Florence, Italy Travel Guide
Florence is an incredibly romantic and beautiful city. Full of art, fantastic food, culture, and architecture, this unforgettable Italian destination is a must stop for any vacation itinerary through Italy. Whether you're going on your honeymoon, girls trip, solo trip, or adventurous vacation, everyone is sure to love this gem of an Italian getaway. We've visited several times, and with each trip, we fall more and more in love with this beautiful and relaxing city. Here's our guide on the best things to do, see, and experience in Florence.
How to Get To Florence From Rome, Milan, or Venice
Coming from Rome first? Use the Trainline app to book our tickets from Roma Termini, Milano Centrale, or Venezia Santa Lucia to Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Remember in Italy that Firenze = Florence! The speed train options to look for include Italo and Le Frecce. Each have options: Frecciarossa or Frecciargento. We’ve taken all of them, and they’re all equally good rides!
We can't quote any prices of tickets as they range between season and time, but the train ride from Rome to Florence only takes about an hour and a half, Venice to Florence takes about 2 hours 15 minutes, and the train from Milan to Florence takes right under two hours! Depending on the train and route, the train will sometimes stop a few times along the way, but don't hop off until you've reached Firenze Santa Maria Novella station.
How to Get Around Florence
Get your walking shoes on! The best way to navigate the city is by foot. In many historic areas, much of the city is blocked off to cars anyway. Florence does have a public transportation that is widely used, but if you're staying in and around the historical center, you probably won’t need to ride the bus at all.
If you do fly into Florence, the easiest way to get from the airport to the center of Florence is the T2 tram line. The best way to get to Florence from other cities is by train or car. If you’d like to rent a car, remember that you will only use it for a little while in the city. The central train station in Florence is about a 5-15 minute rideshare (Uber or FreeNow work just fine!) from almost everywhere in the city.
The Best Things to Do in Florence
As Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, there is plenty of art, museums, and grandeur to discover. Here are a few of the can't-miss attractions and best things to do in the area.
Visit one (or a few) of Florence's iconic wine windows! Babae (located at Via Santo Spirito, 21R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy) and Osteria Belle Donne (located at Via delle Belle Donne, 16R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy) are our favorite stops!
Visit the Uffizi Gallery. This world-renowned museum houses a vast collection of Renaissance art, including works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Climb the Duomo. This iconic cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Florence. The climb to the top is well worth the effort for the stunning views of the city.
Watch the sunset from the Piazzale Michelangelo. Nothing can fully prepare you for how breathtaking the sunset views over the city from this perspective truly are.
Shop at the Mercato Centrale. This bustling market is perfect for finding fresh produce, meats, cheeses, local specialties, souvenirs, and gifts.
Wander through the Pitti Palace. This former Medici royal palace is now a museum that houses a collection of art, furniture, and other artifacts from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. As you're there, stroll through the gorgeous Boboli Gardens to relax and get a great view of the city.
Admire the Statue of David at the Accademia Gallery. There are other impressive works of art here, but Michelangelo's David is literally and figuratively the standout!
Spend time wandering through the Oltrarno (the other side of the Arno river). This more local side of Florence has so much character and all the Italian charm you could hope to find. Wandering doesn’t sound like a “thing to do,” but it’s one of the best things to do in Florence.
Navigating the Italian Language
Italian is the national language. As a Latin language, some words might be able to be interpreted without previous knowledge of the language. We found most younger people and those who worked in hospitality spoke very good English. The only times where there was a lack of communication were among older Italian citizens or those further outside of the main tourist areas.
However, any language barrier can always be quickly remedied by using Google Translate. While you definitely don’t need to know Italian to enjoy Florence, here are a few words that are helpful to know while exploring this city:
KEY ITALIAN PHRASES TO KNOW:
Buongiorno - pronounced bwahn-joor-no - means Good day (said before sundown)
Buonasera - pronounced bweh-nah-seh-rah - means Good evening (said after sundown)
Arrivederci - pronounced ah-ree-vah-dehr-chee - means Goodbye
Ciao - pronounced chow - means Casual hello/goodbye (Say only after someone says it to you first, otherwise, use the more formal greeting and goodbye of buongiorno, buonasera, and arrivederci)
Grazie - pronounced graht-seh - means Thank you
What and Where to Eat and Drink in Florence
One of the best things about Florence is the food! From grab-and-go panini to high-end dining, Florence really does have it all. We have been to Florence many times and try something new and something tried and true each time we are there. We love to test out if a spot was a one-off or if it is always that good, and we repeat restaurants we’ve visited before as much as we like to try out new places. After spending months traveling all across Italy, the cuisine and culture of this fabulous Tuscan city always has us coming back for more.
There is too much to cover in one little segment, so we wrote a whole seperate blog sharing our favorite dishes, drinks, and places to try in Florence! Read more here!
How Safe is Florence?
We always feel safe when visiting Florence. While you should always use wisdom and caution in life and traveling, we felt at ease in the city. You’ll find more panhandlers in the central plazas near the Uffizi Gallery and the Duomo. Generally, people aren’t pushy.
However, if you’re visiting the Galleria Academia, you’re sure to find “artists” selling their “paintings” (bad copies). They will try to persuade you to look and buy them, but if you even make eye contact with them or step near their paintings, they will try to put the art in your hand or in your bag and then declare they owe you for it. Walk around them and do not acknowledge them. Please don’t give them an opportunity to try to swindle you into buying their knock-off products.
As always, in crowded areas where tourists are known to meander, watch your pockets and don’t keep valuables anywhere people can easily take them. We know about the art mischief from experience, but other than that, we have never had any negative experiences with safety in Florence.
Money Tips for Your Italy Trip
Italy uses the euro. If you're wondering if you should bring cash or card, the answer is yes - both! Most nicer restaurants and larger stores accept cards. Still, you'll almost always need cash for more local shops and smaller purchases of less than $30. I recommend using my favorite currency converter app to check the exchange rate when you go. This tool was also helpful when visiting smaller markets and asking the vendor, "how much?" (quanto? in Italian) They can type the number into the app like a calculator, and you can easily see the conversation rate there.
The best practice (and cheapest) for having cash on hand in a new country is to go to your bank 5-10 business days before your trip and ask them for the new currency. Depending on your bank, this transaction will either be free or just a few dollars.
If you're like us and realize the airplane tires hit foreign soil that we forgot to do this, then find an ATM to take out euros in cash! Yes, you can do this even with an international debit card and even some credit cards. There will typically be a small transaction fee along with the exchange rate. It's still cheaper to take out cash this way than to go to a money exchange or Western Union.
Day Trips from Florence
Use Florence as the perfect launching pad for nearby day trips. Foodies should take the train north to visit Parma and Bologna. These cities brought the world Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (also produced in Reggio Emilia), Prosciutto di Parma (Parma ham), and iconic Bolognese sauce (a meaty, hearty sauce.) Wine lovers should arrange a day trip to do tours and tastings of Tuscan wineries near Siena. We had an unbelievably fantastic tour and tasting at the San Giorgia A Lapi Winery just outside Siena.