The Ultimate Florence Travel Guide - Gelato and Good Times

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Florence needs little introduction in the ways of bucket-list destinations. Finding a Florence travel guide is easy. Almost everyone has either been or wants to go there. We were no exception.

For me, especially, Florence wasn’t just any other travel destination. Florence plays an important role in history and the Renaissance. As a history fangirl, it was surreal seeing all that I had read and studied, come alive.

Now, before I actually took the trip, I did a lot of research. Like, a lot!

All that extensive research helped me enjoy the most amazing holiday. So, I wanted to share that information with the world, enabling them to plan their own trip! Here’s presenting Sangria and Soul’s extensive (very extensive) travel guide to Florence.

About Florence

The capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, Florence is a dream come true. It’s a big Italian city with a small-town feel. I strongly believe that everyone with the means should visit Florence at least once in their lifetime. Although, I guarantee that once will never be enough.

Florence is fondly dubbed as the birthplace of the Renaissance and the Athens of the Middle Ages. It gave the world many distinguished individuals like Dante Aligheri, Machiavelli, Petrarch and Boccaccio. A UNESCO world heritage city, Forbes also ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Map Of Attractions

How To Use This Map: The icon at the top left corner displays the sidebar which has individual layers. This helps you view the destinations as a list. If you click on the tiny star next to the map title, you’ll be able to save this map into your personal library.

The square bracket icon on the extreme top right helps you view the map on a larger screen. If you want to get details on individual locations, you can click the purple markers on the map.

Enjoy your exploration!

The Perfect Itinerary

Like I mentioned before,

Florence was an extensively planned trip.

I was very serious and Type-A about how I could efficiently spend my time (obsessive, I know). I actually mapped out all tourist locations, drew their approximate positions and distances and created daily routes to follow (I’ll probably put it in here). So, as an essential part of any Travel Guide, let’s look at the top attractions in Florence as per my 3 Day Itinerary.

Day 1

FLORENCE CATHEDRAL

It was formerly known as the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore. This cathedral is the pride and joy of Florence and no travel guide would be complete without its mention. Work on the cathedral started in the 13th century. Its dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi.

The Florence Cathedral is the 4th largest in the world after St. Peters in Rome, St. Pauls in London and the Duomo in Milan.

The most notable artwork in the cathedral can be found on the underside of the Dome. Giorgio Vasari’s Last Judgement which was designed by him but painted by his student Frederico Zuccari.

Since it is the most popular tourist attraction in Florence, the cathedral is almost always busy. While entry into the cathedral is free, you’ll need a ticket for the bell tower, the baptistry and the museum. Therefore, it is best to buy a ticket in advance. For details regarding hours and days of operation, you can check this link.

BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI

The Baptistery is one of the most important monuments in Florence, dedicated to it’s patron Saint. Located right in front of the Florence cathedral, the Baptistery is a travel guide essential.

It is quite famous for its unique octagonal plan. The paintings on the underside of the cupola are extremely beautiful and detailed.

The pride and joy, however, are the eastern doors or the Gates of Paradise. They were commissioned to Ghiberti as the result of a competition he won in 1401. The other key contender being Brunelleschi.

THE GATES OF PARADISE

10 panels so stunning, Michelangelo believed that “they could be the gates of Paradise.”

Although you can ideally consider these as part of the Baptistery, I felt like they needed a separate mention. Lorenzo Ghiberti designed these gilded bronze doors in the 15th century. The panels relay scenes from the old testament.

The scenes include Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, Abraham and David amongst others.

GIOTTOS CAMPANILE

With 414 steps to the top, the bell tower of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore is a workout in itself. However, it is well worth the view. The top gives you a completely different perspective and a birdseye view of Florence. Truly marvellous!

We climbed the tower after that but it just goes to show that the weather can change anytime. So, pack accordingly!

BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO

Located quite close to the duomo, the Beautiful Basilica of San Lorenzo was commissioned by the Medici Family. Once upon a time, it was actually the OG (original) Florence Cathedral! The interiors are beautiful and full of frescos.

The Medici Family is buried here. They are extremely popular as ruled Florence during the Renaissance. The crypts dedicated to them are exquisite!

For more information, you can check out this website.

Day 2

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA

Overlooking Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Del Signoria is home to many buildings and renaissance art. Many Notable events like the ‘Return of the Medici’s’ and the ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’ have taken place there.

