FLORENCE, ITALY
Firenze, as the locals call it, feels like home. Its zig-zagging cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and extremely friendly locals make for a lovely city both inside and out. Visitors come from all over the world to experience its splendor, majesty, and charm. Florence is not a city you can just visit once; be prepared to fall in love the second you step foot here!
Attractions:
Piazza del Duomo: This public square in Firenze’s historic city center (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is home to many noteworthy Florentine relics. One of which is Florence Cathedral, or Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. While it is free to enter, other buildings in the piazza have costs associated with them. For €18, visitors get access to the Florence Cathedral complex (Giotto's Bell Tower, Brunelleschi's Dome, and Baptistery of Saint John), Crypt of Santa Reparata, and Opera Museum.
Giotto’s Campanile: An absolute must-do; this view is the most breathtaking in all of Florence! The narrow, spiraling staircase leading to the top has 414 steps and offers plenty of mid-climb landings for breaks and views along the way. Please note that the lookout, although epic, has a grated fence around it to prevent items from being thrown off.
Brunelleschi's Dome: The largest brick dome ever built has beautiful artwork on the inside and offers a wonderful view of the city on the outside! Although it costs an extra €25, I highly recommend climbing to the top of the Dome!
Baptistery of St. John (a.k.a. Florence Baptistery): The gilded bronze doors leading into this building are known as “The Gates of Paradise” and the inside is covered in impressive golden mosaics!
Ponte Vecchio: As the only bridge to survive WWII, Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence. What used to serve as a meat market is today lined with art and jewelry shops. It is easily one of the city’s most picturesque locations!
Visit Cinque Terre: Whether you spend a few days here or take a day-trip from Florence, this is a region you cannot skip! It is one of the most gorgeous places in the world! By car, Cinque Terre is 2.5 hours west of Florence. By train, the ride is 3.5 hours and costs €14. See my Cinque Terre travel guide for more information!
Pizzeria Spera: Buon appetito! Run by award-winning and internationally-renowned chef, Elena Spera, this is my favorite pizza place in Florence! Small, cozy, and unassuming, this is a place you could walk right past if you were not looking for it!
Piazza della Signoria: Home to Florence’s town hall, Palazzo Vecchio, this public square has been a focal point of the city since the 14th century! Inside Palazzo Vecchio, there is a museum, tower, and archaeological site. This group of buildings is open daily from 9:00am-11:00pm (Thursday hours are 9:00am-2:00pm) and entrance costs €18. Not a fan of museums? I recommend still visiting; grab an espresso from one of the nearby cafés and soak in the ambiance of the square! Another prominent piazza to prioritize visiting is Piazza della Repubblica.
Boboli Gardens: This garden and open-air museum is home to many ancient sculptures, such as the striking Fountain of Neptune. It is open daily from 8:15am-6:30pm and entrance costs €6.
Piazzale Michelangelo & Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte: 20 minutes on foot from Palazzo Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo sits high above the city and offers an unbelievable, panoramic view. Due to the incline, the walk is slightly tiring, but doable for all ages. If the incline worries you, the piazzale can also be accessed by bus from either Boboli Gardens (Bus #12) or Ponte Niccolò (Bus #13). From Piazzale Michelangelo, walk 10 additional minutes to Abbazia di San Miniato al Monte. There is no cost to enter this basilica and when the sun sets, it reflects off the golden mosaic above the entrance for all of Florence to see!
San Lorenzo Market: Florence’s iconic indoor/outdoor market has plenty of food options for everyone! It is open daily from 8:00am-12:00am.
Uffizi Gallery: Florence’s most visited museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:00am-6:30pm. Tickets cost €12 and are best purchased in advance due to the museum’s popularity!
Galleria dell'Accademia: This art museum is known for being home to Michelangelo’s sculpture of David. It is open Tuesday-Sunday from 8:15am-6:50pm; entrance costs €16.
Other spots to check out include: Pitti Palace, Basilica di Santa Croce, Bargello National Museum, and Basilica di San Lorenzo!
Accommodation:
Hotel - Grand Hotel Baglioni: This 4-star hotel is housed within a 19th-century building and has been in business for more than 100 years! It is five minutes walking from both Florence Cathedral and Florence’s main train station. On the hotel’s fifth floor, guests will find the B-Roof Restaurant, which offers a panoramic view of Florence’s jaw-dropping skyline!
Hostel - New Generation Hostel Florence: Talk about a snug, traditional, and quintessentially Italian ambiance! This hostel sits on the Arno River, has a private garden, and is set in a wing of the Franciscan Friars’ convent. It is less than ten minutes on foot from both Piazza della Signoria and Florence’s main train station. It doesn’t get much better than this!
Airbnb - Lorenzo’s AirBnb: During a visit to Florence with my family, we stayed here. Not only is it perfect for a large group, but it is also centrally located, less than five minutes walking from Palazzo Vecchio. The host is extraordinarily friendly, communicative, and accommodating. I would definitely stay again!
Transportation:
Florence’s main train station is Firenze Santa Maria Novella; all trains below leave from here. The main bus station is Villa Costanza, which is a 30-minute tram ride on Line 1 from the city center and costs €1.50; all buses below leave from here.
Rome is 2 hours by train from Florence and costs €42. The bus ride is 3.5 hours and costs €28.
Milan is 2 hours by train from Florence and costs €45. The bus ride is 5 hours and costs €29.
Venice is 2.5 hours by train from Florence and costs €46. The bus ride is 4 hours and costs €26.
La Spezia (the gateway town to Cinque Terre) is 2.5 hours by train from Florence and costs €14. The bus ride is 2.5 hours and costs €12. Learn more about this journey in my Cinque Terre travel guide.
Naples is 3 hours by train from Florence and costs €62. The bus ride is 7 hours and costs €47.
Nice, France is 7 hours by train from Florence (indirect) and costs €115. The bus ride is 5.5 hours and costs €42.
Geneva, Switzerland is 7.5 hours by train from Florence (indirect) and costs €140. The bus ride is 12 hours and costs €65.
Florence International Airport Peretola (FLR) is 11km (7 miles) northwest of the city center and accessible via tram, shuttle bus, and taxi. All below transit routes run between FLR and Firenze Santa Maria Novella.
Tram Line 2: The ride is 25 minutes and costs €1.50; trams run every 5-10 minutes.
Shuttle Bus (Volainbus): The ride is 20 minutes and costs €6; buses run every 30 minutes.
Taxi: The ride is 20-25 minutes and costs €20-€25 depending on the time of day.
The photos on this page were taken by my sisters, Antoinette and Jackie. Thanks, sistaz!