Italy
Florence
Give it 3 days: the Duomo and Uffizi, the Oltrarno across the river, and sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. We have mapped 5 sights, 1 outdoor spot and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- November
5 See · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop
Tuscany Hill Towns
from our route notes
33°C / 91°F avg high
9°C / 48°F avg high
about 96 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Florence
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Florence across Duomo, San Marco and Centro Storico. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall · CC BY 2.0SeeFlorence Cathedral
Climb Brunelleschi's dome, 463 steps, for the city's defining view.
Tip Book the Brunelleschi Pass with a timed dome slot weeks ahead.
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0SeeGalleria dell'Accademia
Home of Michelangelo's David and his unfinished Prisoners.
Tip Reserve a timed entry; first slot is quietest.
Photo: Miragno · GoogleSeeUffizi Gallery
Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael and the core of Renaissance painting.
Tip Book timed tickets; allow at least 3 hours.
Photo: Ingo Mehling · CC BY-SA 4.0SeePonte Vecchio
Medieval bridge lined with goldsmith shops over the Arno.
Tip Best seen from Ponte Santa Trinita at dusk.
Photo: Alexandre Diniz da Costa · GoogleSeePiazzale Michelangelo
Terrace above the city with views over the Duomo and red rooftops.
Tip Walk up via the Rose Garden; stay for sunset.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Florence.
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0OutdoorsBoboli Gardens
Formal Medici gardens behind Palazzo Pitti with grottoes and city views.
Tip Combined ticket with Pitti; go in the morning.
Eat
2 places to eat across San Lorenzo and Santa Croce, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Sailko · CC BY 3.0EatMercato Centrale
Historic market with butchers below and a food hall upstairs.
Tip Try lampredotto (tripe sandwich) downstairs at Nerbone.
Photo: Mark D. Yzaguirre · GoogleEatAll'Antico Vinaio
Huge schiacciata sandwiches stuffed with salumi and pecorino.
Tip Lines move fast; go mid-afternoon.
Drink
1 bar or café in Oltrarno for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Le Volpi e l'Uva · GoogleDrinkLe Volpi e l'Uva
Small wine bar by Piazza de' Rossi pouring Tuscan wines by the glass.
Tip Order crostini with the wine.
Shop
1 shop in Santa Maria Novella for browsing and souvenirs.
Photo: Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella - Via della Scala · GoogleShopOfficina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
Historic pharmacy founded by Dominican friars, selling perfumes and soaps.
Tip The frescoed rooms are worth seeing even if you don't buy.
How to fit Florence into a trip
Florence is stop 1 of 4 on our Tuscany Hill Towns route. Follow it as-is or lift Florence into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 4
Tuscany Hill Towns
Renaissance art, Chianti vines & cypress roads
- Trip length
- 7 days
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Chianti
Getting here and onward
- Florence to ChiantiChianti is about 21 km / 13 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Florence month by month
Average daily highs run from 9°C / 48°F in January to 33°C / 91°F in July. November is the wettest month, with about 96 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan9° / 48°F average high
- Feb10° / 50°F average high
- Mar14° / 57°F average high
- Apr19° / 65°F average high, in our recommended season
- May23° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun29° / 84°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul33° / 91°F average high
- Aug32° / 90°F average high
- Sep26° / 79°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct21° / 69°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov14° / 58°F average high
- Dec10° / 50°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Florence weather and the best time to visit →
Near Florence
8 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.
Florence questions, answered
How many days do you need in Florence?
Our route notes suggest 3 days in Florence. On our Tuscany Hill Towns route it is stop 1 of 4 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 13 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Florence best known for?
Give it 3 days: the Duomo and Uffizi, the Oltrarno across the river, and sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. Standouts on our list: Florence Cathedral (Climb Brunelleschi's dome, 463 steps, for the city's defining view); Galleria dell'Accademia (Home of Michelangelo's David and his unfinished Prisoners); Uffizi Gallery (Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael and the core of Renaissance painting).
When is the best time to visit Florence?
Our Tuscany Hill Towns route is best Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (33°C / 91°F), the coolest in January (9°C / 48°F) and the most rain in November (about 96 mm).
What are the best things to do in Florence?
Start with Florence Cathedral, Galleria dell'Accademia, Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio and Boboli Gardens. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 5 sights, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.
Where should a group eat in Florence?
Our picks: Mercato Centrale (San Lorenzo); All'Antico Vinaio (Santa Croce). Try lampredotto (tripe sandwich) downstairs at Nerbone (Mercato Centrale).
What is near Florence?
The closest destinations in our guides are Chianti (about 21 km / 13 mi), Siena (about 50 km / 31 mi) and Val d'Orcia (about 84 km / 52 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Florence with your crew
Open the Tuscany Hill Towns route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Florence
- Italy travel hub
- Best Restaurants in Italy 28 places
- Best Bars & Cafés in Italy 18 places
- Top Things to Do in Italy 65 places
- Best Outdoor Spots in Italy 16 places
- Best Shopping in Italy 8 places
- Florence weather by month