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Italy Florence travel guide
30 things to do in Florence, where to stay, airport transfers, 6 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Florence
- Uffizi Gallery — palace and art museum in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Florence Cathedral — 13th-century cathedral in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Palazzo Pitti — Renaissance palace and museum in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Ponte Vecchio — bridge in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Palazzo Vecchio — palace in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basilica of Santa Croce — Franciscan church in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Florence Baptistery — baptistery in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Bargello National Museum — art museum in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basilica of Santa Maria Novella — church in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basilica of San Lorenzo — church in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Boboli Gardens — park in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Palazzo Strozzi — Renaissance palace in Florence (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Galleria dell'Accademia — art museum in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Palazzo Medici Riccardi — palace and museum in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- San Miniato al Monte — basilica in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Orsanmichele — church and municipal building in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Pazzi Chapel — chapel at Santa Croce, Florence (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Giotto's Campanile — bell tower by Giotto (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Santo Spirito — church in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Santa Maria del Carmine — church in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Santissima Annunziata — Roman Catholic minor basilica in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Palazzo Rucellai — palazzo (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Brancacci Chapel — chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Basilica of the Holy Trinity — church in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Medici Chapels — structures at the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museum of San Marco — art museum in the former convent of San Marco in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Museo Galileo — Italian museum for the history of science (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Casa Buonarroti — museum in Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Ognissanti Church — church in Florence (visit ≈ 120 min)
- piazzale Michelangelo — square in Florence, Italy (visit ≈ 15 min)
2-day Florence walking itinerary
Starting point: Duomo / Centro Storico. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 2.8 km · 3,820 steps · 37 min on the way): Florence Baptistery → Palazzo Vecchio → Uffizi Gallery → Ponte Vecchio → Palazzo Pitti
- Day 2 (≈ 2.1 km · 2,890 steps · 29 min on the way): Basilica of Santa Croce → Bargello National Museum → Florence Cathedral
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Florence
- Piazza della Signoria — The square before Palazzo Vecchio with the statue-filled Loggia dei Lanzi; an open-air museum. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Mercato Centrale — 19th-century iron market hall: butchers and cheese below, food stalls upstairs. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Mercato Nuovo and Il Porcellino — Old loggia market with the bronze boar whose snout you rub for luck before dropping a coin. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Bardini Garden — Terraced, quiet garden famed for its spring wisteria tunnel and rooftop views. (visit ≈ 60 min)
- Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella — One of the world's oldest pharmacies, making perfumes and herbal goods in frescoed halls for centuries. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Museo dell'Opera del Duomo — Museum holding the cathedral's original sculptures and the real Gates of Paradise panels. (visit ≈ 75 min)
- Casa di Dante — Small museum in Dante's birthplace quarter about the poet's life and times. (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Piazza della Repubblica — Broad square on the site of the Roman forum, with a carousel and historic cafés. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Museo Stefano Bardini — A famous antiques dealer's collection in the Oltrarno: sculpture, paintings and arms in blue-walled rooms. (visit ≈ 60 min)
Where to stay in Florence
- Duomo / Centro Storico: The cathedral, Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio are minutes away; crowded but very central.
- Santa Maria Novella: The main station and airport tram are here; handy for day trips.
- Oltrarno / Santo Spirito: Across the river, with artisan workshops and local bars; calmer and more authentic.
- Santa Croce: Restaurants and nightlife around the basilica; a short walk from the centre.
- San Lorenzo / Central Market: Near the Central Market and leather stalls; plenty of mid-range hotels.
- San Niccolò: A small, quiet quarter at the foot of Piazzale Michelangelo.
Getting from the airport to Florence
- Florence Peretola (FLR): T2 tram ≈ 20 min
- Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA): Train to Pisa Centrale, then PisaMover ≈ 1 h 15 min
Getting around
The historic centre is compact and walkable, with restricted traffic zones (ZTL). A tram links the station and the airport.
Classic places to eat
- Trattoria Mario: Lunch only since 1953; shared tables, ribollita and steak.
