Alexander Meddings
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5(16)
10 Guests Max
2 hrs
Private TourFlorence is more of an open-air museum than a classic European city, and by far the best way to admire its outdoor collection is to explore the historic centre on foot. Florence's centre spans just 505 hectares, meaning you can easily cover its main sites in the space of a leisurely morning or afternoon. Just make sure to pack some comfortable shoes as you're going to be doing a lot of walking!
We have written this guide to the best things to do in Florence for first-time visitors who are short on time. You’ll find our top tried and tested recommendations for what to see, where to stay, and where to eat. What’s more, they’re based on our own experience, as travel experts who have lived in Florence for years.
You can’t go wrong with quality coffee in Florence. But if you’re looking for an authentic Italian breakfast, grab a coffee and croissant at Caffe Concerto Paszkowski. Open since 1903, this bar, venue, and former beer hall was once a favourite haunt of the Florentine intelligentsia. You'll find an excellent range of cornetti (the Italian word for croissants) and other sweet pastries—the mandatory companions of your frothy cappuccino.
Context is key in Florence. Yes, the beauty of Brunelleschi’s architecture will wow anyone who visits. But really understanding what you’re seeing adds an extra dimension to your sightseeing and a deeper appreciation of the city. That's why taking a walking tour is one of the best things to do in Florence.
Learning about the River Arno with a private guide
Exploring Via Tornabuoni and its ancient column
Dropping into one of Florence’s most stunning courtyards
Most routes start from the Duomo and San Lorenzo district and move on to the Basilica of Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio, and the Uffizi before crossing the Ponte Vecchio. But it’s best to save the other side of the river until the evening, when the area comes to life.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Florentine delicacy panino al lampredotto (tripe sandwich). It might look like the cooked lamprey eels after which it’s named—slathered in sauce and stuck in a bun. But it’s absolutely delicious, especially with a glass of red wine, and will easily keep you going until dinner.
You can find plenty of street food vans selling lampredotto, but our favourite is on the corner of Borgo La Croce and Via dei Macci, just outside the Church of Sant’Ambrogio.
Panino al lampredotto from Sant’Ambrogio
Street food van in Florence
If a traditional tripe sandwich isn’t your thing, 1) there’s no judgement here and 2) you have plenty of other options. Check out Il Pizzaiuolo next door for traditional Neapolitan pizza (when in Florence, eat Neapolitan). Or if you want something fancy and are happy to spend, check out Cibreo next door.
Immersing yourself in art is one of the most rewarding things to do in Florence. But since the city is home to a significant percentage of the Western World's greatest art, deciding what to leave out can be tricky. If you only have time to visit one gallery in Florence, you should visit the Uffizi. Designed by Giorgio Vasari, the architect and biographer of Italy's most famous artists, in the mid-16th century, the Uffizi houses the world's most stunning collection of Renaissance art.
Here you'll find such masterpieces as Botticelli's Venus, Leonardo Da Vinci's Adoration of the Magi, Michelangelo's Holy Family, Caravaggio's Medusa and Rembrandt's Self-Portrait, spread out across three floors, which will take a morning or afternoon to explore.
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Caravaggio’s Medusa
Michelangelo’s Holy Family
Botticelli’s Birth of Venus
Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation
The best way to visit the Uffizi is on a guided tour with pre-booked tickets. With around 2 million visitors each year, there’s a delicate balance between demand and capacity, meaning without priority entry tickets or assigned entry times you can be left standing in line for hours (though at least you’re shaded beneath its 16th-century porticoes).
The Uffizi's opening hours are Tuesday - Saturday, 8:15 am - 6:50 pm.
Florence is one of the best cities in Italy for meaty pasta dishes, cold cuts of prosciutto and cheeses, and creamy gelato — not to mention local wines like Chianti and Montepulciano. The problem is that Florence is also one of the most touristic cities in Italy, and finding something authentic can be tricky if you don't know where to look.
The best way to taste your way through Florentine cuisine is through a Food Tour of Florence. Over three hours, you'll try more than 12 types of local food and wine in the company of a local foodie guide who will nourish you with knowledge as you satisfy your stomach!
Avoid the tourist traps by booking your space on a Florence Food Tour.
