Florence Travel Guide – Tourist attractions and useful tips

Getting to know Florence

The birthplace of the Renaissance, as Florence is widely recognized as, was always a fantastic city; during medieval times, it was an important centre of European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities. In 1986, it was the European Capital of Culture. The city is, to this day, one of the most culturally rich cities and a top destination for tourists. Here are some suggestions if you want to plan a trip there too:

What you can do for free in Florence

Spend some time in Piazza della Signoria
With many statues and impressive buldings around, Piazza della Signoria is a delight for its visitors eyes. Spend some time here and enjoy the fascinating setting that lies in front of you.
Piazzale Michelangelo
Another great outdoor spot to visit in Florence is Piazzale Michelangelo, the go-to place if you want to enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Right below this spot, there is a wonderful rose garden that you can also visit.
The Medici Villas
12 Medici villas and 2 gardens were added to the list of UNESCO .World Heritage Sites. Most of them are located in the outskirts of Florence, and all of them can be visited for free.

Fountain in the Boboli Gardens

Galleria Degli Uffizi

Piazzale Michelangelo

Uffizi Tower, Piazza Della Signoria

Top spots to visit

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza Duomo
Go for a tour of the fantastic buildings in Piazza Duomo. Visit the baptisery, the cathedral and its museum and the bell tower and enjoy the wonderful architecture and the art of the greatest artists of the Renaissance.
Uffizi Palace and Gallery
Even if you aren’t very interested in art, visiting the palace and admiring its wonderful art collections can still be a highlight of your trip to Florence. The diversity and quality of the exhibitions here are incredible.
Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace) and Boboli Gardens
The Pitti Palace complex has everything you could wish to see in a day in Florence: an art gallery, a Medici palace, museums, royal apartments and the magnificent Boboli Gardens. Plan a whole day to spend here and you won’t regret it.

Hidden spots to visit

Villa Demidoff
30 minutes away from the historical city centre of Florence, this elegant villa and its garden await curious visitors. The Colosso dell’Appennino is the highlight of the property.
Torrigiani Garden
This is the largest private garden in Europe, and it is a great place to visit, as it was transformed by its owner into a wonderful romantic park.
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
This old observatory was a property of Galileo Galilei, and it became an astrophysical observatory after his death. This place is not on many tourists lists, so you can bet it is not going to be too crowded.

Restaurants

Enjoy the European and Italian cuisine in some of the best restaurants in Florence! Try out the fantastic meals in IO osteria personale, La Bottega del Buon Caffe, Bisteccheria Santa Croce, Schiacciamatta, Tripperia Pollini or choose any of the many restaurants you can find in the city, according to you budget and your location.

Recommended time for visiting

July and August are the hottest months in Florence, maybe too hot sometimes. Keep in mind that italians tend to take some vacation days in August too, and there might be some shops and restaurants that will be closed for a bit in that month. June and September are also warm months, maybe even more pleasant that the hot July and August. April, May and October are also nice when it comes to the weather. Between May and October, a lot of tourists find their way to Florence, and the crowds are big and the prices a little high.