One of my favorite cities in the world—the place where my husband and I want to spend the rest of our life when I retire from academia is Florence, Italy. It is a magnificent, almost magical, city filled with art and history around every corner. With so many treasures packed into one city, there are many people who descend upon it every year which is why getting tickets to some of its most famed attractions can be a nightmare.
The Italian Renaissance was a time of optimism with hope that a new age marked by artistic expression, intellectualism, and innovation would emerge. For a Florentine family called the Medici, it was a very prosperous time. Banking made them a fortune and they came to dominate the city. With great appreciation for culture and the arts, Cosimo de’ Medici (the Elder) paid creative geniuses like Fra Angelico and Donatello to create gorgeous art. Medici’ patronage of the arts flourished on an even grander scale with Cosimo’s grandson, Lorenzo (the Magnificent), who hired Michelangelo, da Vinci, Botticelli, and other masters. He and his colleagues supported philosophers who emphasized humanism—putting critical and rational thinking over religious dogma and superstition. Humanists valued classical learning and study of the humanities. This classical revival is evident in the art and architecture of the time. Since the Italian Renaissance started in Florence, you can really immerse yourself in the era just walking through the historic center.
Florence is an open-air museum and much of its art and culture can wow you just from walking around, but to really take in all that Firenze (as it’s called in Italy) has to offer, you will want to check out Florence’s hot spots.
Top things to do
- Walk the Oltrarno (The Oltrarno is the other side of the Arno River from the historic center.)
- Take a food tour (Tuscany has some of the most delicious food in the world in my opinion.)
- Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria (This is Florence’s city hall and public square. The palace is gorgeous and there are many fabulous statues/fountains in the square. It’s a great place to be part of the merriment of Florence.)
- Duomo, Baptistery, Duomo Museum (The Duomo complex is amazing. If you can, climb Brunelleschi’s dome for fantastic views. The church itself isn’t that amazing, but the crypt inside is quite neat. The Baptistery has some of the finest mosaics I’ve seen. The museum is filled with treasures.)
- Accademia and David (This art museum features Michelangelo’s David statue. This alone is worth a visit but there are many other fine works within. Plus, it is a manageable size and won’t wear you out.)
- Uffizi (Some of the finest art in the world is found here from Botticelli to Giotto to Roman statues to Da Vinci and much, much more.)
- Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens (The Pitti Palace is not to be missed—not only will you see how the Medici lived, but you also get to take in art rivaling the amazing pieces found in the Uffizi. Then, take a stroll through the fabulous Boboli Gardens out back. Bring a snack and a water bottle—you will need it.)
- Hang out in piazzas and eat gelato (This one is self-explanatory. Florence has some of the best gelato in the world. I love wandering around and people-watching in various squares around the city. I’ve also got gelato taste-testing down to a science.)
- Do some shopping, (I love the ancient pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella and the leather school (Scuola del Cuoio). There are also many high-end fashion shops on via Tuornabuoni and boutique perfumers in the city. A visit to Mercato Centrale or Mercato Sant’Ambrogio will delight foodies. Besides fashion, beauty, and leather-working, the city is also known for its marbled paper, jewelry, and mosaici. Wander around and visit the street vendors and artisan shops located throughout the city.)
- Ponte Vecchio (This bridge will be unlike many you’ve ever seen, as it’s covered in jewelry shops. It is a pedestrian-only bridge and the only one that didn’t get blown up by Nazis in WWII. Look up to see the Vasari Corridor running from the Pitti Palace to the Palazzo Vecchio—it was a way for the Medici to travel without worrying about assassination.)
If you have time
- Palazzo Medici-Riccardi (This is another Medici palace and a more modest one than the Pitti. Gozzoli’s “Chapel of the Magi” is a fabulous little room, but the whole palace is filled with interesting treasures. It’s much more manageable than the Pitti/Boboli, if you have limited time but want to see a palace.)
- Medici Chapels (Where many famous Medici are buried, these chapels are ornate and filled with treasures, including work by Michelangelo.)
- Bargello (Another fine art museum, the Bargello occupies the space of a former jail. The art is splendid but so is the building it’s housed in. It also frequently has fewer people than the Uffizi/Accademia. Check out work by della Robbia, Michelangelo, Donatello, and much more.)
- Galileo Museum (This science museum has amazing innovations, as well as some wackier exhibits—Galileo’s finger anyone?)
- Check out some churches like Orsanmichele, Santa Maria Novella, Basilica of Santa Croce, Brancacci Chapel, Santo Spirito, San Salvatore in Ognissanti, Santissima Annunziata, Santa Trinita, and San Miniato al Monte (Italian churches feature some of history’s greatest art in situ—the place they were designed for. You can see some fabulous Last Supper (Cenacolo) paintings in Florence, as well as gorgeously designed chapels by Renaissance greats.)
- If you’re up the hill seeing San Miniato, check out Piazzale Michelangelo for a great view of the city. (San Miniato is a fabulous old church set atop a big hill in Florence. You can climb the hill for a workout or take a bus up. Atop check out San Miniato and enjoy in the constant revelry of Piazzale Michelangelo—a great place to see the sun set. On the way down, check out the gardens that might be in bloom.)
- Visit Clet Abram’s studio (If you see a street sign in Florence, there is a chance that it has been altered by artist Clet Abram. I’ll include his art below. His studio is open to the public and you can often spot him working there. Check out the art by Blub as you walk around this area called San Niccolo.)
- Casa di Buonnaroti (A house that belonged to Michelangelo’s family gives insight into the artist’s life and Florentine history.)
- Museo San Marco (This monastery has fabulous frescoes by Fra Angelico. You can see where Savonarola lived and visit the peaceful cloister within. The art though is fabulous and there is a nice library—although if you’re into libraries, I highly recommend the Laurentian Library at San Lorenzo.)
- Horne Museum (This mansion shows the traditions and lifestyle of a wealthy Florentine in the 15/16th century. It is filled with period furniture, art, and design. I have never seen it busy.)
What you need to reserve in advance
–do this before you arrive unless you are there a long time and can wait a week or more for an open entry. I see too many people wasting hours in line because they didn’t reserve in advance. If you’re only in Florence for a few days and/or it’s a first time visiting, you might just want to book a tour to see these sites since they will handle skip-the-line access and make everything easy for you.
- Uffizi
- Duomo dome climb
- Accademia
- Cooking class
- Food tour
Tours I recommend
From LivTours Florence, who generally do tours of six people or fewer or private. https://livtours.com/destinations/florence-tours?af_code=E1DDN61
From the Tour Guy Florence, who specialize in smaller group tours, but might have larger—check the number listed: http://shrsl.com/4qj4o
Day Tours from Florence
From Viator Florence Tours: https://www.viator.com/Florence/d519-ttd?pid=P00161535&mcid=42383&medium=link&medium_version=selector
I recommend checking our Viator to see a huge array of cooking classes, skip-the-line tickets, and other experiences. Always check the reviews though, since Viator is an aggregator and not a tour company like LivTours and Tour Guy. Here are a few that I’ve found that have good recommendations and seem like a good value.
I hope you enjoyed this overview of the top things to do in Florence with the best Florence tours and day trips from Florence. It is a magical city and makes me swoon every time I step foot on its stones. Happy travels!
Clet Abraham’s Work
Blub’s Work 
Clet Abraham’s Work 
Interior showing Vasari’s painting of the dome in the Duomo of Florence, Italy 
Michelangelo’s David
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