Literally meaning across the River Arno (oltre Arno, in Italian), Florence’s Oltrarno district is the place to be in the evening. Its narrow, artisan-workshop-lined streets gradually fill up with the city’s young and beautiful, who spill out of its bars around the time of aperitivo or sit around socialising in the piazza. Exploring Oltratno at your leisure is one of best things to in Florence. Here are two ideas in particular to try and squeeze into your itinerary:
If you’d like to stay outside, the landscaped Boboli Gardens and adjoining Palazzo Pitti are well worth checking out. Palazzo Pitti’s collection easily rivals those of the Uffizi or Accademia. In fact, for modern-art and fashion lovers, the Palazzo Pitti's collection is even stronger. The Palatine Gallery boasts a collection worthy of the Medici, while the palace’s other offerings — the Gallery of Modern Art, Medici’s treasury, and Museum of Costume and Fashion —offer something a little different.
You can get your tickets online or at the onsite ticket office. If the weather’s good, get a combination ticket for the Palazzo Pitti and adjoining Boboli Gardens. The gardens are among the largest and most ornate in Florence, masterfully designed and decorated with flora, fountains, and statues dating as far back as the sixteenth century.
View of Florence from the Boboli Gardens
Fountain in the Boboli Gardens
If you’d rather relax by losing yourself in Oltrarno’s backstreets and ducking into churches, add Basilica Santo Spirito and Cappella Brancacci to your list. Santo Spirito’s unfinished facade might not look as inviting as Florence’s other churches. But inside you’ll find a small wooden sculpture of Christ carved by the great Michelangelo Buonarotti, and dedicated as thanks to the Augustine friars who had offered Michelangelo sanctuary in 1492.
Double-check both churches are open before heading over to visit them. Santa Croce closes at 6pm (and all day Wednesday) while Cappella Brancacci closes at 5pm and all day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
You know that picture postcard panoramic of Florence that pops up from time to time on your Instagram feed? Chances are it comes from Piazzale Michelangelo. The highest square in the city offers simply stunning views of Florence, its Renaissance skyline, and the mountains in the distance, and no trip to Florence would be complete without soaking it in at sunset.
View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo
Unfortunately, Piazzale Michelangelo is the worst-kept secret in Florence, so whenever you go be prepared to wait a few minutes for your ideal photo-op spot at the front. But don’t let this put you off; watching the sunset over the city really is one of the most rewarding things to do in Florence. Make sure to leave at least half an hour before sunset, and prepare yourself for a steep climb.
Florence has fewer tourist traps than Rome and Venice. But as a rule of thumb, avoid eating at any restaurants with tables looking out over the Duomo or Ponte Vecchio, and certainly steer clear of any restaurants offering tourist menus. But come a little off the beaten path, especially in the neighbourhoods of Oltrarno or Sant’Ambrogio, and you can be sure you’ll eat well.
We really rate Osteria da Que Ganzi on the Via Ghibellina. It serves up honest, hearty Florentine food consisting of abundant antipasti, generous pasta dishes, and perhaps the best steak in Florence.
Dishes at Osteria da Que Ganzi
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
If you’d rather stay in Oltrarno and soak in some of the area’s nightlife, check out Osteria Santo Spirito, in Oltrarno’s Piazza Santo Spirito. Their gnocchi in gorgonzola and truffle sauce is simply to die for—despite it being more Italian than Tuscan.
Spending at least two days in Florence gives you enough time to visit its must-see attractions like the Uffizi, the Duomo, and Palazzo Pitti, and to get a taste of its hearty, central Italian cuisine. But such a short time barely scratches the surface, and to get the most out of the Renaissance city you should try to visit for at least a week.
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Enjoy Traditional Drinks and Scandalous Stories in the Heart of the Renaissance City.
This isn’t your typical tour. The Tipsy Tour in Florence is the perfect blend of fascinating history, tasty drinks, and making memories with newfound friends. Explore the vibrant nightlife of the Renaissance City and sample signature Italian cocktails, wine, and shots. Along the way you’ll hear about Florence’s less savoury past with some saucy stories and dark history, all the while getting tipsy of course! This tour is all about bringing people together so if alcohol isn’t your thing, not to worry! We’ve got some alcohol-free options for travellers who want the social experience without the hangover.
Your fun-loving guide will wow you with scandals from Florence’s history. Sip away as you learn the life stories of some of Florence’s most notorious figures. The Medici are a great starting point – specifically, Catherine de Medici, believed by many to have had a penchant for poison and a dabble in the dark arts.
As we travel from bar to bar, tracing the steps of prisoners and sex workers alike, your guide will immerse you in the bloody tale of the Pazzi Conspiracy, where Lorenzo de Medici and his entourage were attacked in Florence’s cathedral during High Mass on Easter Sunday. Then you’ll find out what happened to the Pazzi family, too.
