Florence also known as Firenze in Italian is a city in central Italy and capital city of the Tuscany region.
If you love art, fashion and food, this is one such place which is not to be missed at all. With renaissance architecture, white buildings capped with red roofs, and winding, ancient streets, it is one of my favorite spots in Italy. It was a surprise package with which I didn’t have much expectations but ended up being one of my favorite city’s in the whole world. And those following me on social media for a while, definitely know this fact.
Florence is like a giant museum wrapped up as a city.
Where To Stay?
You can stay by the main train station called Santa Maria Novella (SMN) or also in the Piazza San Marco if you want to stay close to the Duomo.
How To Explore?
Florence is a very much walkable city. Best way to explore is to walk around.
What To Eat?
Gelato is a must when in Florence. Apart from that the famous pastas and pizzas. Also make sure to try Ribollita when in Florence.
Also for all the wine lovers – Tuscan wines are worth trying.
Places To Explore?
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Florence Cathedral, formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is the cathedral of Florence, Italy. It took over 140 years to complete. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink, bordered by white, and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival facade. It has marvelous architecture and a must visit.
Timing – 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (may vary on some days.)
Entrance Fees – Free 🙂
Brunelleschi’s Dome
The cathedral’s dome continues to enchant all those who observe it from afar. The dome has a diameter of 45.5 meters. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. One of the major attractions of Florence. You can climb the dome with 463 steps to have a panoramic view of the whole city. There are no lifts or elevators to the top. The climb is not recommended for people suffering from heart problems, vertigo or claustrophobia, and for pregnant women.
Timing – 8 am to 7.30 pm (may vary on some days.)
Entrance Fees – 18 Euros included in the combo ticket having 72 hours validity.
San Giovanni’s Baptistery
The Baptistry of San Giovanni, one of the most ancient churches in Florence, sits opposite the the church of Santa Maria del Fiore. Octagonal in plan, it is totally clad in slabs of white Carrara and green Prato marble. It is also an architectural wonder.
Timing – 11 am to 5 pm (may vary on some days.)
Entrance Fees – 18 Euros included in the combo ticket having 72 hours validity.
Giotto’s Bell Tower
Giotto’s bell tower is 84.7 metres tall and approximately 15 metres in breadth. It is the most eloquent example of 14th century Gothic architecture in Florence, combining a strong vertical thrust with the principle of sound solidity, its corner buttresses rising the full length of the tower to the projecting terrace at the top. You can get one of the best views of Florence from it’s top after climbing 414 steps. However, the climb is not recommended for people suffering from heart problems, vertigo or claustrophobia and for pregnant women. If you are short on time or for any other reason, have to choose only one out of the dome and bell tower, I would suggest you to choose bell tower, since it will give you the view of the Dome as well. But if you are enthusiastic in climbing up both of them, then do that on separate days.
Timing – 8 am to 7.30 pm (may vary on some days.)
Entrance Fees – 18 Euros included in the combo ticket having 72 hours validity.
Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria is an L-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. It is a beautiful square with lots of amazing statues and sculptures around. It’s a treat for art lovers.
Timing – Open all day
Entrance Fees – Free 🙂
Palazzo Vecchio
Just beside Piazza della Signoria is Palazzo Vecchio. It is the town hall of Florence.
Timing – 9 am to 10 pm
Entrance Fees – 10 Euros
Uffizi Gallery
Uffizi Gallery is a must visit if you are an art lover. It is a huge gallery of total 2 floors. It boasts an invaluable collection of ancient statues and busts from the Medici family, which adorns the corridors and consists of ancient Roman copies of lost Greek sculptures. It can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to visit this gallery based on your interest in art. There is usually a huge crowd for the tickets and entry, so I would suggest you to book an online slot from https://www.uffizi.it/en/tickets . It will cost you about 4 euros extra but totally worth it if you are on a tight schedule and dont want to miss this landmark. The timings and discounted rates also apply for different criterias, you can check that from the same link.
Timing – 9am to 6.30pm Monday closed.
Entrance Fees – 20 Euros (for discounts and other details check the link provided above)
Galleria dell’Accademia
The Accademia Gallery is Florence’s most visited museum right after the Uffizi Gallery. The original statue of Michelangelo’s famous David actually has made the Accademia the most popular museum in Florence, thus making the statue the most admired work in all of Florence’s museums and top sights in all of Italy. This is also usually crowded and it’s better to book on or through phone to avoid long queues.
Timing – 9am to 6 pm Monday closed.
Book from – http://www.accademia.org/buy-tickets/ or call +39-055-294-883
Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River. It is known for the shops built along it. It is also one of the most famous bridges in Florence and a very happening one.
Timing – All day.
Entrance Fees – Free 🙂
Palazzo Pitti
The Palazzo Pitti is a vast, mainly Renaissance, palace in Florence. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio.
Timing – 8.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday Closed
Entrance Fees – 16 Euros
Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is a square with a panoramic view of Florence, located in the Oltarno district of the city. There is a large car park, kiosks and souvenir stands and a fair stretch of area where you can stand and look down upon the city of Florence. The view from this area is simply so stunning and cannot be missed out on. I highly recommend visiting it during sunset to experience the golden hour magic.
Timing – All day
Entrance Fees – Free 🙂
Other Places to visit:
Florence has tonnes of other places to visit like – Medici Chapels, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Badia Fiorentina, Boboli Gardens, Bargello Museum and the list goes on. It is advisable to atleast spend a week in this place to explore all the places properly. You can also take day trips to Pisa, Tuscany, Siena, Bologna, Lucca and other such cute Italian towns. So it is definitely advisable to keep ample time in hand while planning to visit Florence, since it can get stretched anyway.
San Lorenzo Market
Florence is known for great leather products and food. And if you are anything like me, you got to keep a day aside to visit this amazing market. It is divided into 2 parts – (i) the outdoor comprising of leather goods, souvenirs, clothes and accessories and (ii) the indoor one also known as Mercato Centrale spread over 2 floors and having some droolworthy options of food. Basically this market is your one stop solution for shopping and eating. Apart from these – Florence also has some other great markets, but if you have to choose only one due to time then this is the answer.
That’s all for your ultimate Florentine experience. I also did an Instagram series on this city and have attached snippets of the same above, you can check that out as well for a quick visual guide. I hope this helps you well in planning your perfect. Feel free to ask any questions you have in comments below or reach out to me in my social media. Always happy to help. 🙂