Visiting Florence for the First Time? Here's What to See and Do
Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Hi, I'm Rebecca!Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Hi, I'm Rebecca!Rebecca’s first visit to Italy was a coup de foudre and her affection for Il Bel Paese has only grown over almost 30 years of living here, during which time she has mastered the art of navigating the sampietrini cobblestones in heels but has yet to come away from a plate of bucatini all’amatriciana with an unsullied blouse. She covers Italy travel, culture, and cuisine for a number of print and online publications.
Florence may seem rather small, but countless Renaissance masterpieces are packed into its compact old town. World-class museums sit shoulder-to-shoulder with monumental churches and noble palaces, storied neighborhoods are thick with traditional artisan workshops, and the city is ringed by vineyards and rolling Tuscan hills. It can be a challenge to know where to begin exploring this cultural and culinary capital, so follow our recommendations for making every minute count in Florence.
Marvel at Renaissance grandeur
Tour the highlights of the historic center.
Florence is an open-air museum. Each square overflows with stately architecture and art, and you can’t walk a block without admiring a building or statue. Get your bearings and make sure you see the most important highlights by exploring the centro storico with a guide.
Take in headliners like the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, and the Ponte Vecchio easily on foot in this walkable city, or strike further afield with an e-bike, e-scooter, golf cart, or tuk-tuk to visit the Piazzale Michelangelo scenic overlook for views across the Arno River to Brunelleschi’s picturesque dome.
Check off the top museums
Book skip-the-line tickets to avoid a wait.
Home to two of the most popular museums in Italy and dozens of equally important but lesser-known collections, Florence is one of the world’s top destinations for art.
See works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and other Renaissance greats without having to wait in line with fast-track entrance tickets to the Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery. Alternatively, join a guided tour to focus on the most important pieces and cover these vast collections in just a few hours. After you’ve checked Florence’s two headliners off your list, spend some time visiting other fabulous museums like the Bargello National Museum, Palazzo Vecchio, and Pitti Palace.
Visit the Duomo from top to bottom
See it all, from the dome to its underground ruins.
Brunelleschi’s soaring dome atop Florence’s Duomo is one of the symbols of the city, so take some time to take in this engineering marvel up close, as well as the rest of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral complex.
Savor views over the city’s rooftops from the dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower, admire the architecture and art inside the cathedral and baptistery, and venture below the cathedral floor to discover the ancient ruins of the Basilica of Santa Reparata, an early Christian church that once stood on this spot.
We recommend a guided tour of the complex that includes the Opera del Duomo, which is the Cathedral Museum.
Cross the Arno River
Discover the traditional artisan workshops in Oltrarno.
Florence has a history of artisan crafts, and the city’s traditional ateliers are famous for their fine handcrafted gold jewelry, colorful mosaics, leather goods, marbled paper, and more. The bohemian Oltarno neighborhood across the Arno River from the city center has long been a hub of the local artisan culture and still has landmark workshops passed down through generations, as well as up-and-coming creatives breaking new ground with their handmade goods.
Browse the shops in the Oltrarno to admire the quality handicrafts and pick up a few one-of-a-kind mementos of your time in Florence. Workshop tours are an ideal way to learn about the city’s artisan traditions and discover the most storied spaces.
Delve into Florentine cuisine
Visit the city’s markets and cook up a Tuscan feast.
There are a number of landmark food markets in the heart of Florence where locals have been shopping for generations. A market visit with a foodie guide or passionate home cook offers a unique glimpse into Florentine life. Take a guided market tour of Mercato Centrale or Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio, paired with stops to sample classic street food favorites like lampredotto (stewed beef offal) and gelato.
Or, opt for a culinary adventure that includes a market visit and cooking class to learn how to prepare a number of beloved Tuscan dishes from scratch.
Take to the Tuscan hills
Explore the slopes ringing the city.
The historic center of Florence lies along the banks of the Arno River. It’s surrounded by lush green hills dotted with historic villages like Fiesole, Bellosguardo, and Settignano. A jaunt to these nearby slopes offers both sweeping views across Florence’s terracotta-tiled roofs and striking domes and a quiet respite from the crowds and chaos of the city center.
Set off by e-bike, Vespa scooter, or even on foot to take in the views from the San Miniato al Monte overlook and explore the hills and hamlets that inspired Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance greats.
Savor the sunset
Capture the Renaissance capital at the golden hour.
Sunsets in Florence are legendary, bathing the city in a glowing golden light and tinting the sky with a kaleidoscope of pinks, oranges, and blues that is reflected in the Arno River. There are a number of great spots to catch this magical spectacle each day, but none more famous than Piazzale Michelangelo, perched above the Oltrarno neighborhood.
Alternatively, enjoy the sunset hour from a unique perspective with a sunset boat tour down the Arno River, or pair your sunset stroll with a wine-tasting or foodie crawl in Florence’s old town.
Visit the Chianti countryside
Sip your way through Tuscany’s famed wine country.
Just beyond the hills that encircle the city, Tuscany’s Chianti wine country beckons with historic family-run cellars that have been producing Chianti Classico and other flagship Italian wines for centuries.
Florence is an ideal jumping-off point for a day trip to Chianti filled with winery tours and tastings, leisurely strolls through picturesque hill towns, and farm-to-table Tuscan cuisine. You can explore on your own, but a full-day or half-day wine tour with transportation included lets you skip the stress of driving and imbibe worry-free.
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