
Florence is one of my favourite Italian cities. The capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, it is a treasure trove of history, art, and architecture, but it also has an elegant yet friendly vibe. Whether you are exploring Florence’s iconic landmarks and museums or just soaking up the atmosphere while enjoying an espresso in a sidewalk café, my Florence travel tips will help you make the most of your journey through this captivating city.
We flew from London to Florence on a sunny Thursday morning, our plane coming in low over the Alps, offering a wonderful view of the rocky landscape scattered with tiny clusters of houses. Our journey continued over chequerboards of verdant fields before the views became more urban and we landed at Florence’s small but perfectly formed airport, 6 km from the city centre.
Florence Travel Tips – The Airport and Getting Into The City Centre
Getting flights into Florence can be challenging and expensive. There are more flight options if you fly to the larger airport at Pisa. However, this increases your transfer time into Florence, with the journey from Pisa taking an hour by car or bus and between an hour and ninety minutes or so by train.
On the other hand, if you can fly to Florence airport, it takes just under half an hour to get into the city centre from the airport. We booked a private transfer from the airport to our hotel with the hotel concierge, but there are also plenty of taxis available as you exit the airport.
The quickest and most affordable way to travel into the city from the airport is by tram. Line T2 will bring you into Florence’s Santa Maria Novella railway station within about 20 minutes. The fare is around 2 Euros at the time of writing.
Florence Travel Tips – Where to Stay in Florence
There are plenty of accommodation options at all price points in Florence, from Airbnb and bed and breakfast establishments to larger hotels. We stayed at The St Regis Hotel in the Piazza Ognissanti in their Michaelangelo Suite. The suite (pictured above) was like a small, open-plan apartment with a dining and sitting area – which was wonderful for putting our feet up after lots of walking – as well as a really elegant bedroom area, a large bathroom with a tub and walk-in shower and an additional cloakroom/powder room. My husband wanted to treat me to a room with a view and he definitely succeeded.
The floor to ceiling windows offered views over the Arno River and on to the Ponte Vecchio in the distance.
The hotel staff and the concierge were helpful and welcoming, even before our arrival. They reached out to us in the week before our trip to arrange transport, tours and restaurants. Our suite also came with butler service – we could send a WhatApp to request our complimentary coffee first thing in the morning and nothing was too much trouble. Our suite was definitely worth the price of admission, but there are lots of other room options available at the St Regis and elsewhere.
Florence Travel Tips – Restaurants in Florence
Florence has thousands of restaurants, eight of which have Michelin Stars, as well as lots of little cafés. These are some of the places we would return to:-
Casual Dining
Novella Osteria Toscana
On our first afternoon in Florence, we enjoyed a late lunch of pizza looking out over the Piazza de Santa Maria Novella at the Novella Osteria Toscana. It was raining, but the restaurant had a covered, heated terrace.
I was surprised when my vegetarian pizza arrived covered with broccoli, cauliflower and carrots instead of the Mediterranean vegetables I was expecting, but oh my goodness it was delicious!
Le Bottegone
After our walking tour on the second day, we had a light lunch at Le Bottegone. An all-day restaurant with a pastry shop, they offer everything from sandwiches to three course meals. I had a ham and mozzarella focaccia, assuming the mozzarella would be served hot and melted. Instead, the cheese was served cold, so I did not love it, but it was only a matter of personal taste, not quality. My husband really liked his sandwich, and the service was friendly and efficient.
Masò Restaurant Pizzeria
We stopped in this friendly restaurant in the Via M. Finiguerra for lunch after a morning spent exploring the city. My husband had a wonderful pizza and I chose their creamy, flavourful pasta carbonara.
The Café at the Uffizi Gallery
At the end of the tour of the Uffizi, you will find a café with an outdoor terrace offering wonderful views of the city as well as indoor seating. We had a light brunch here and the coffee was excellent.
Bistro-Style Restaurants
Casa Ciabattinni
We enjoyed an outstanding dinner at the Casa Ciabattinni on our final evening in Florence. This small, relaxed restaurant has an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs preparing your meal. We ordered a bottle of Pino Nero and shared a cheese plate featuring Italian Brie, Pecorino, Gorgonzola to start. My husband chose duck tagliatelle for his main course, and I had braised beef with creamy white beans. It was one of those meals you remember forever – simple, well-prepared and full of flavour.
More Formal Dining
The Winter Garden Restaurant in the St Regis Hotel
On our first evening, we were treated to a dramatic demonstration of sabrage – opening a bottle of champagne with a sword – in the Winter Garden Bar at the St. Regis in the Piazza Ognissanti. After savouring a glass of the freshly opened bubbles, we moved on to our table in the Winter Garden Restaurant. The staff had begun decorating for Christmas the day we arrived, and the festive sparkle of the lights made the stunning stained-glass ceiling even more breathtaking. The atmosphere was elegant yet unpretentious, and it was evident that the staff took great pride in ensuring every diner had an exceptional experience.
I had the scallops in a celeriac cream garnished with lemon and caviar and a celeriac crisp for my starter, followed by grilled turbot with colourful baby vegetables. My husband chose agnolotti with ricotta and langoustines followed by rose veal with smoked potatoes and spinach. We were too full for dessert, but the waiter brought us some irresistible bite-sized confectioneries and chocolates to enjoy with our coffee.
Breakfast in the Balconata at the St Regis
The Balconata overlooks The Winter Garden Restaurant (pictured above). We had a lovely breakfast on the Balconata on our first morning, but it is an expensive option, as is breakfast in most large European hotels. The buffet, which includes eggs cooked to order at an omelette station, cost 50 Euros. A la carte is available, but it would be a similar price. There are lots of little café in Florence that offer coffee and pastries or light breakfasts if you prefer a more economical option.