- Trattoria Sostanza: Open since 1869, famous for butter chicken and meringue cake.
- Buca Mario: Classic Florentine cooking in a cellar since 1886.
- Da Nerbone: Lampredotto sandwiches in the Central Market since 1872.
- All'Antico Vinaio: Famous for huge focaccia sandwiches; the queue moves fast.
- Vivoli: A historic gelato shop making ice cream since the 1930s.
- Caffè Gilli: Since 1733; an elegant café on Piazza della Repubblica.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Enoteca Pinchiorri — 3 MICHELIN stars, Creative, Tuscan
- Santa Elisabetta — 2 MICHELIN stars, Creative
- Ora d'Aria — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Tuscan
- Borgo San Jacopo — 1 MICHELIN star, Creative Italian
- La Leggenda dei Frati — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Tuscan
- Il Palagio — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Italian
Romantic views
- Piazzale Michelangelo (Sunset): The famous terrace that frames the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio together.
- San Miniato al Monte (Sunset): A quieter view of the city from the hilltop church.
- Ponte Santa Trinita (Sunset): The best bridge for looking at Ponte Vecchio.
- Rose Garden (Spring afternoon): A quiet garden below Piazzale Michelangelo, facing the city.
- Boboli Gardens (Afternoon): A large garden of statues and cypresses behind Palazzo Pitti.
Football stadiums in Florence
- Stadio Artemio Franchi: Home of ACF Fiorentina
Good to know before visiting Florence
- Fine: Carving or damaging monuments can bring heavy fines and prosecution.
- Fine: Buying counterfeit goods from street sellers can get the buyer fined too.
- Fine: Taking sand, pebbles or shells from beaches is banned, notably in Sardinia.
- Fine: Validate bus and tram tickets as soon as you board; unvalidated tickets are fined.
- Fine: Driving into historic-centre ZTL zones without a permit is caught on camera and fined.
- Warning: Validate paper regional train tickets at the platform machines; digital tickets are time-bound.
Extra rules for Florence
- Fine: Eating while sitting on church and monument steps is prohibited.
- Fine: On some narrow streets near the Uffizi, eating on the pavement at peak hours is fined.
- Warning: The Duomo and several museums need timed tickets booked in advance.
- Emergency: 112 (police 113, ambulance 118, fire 115)
- Plugs: C/F/L, 230V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe; in Rome you can refill at the "nasoni" street fountains.
- Tipping: Bills often include a "coperto" cover charge; tipping isn't expected, rounding up is enough.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Italy, Turismo Roma — Trevi Fountain entry, Wikivoyage — Italy, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Florence travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Florence?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 20 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Florence?
- Highlights: Uffizi Gallery, Florence Cathedral, Palazzo Pitti, Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio. The map has 30 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Florence?
- Duomo / Centro Storico: The cathedral, Uffizi and Ponte Vecchio are minutes away; crowded but very central. Other options: Santa Maria Novella, Oltrarno / Santo Spirito, Santa Croce, San Lorenzo / Central Market and San Niccolò.
- How do you get from the airport to Florence city centre?
- Florence Peretola (FLR): T2 tram ≈ 20 min · Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA): Train to Pisa Centrale, then PisaMover ≈ 1 h 15 min
- How do you get around Florence?
- The historic centre is compact and walkable, with restricted traffic zones (ZTL). A tram links the station and the airport.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Florence?
- According to the last known data there are 6 starred restaurants: Enoteca Pinchiorri (3 stars), Santa Elisabetta (2 stars), Ora d'Aria (1 star), Borgo San Jacopo (1 star), La Leggenda dei Frati (1 star) and 1 more. Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Florence?
- Emergency: 112 (police 113, ambulance 118, fire 115).
- Do you tip in Florence?
- Bills often include a "coperto" cover charge; tipping isn't expected, rounding up is enough.
Nearby cities
Siena · Pisa · Bologna · San Marino · Verona · Venice · Vatican City · Rome
Italy travel guide: all cities · All cities