Take vintage photos at a retro photo booth
Taking photos at one of the retro photo booths in Florence is a fun way to capture memories of your visit! These vintage-style booths are located in various spots around the city and allow you to take quick, black-and-white photos. Keep in mind, that the photo booths are coin only, with no change given. Since they are authentic retro photo booths, they take about 4 to 5 minutes to print the photos. So be sure you wait long enough for them to print!
We’ve heard the photo booths in Florence can be very hit or miss about whether or not they’ll work. But thankfully, the one we chose worked, and it was the perfect souvenir! Here are the coordinates to the exact retro photo booth we visited: 43.770783, 11.262120
Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Cost: €2
Taste gelato from La Strega Nocciola Gelateria
If you’re planning to visit Florence, then I’m sure tasting the delicious Italian gelato is on your list. Well, you NEED to visit La Strega Nocciola Gelateria. It’s authentic gelato served from silver-lidded containers with flat metal utensils. You’ll want to avoid super colorful, tall piles of gelato because it contains many artificial flavors and ingredients.
We spent a month exploring Italy and this was by FAR the best gelato we had of the entire trip! It was so good, in fact, that we even visited multiple times per day on our weekend in Florence, ha!
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 am – 11:00 pm, Sunday & Monday from 11:00 am – 8 :00 pm
Cost: €3 – €7, depending on the size of the cone or cup
Day trip to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Pisa is a charming city about a 1.5-hour drive from Florence, making it the perfect day trip! It’s most famously known for the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s a bell tower for the nearby cathedral and began to tilt during its construction in the 12th century. And it’s been leaning ever since!
Visitors can climb the 294 steps to the top of the famous landmark! In addition to the tower, there are a few other buildings on site, like the Cathedral and Baptistry, that are definitely worth visiting. Like most popular tourist attractions, we’d recommend booking your tickets to climb the tower online in advance. They do offer a few different ticket packages depending on which sites you’d like to visit.
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 9:00 am, with closing times varying by season
Cost: €8 – €27, depending on the ticket package
Rent a car to visit a winery in the Tuscan countryside
While Florence is a beautiful city, there’s so much to do in Tuscany outside of Florence. The Tuscan countryside is known for its rolling hills, charming villages, and endless vineyards. Making it the perfect place to rent a car to spend a day or even an entire week road-tripping around to all the best spots!
If you are planning to visit the Tuscan countryside, be sure to read our blog post about the Best Towns in Tuscany!
Tips for Visiting in Florence, Italy
- Purchase all your tickets in advance for touristy sites: they tend to sell out, even during non-peak season!
- Be prepared for crowds year round: We visited during late October to mid-November and it was still as busy as ever.
- FYI, many of our photos are taken just after sunrise, which is why you don’t see many people in them. But by mid-morning, there were large crowds around all the touristy areas!
- Wear Comfortable Shoes: You’ll spend hours walking around on cobblestone streets and climbing lots of stairs.
- Explore early or late: To help avoid the crowds, visit major attractions early in the morning or later in the evening.
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If you found this blog about the top things to see in Florence, Italy, helpful, read our blog about the Best Things to do in Rome!
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