Florence Travel Tips – Things To Do In Florence
I honestly think there is something for everyone in Florence. From archaeology and art and sculpture to fashion and design, Florence showcases its history in countless museums and galleries. Centuries-old churches feature on almost every street, most of which are open for passers-by to wander in.
Florence is a very walkable city, mostly flat with a lot of the main attractions in close proximity to one another. There is so much to see, you could spend days just wandering in this gorgeous capital city.
The Arno River, which divides the city from north to south, is crossed at regular intervals by relatively modern bridges so it is fairly easy to get around. The only Florentine bridge to have survived World War 2 is the Ponte Vecchio which has existed in one form or another for centuries. The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345. Lined with dozens of jewellery shops, people also still have homes on this historic bridge, which even boasts a ‘secret’ passage. It is a real symbol of Florence and well worth a visit, but it does get very busy so do take care.
There are so many things to do in Florence, I am writing separate article (coming soon – I will link to it from here when it is ready). In the meantime, here is a short list of just some of the churches, museums and galleries I enjoyed the most on our short break to Florence.
The Basilica Santa Maria Novella – a thirteenth century cathedral with a fascinating history
La Galleria dell’ Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s David and claims to exhibit the largest number of Michaelangelo’s sculptures in the world. (There are two copies of the statue of David, one in the Duomo Square where the original statue first resided before it was moved indoors and one in the Piazza Michelangelo.)
Le Galleria Degli Uffizi – The Uffizi Palace served as offices for the Medici family and now houses a huge collection of art, including Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
The Santa Croche, a cathedral and final resting place of Michaelangelo, Gallileo and many other famous artists and academics
The Gucci Museum and Salvatore Ferragamo Museum in the Piazza della Signora
Florence Travel Tips – Things You Need to Know
Consider a mid-week visit
We visited Florence from a Thursday to Sunday in November. The city was much less crowded on the Thursday and Friday, although still quite easy to get round on the weekend. However, I can only imagine how busy summer weekends must be. Next time we visit, I plan to consider going during the week. Bear in mind though that almost all museums in Florence are closed on a Monday
Are there any specific things you want to see?
If there is somewhere you really want to visit, look into the details before you go. For me, this included the Statue of David at the La Galleria dell’Accademia and Botticelli’s Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Gallery.
One of the Florence travel tips our hotel shared with me was The Firenze card. It is a 72-hour pass which covers over 60 museums which you can purchase online or in Florence. Our hotel arranged ours for us and we collected them at the hotel when we arrived. Be sure to check the museums you want to visit are included before you purchase Firenze cards (see the paragraph below). I would do more in-depth research before our next visit as I think we just about broke even on our Firenze cards. They did make things easier though as they often allowed us to skip the queues.
There are often long queues to enter the Duomo and other historic sites, so purchasing an advance ticket can be a smart move. We assumed our Firenze Card included access to the Duomo, but it didn’t, and the queue was so long that we decided to save it for our next visit. If you do decide to buy tickets in advance, make sure to purchase them through an official website. Additionally, many hotels offer advice on local attractions through their concierge services, so it is worth contacting staff at your accommodation before you travel.
Take a walking tour
I always like to take a walking tour with a local guide when I visit a new to me city and I highly recommend you consider it. Your hotel may be able to help you find a good local guide. Our hotel recommended Maddelena Verzie, an art historian and tour guide. If you would like details of how to contact her, just drop me an email.
Be careful with your possessions
Carry the smallest handbag you can, preferably a cross-body bag that you can hold on to easily. Stay alert and try not to allow yourself to be distracted in crowded places. Leave your passport in the safe in your hotel room if possible. Technically you are supposed to carry your passport with you when travelling in Europe, but I have found that a driving license will generally suffice. Be sure to keep a copy of your passport and driver’s license in your luggage in case the originals are lost or stolen.
Check the weather forecast
The weather in Florence is very hot in the summer, and cooler in the winter months. Check the forecast before you go and consider packing layers so that you are comfortable. Like Paris and many other European cities, you will need to take both an umbrella and sunscreen to Florence in just about every season.
What to pack
Good walking shoes are a must. Many of the cathedrals and places of worship operate a dress code and do not allow visitors with bare legs or arms. Avoid low cut or transparent clothing and bear in mind that sandals, hats and sunglasses are not allowed in some cathedrals. We found Florence to be a fairly relaxed city, although I did dress up a little for dinner in the more formal restaurants.
Our visit to Florence was one of my favourite short city-breaks ever and I definitely hope to return in the near future. Whether you are looking for a weekend break or want to include Florence as part of a longer tour, I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful, historic city.
Disclosure: This post contains my honest opinions and the advice I give to friends. None of our experiences were gifted, we paid all our own expenses and I have no relationship with any of the brands mentioned. Information is correct to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing, and every effort is made to ensure it remains up to date, however I am not responsible for any changes that may occur post publication. Always visit hotel, restaurant and venue websites for opening times, their full terms and conditions, and to check prices, availability and payment terms.
Comments & Reviews
A place that I would love to visit.
I hope you can visit one day, Patrick. It really is lovely.
You better believe I pinned this post! What a fabulous photo essay of Florence.
Thank you so much, Nancy! That is so kind of you. I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Florence has been on my bucket list forever. Thanks April for this helpful post. I’m going to make this trip a reality in the near future.
I’m so happy to hear that you are planning a trip to Florence, Mary! It was everything I dreamed of and more, and I know you will love it. I’m so glad you enjoyed my post.