Spoiler alert – it was way worse.
During the experience, we’ll visit at least two vibrant bars and enjoy drink stops outside famous sights. Plus, we’ll order shots from a wine window on the street, like a true Florentine. You might wonder why wine from a window never became a worldwide phenomenon, and trust us – we don’t know either.
When the Tipsy Tour is over, the night out officially begins. We’ll enjoy the city long into the night, making unforgettable memories with our Tipsy besties.
Spaces fill up fast, so book your Florence Tipsy Tour today!
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Florence’s Accademia Gallery houses one of Europe’s richest collections of art and sculpture. Hone in on its highlights on a tailored tour and come face to face with the world’s most famous sculpture: Michelangelo’s David.
This private Accademia tour is perfect for art enthusiasts looking to broaden their knowledge and fill in the gaps. It covers the evolution of western art from the Giotto’s gilt gold of the Florentine Gothic to Botticelli and Lippi’s humanist masterpieces the High Renaissance.
See for yourself why the statue of David is considered one of the most life-like sculptures ever carved and learn the historical context that saw the Florentines adopt the biblical David as the symbol of their city.
Learn about the artists behind the work, their history and the techniques they used. Gain insider knowledge of lesser-known works like Michelangelo’s Prisoners or Slaves, and enjoy free time at the end of the tour to wander through the museum at your own pace.
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Most people are familiar with the Uffizi’s international reputation as a gallery. Its halls house masterpieces by the likes of Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, and Caravaggio. But the Uffizi didn’t start life as a gallery. Deriving its name from the Middle Italian for ‘the Offices’, this 16th-century complex constitutes the most beautiful and architecturally innovative administrative office complex ever designed. And while going into the office isn’t something you typically associate with being on holiday, here you must make an exception.
The Uffizi was designed by the architect and biographer Giorgio Vasari, under the patronage of Cosimo I. After Cosimo died, his heirs lost interest in politics. His eldest son, Francesco I, brought his private collection of artworks and made the Uffizi his private museum. The collection they accumulated over the coming centuries is what you see today.
And our private tour of the Uffizi brings you face to face with its highlights.
5(211)Every cobble in Florence tells a story. Its 14th-century walls contain such a wealth of archaeological and artistic treasures that the city centre itself is a UNESCO site – a global centre of cultural importance. This private walking tour of Florence tells the story of Renaissance city through the monuments it leaves behind.
Accompanied by your expert, licensed guide, you’ll explore Florence’s streets and discover its attractions, being transported through its illustrious history – from its founding as a Roman colony through to its patronage by medieval Europe’s most powerful bankers and merchants (not least the infamous Medici).
Your private walking tour takes you through Florence’s world-famous sites. Gaze up at Brunelleschi’s 15th-century Duomo – the dome of Florence’s Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore – and the Golden Doors of Paradise on its adjacent Baptistery. Learn to decipher the symbols and reliefs that adorn the Tower of Giotto beside the Duomo and learn why the Florentine’s chose them and what they said about their city.
Stroll past Piazza della Repubblica, Italy’s most important square in the mid 1800s when Florence was the country’s capital, and admire the statues that line the niches of the nearby Church of Orsanmichele. Florence’s most picturesque piazza lies just a short stroll away: Piazza della Signoria, in the background of which loom the medieval fortress of Palazzo Vecchio and the Renaissance offices converted into the world’s most famous gallery: the Uffizi.
Head through the vaulted arches of the Uffizi and you arrive at Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s most famous bridge, which dates back in its current form to the days of the Medici. Absorb its rich history, and some of its seldom shared secrets, as your expert guide shares their expertise and answers all your questions.
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Nowhere does food like Florence. Voted the best city in the world for food, the Tuscan capital specialises in hearty meat dishes and full-bodied wines that charm the palates of all who visit. Our Florence Food Tour takes you on a culinary journey through the artisan district of Oltrarno to sample the best of Tuscan cuisine and eat and drink like a local in Florence!
After whetting your appetite with crispy schiacciata bread, and light, fruity Chianti wine (or non-alcoholic options for our sober friends!), you’ll be indulging in Florence’s local food culture in a local trattoria. Your foodie guide will share all their expertise about the history and evolution of Florence’s traditional cucina povera and introduce you to the most famous dishes in Florence and the locals who make them. Come curious, but most of all come hungry.
Perfect for families, foodies, and anyone looking for a unique experience in Florence, our Food Tour of Florence is packed full of personal stories and insider recommendations. Book now as spaces fill up fast!
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