During our road trip through Italy, there is one place that I was thinking I could live without seeing – that was Florence. Nothing against the city, but I thought it was an artsy-museum-filled city and that just wasn’t (isn’t) my cup of tea. What I didn’t realize until we got there, is that there is so many things to do in Florence!
While there are museums, history, and art, it wasn’t in it a stuffy, stick-up-your-nose kind of way, Florence was more than that. The birthplace of Leonardo Da Vinci captured my heart with its character and charm. The streets and alleyways are easy to get lost in (on purpose or not) and each turn has something that brings light into the world – whether its a statue, a beautiful building, or gelato.
Since I spent most of my time in Florence wondering where I was – this isn’t an itinerary, but rather a list of the top 10 best things to do in Florence (and where to find the best gelato). We visited in May, but the city is great all year – check out this guide to Florence in winter!
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The Duomo Complex
Our hotel, The Hotel Bigallo, had an amazing view of the Duomo so we got to enjoy it during the day and night. The Duomo Complex is the iconic figure of Florence and has a number of buildings to tour. The Cathedral, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo and the Crypt of Santa Reparata all have unique architecture. For magnificent views of the city, you can climb up to the Brunelleschi’s cupola. When it was built, it was the largest dome in the world and is still a masterpiece of engineering and beauty.
Please note there is a dress code to enter the church.
Beware: Since this is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city – be wary of pickpockets and scam artists.
If you’re looking for an Italian villa feel while close to the city, check out this Luxury Stay! The Villa Le Fontanelle is right out of an Italian movie!
Piazza della Republicca
There are a lot of squares in the city, but this one stands out due to the Roman ruins you can walk through, the merry go round, and famous cafes where many writers and artists spent their days. This was probably our favorite square in the city, and due to the variety of activities, one of the best things to do in Florence!
Ponte Vecchio
The literal translation is “Old Bridge’ and it makes sense as it’s the oldest bridge in Florence. It’s also the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed by the Nazi’s during World War II. There are mostly jewelry shops on the bridge and some artwork. It’s one of the most unique bridges I’ve ever seen – a mixture of squares and rectangles up top and arches underneath for boats.
Galleria dell’ Accademia
While this art museum has a lot of famous works by various artists – it’s most known for Michelangelo’s David statue. Be sure to buy a ticket beforehand for a specific time rather than waiting in the long line.
Galleria degli Uffizi
If you haven’t consumed enough art, this museum contains artwork by Leonardo da Vinci and Bolticelli. There are exhibits throughout the year as well. Give yourself plenty of time to walk through the decorated halls.
If you’re doing both the Uffizi and the Accademia you might be interested in this tour:
Palazzo Pitto
For the Renaissance art lover, be sure to visit the Pitti Palance to see over 500 Renaissance paintings in their 28 rooms. The building was built in 1458 and bought by the Medici family in 1549 to contain their massive collection of paintings, jewelry, and various treasures.
Since it’s so big, you can easily spend a lot of time here. Don’t waste your time in the queue, buy a Skip-the-line.
Boboli Gardens
The Medici family not only bought the Pitti Palace, but extended it and basically created the Italian garden style that would be popular for centuries. It’s 45,000 square meters filled with statues, pavilions, grottos, fountains, and breathtaking landscapes. There are guided and audio tours available, or you can walk around on your own. Walking around the gardens is one of the best things to do in Florence for a city break!
Make your Italy trip complete by reading about Venice and Rome.
Basilica di Santa Croce
The green and white exterior is hard to miss amid the city, but this principal Franciscan church has more to offer than just its color. There are tours of the basilica, walk up to its bell tower, and visit the museum. The Basilica has monuments devoted to many notable Italians, including Leonardo Da Vinci and Galileo Galilei.
Complete your Florence trip with one of these tours to surrounding areas:
Piazzale Michelangelo
You know all those postcard-esque photos of Florence with the Duomo as the centerpiece and the mountains in the background? Many of them were taken at the Piazzale Michelangelo. If you plan on walking this, wear comfortable shoes. There are steps and steep hills, but the view is totally worth it. At the Piazza is a statue of Michelangelo’s David, food trucks, gelato, and some souvenirs.
San Lorenzo Market
Most travelers are on the hunt for a cool souvenir that doesn’t break the bank and this Market is one of the best places to find real Italian leather. They have belts, purses, backpacks, jackets, notepads, and journals. This isn’t a high-end leather retailer, but a market, so be ready to haggle. I was able to haggle a $40 journal down to $12. Just remember they are expecting you to haggle so they increase the price. If their bottom price is something you’re still not willing to pay, come back around closing time as they may be more desperate for a sale. The vendor that I bought from horrified me as he held a lighter to the journal. I didn’t know that if it doesn’t leave a mark, it’s real leather! I thought he was lighting it on fire!
Best Gelato in Florence – Venchi
Italy and gelato go together so well, and Venchi and Florence are even better.   It’s homemade gelato – meaning it’s not in giant piles (you’ll see them around, that’s not good gelato). They have classic flavors like chocolate, but also Stracciatella and Pistachio. Discover more amazing places in Florence for Gelato.
Read More about Italy
Best Small Towns Near Florence, Italy
10-day Road Trip through Italy
Save “Best Things to do in Florence, Italy” for later!
Adding these to the must-visit list!
I’ve always wanted to visit Florence, but somehow haven’t made it there (yet). It sounds like I should plan for an entire day to see Pitti Palace – I bet it’s amazing. Thanks for the gelato tip, I didn’t realize there’s an easy way to tell if it’s good quality!
There’s nothing better than getting comfortable shoes on and exploring a city on foot. I used to be a bit more of a culture vulture and have a list of museums to tour, but nowadays I much prefer some slow travel around a new city. Getting to know the vibe of a place, and getting a sense of the people and culture.
I haven’t been to Italy yet, but Florence doesn’t sound like my cup of tea. I am not much of a museum person either, although the views and architecture are pretty amazing, but I imagine you can see that everywhere in Italy.
Agreed! Maybe just spend one full day exploring the city instead of the museums. Florence was less busy than Rome and less-touristy than Venice.
I’ve never been to Florence, but I absolutely adore Italy, so I’m sure I would love it! Thanks for all the great insight and information. I’ll definitely save this for when I have the opportunity to get to Florence!
I love Florence! It’s my favorite city in Italy.
I visited Florence back when I was 11 and it was magnificent. Unfortunately, I can’t remember very much. Your post really made me want to go back there and refresh my memories!
I absolutely love Italy but haven’t made it yet to Florence – so beautiful! Also didn’t know the Duomo had a dress code or the aspect of how to tell what’s genuine leather – very helpful!
Oh I want to go here so badly! I especially love the sound of the gardens and the markets!
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