The Piazza is home to many statues like the Replica of Michelangelo’s David, Hercules and Caus, The Nettuno and others. A beautiful statue of Cosimo Medici can also be found near the fountain of Neptune.

UFFIZI GALLERY

Any Florence Travel Guide is incomplete without mentioning The Uffizi and Accademia Gallery. The Uffizi Gallery is located very close to the Piazza della Signoria. The gallery is full of art exhibits and pieces by numerous notable artists.

Make sure you view these exhibits:

Birth of Venus by Botticelli
Coronation of the Virgin by Fra Angelico
Annunciation by Da Vinci and Verrocchio
Medusa by Caravaggio
Doni Tondo by Michelangelo

For details regarding tickets, bookings, time of operation you can check out their official website.

PONTE VECCHIO

Spanning across the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio is one of Florence’s long-standing symbols. The bridge is known for its numerous shops, selling a wide variety of products, especially jewellery. You can also stop by the viewpoint in the middle of the bridge, providing stunning views of the river.

Remember: Be careful when walking across the Ponte Vecchio. The bridge can be quite busy making you susceptible to pickpockets. Ensure that you keep your valuables in check.

PALAZZO PITTI

Palazzo Pitti was bulit by Brunelleschi for the rich Florentine Banker, Luca Pitti. The Palace houses several important museums.

It was meant to compete and overshadow Palazzo Medici, but Luca Pitti died and the construction remained incomplete. The place is great for people who love Renaissance art. There is so much to see that you can easily lose track of time.

You may want to invest in an audio guide to understand the exhibits better. Visiting the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Pitti on the same day may be hectic, but well worth it!

The famous Boboli Gardens are located behind the palace. You need a separate ticket to enter the gardens. For more details you can visit their website.

Day 3

SANTA CROCE

The Basilica of Santa Croce is the motherload for art, literature and history buffs.

The crypts of Michelangelo, Rossini, Machiavelli and Gallileo can be found here. There is a memorial for Dante as well although his remains do not reside here. The Basilica comprises of 16 chapels, each belonging to a different family.

You need to buy tickets to enter. You can find all the details here.

GALLERIA DELL' ACCADEMIA

The waiting lines may be long and the tickets, slightly pricey. However, all the peril is worth viewing Michelangelo’s David. The sculpture, carved out of a single block of marble, has a separate viewing gallery in the Accademia.

Apart from this, the gallery has several other halls displaying pieces by various Renaissance artists. Another lovely and notable piece is the ‘Rape of the Sabine Women’ by Giambologna.

The building is quite simple and easy to miss. Especially, if you don’t know what you’re looking for. It took us some time locating the entry, so be careful because the enterance is timed.

For more details, you can check out their official website.

PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO

Located a little away from the city (about a 30 minute walk from the Duomo), Piazzale Michelangelo is a must visit. Set aside some time to take in the cradle of the Renaissance, the home of art, literature and history.

Providing a panoramic view of Florence, this lookout point is truly stunning. I’ve deliberately suggested visiting in the evening because the night lights lend an ethereal feel to the city.

If You Have Time to Spare

You can choose to go on a day trip or two. If you wish to remain within the city, here are some more things that are worth checking out.

The Varsari Corridor. It became extremely popular after the movie Inferno (based on Dan Browns books). There is a secret stair entrance from the Uffizi gallery into a corridor that spans a length of 1 kilometre and houses a wide variety of portraits.
La Specola. Florence’s museum of zoology and natural history that started off as being the personal collection of the Medici family. Like every other thing in Florence. They provide guided tour. Make sure to visit the taxidermied animals and the wax anatomy models. They’re fascinating.
Oltrarno. This place in Florence could probably have a travel guide of its own. Spend some time in this groovy neighbourhood. It was home to all artisinal labs in Florence so you can find some amazing shops if you want to pick up a souvenir. It is located quite close to Piazzale Michelangelo as well.

Day Trips From Florence

There are some amazing articles about day trips you can take from Florence so I won’t elaborate too much in this Travel Guide. You can visit this website for more information.

We went on a day trip to Pisa. We took a train (Trenitalia) from Florence to Pisa. It cost us about 8.5 euros. We then hired a cab to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s about a 2 km distance and takes 25-30 minutes on foot. The tower itself is a part of a large and beautiful compound. Commonly known as the campanile or bell tower, It was designed to be perfectly straight. But, we know the outcome, eh?

There are three other buildings that make up the compound. The Field of Miracles (Campo dei Miracoli), the Duomo and the Baptistery. It can easily take from a few hours to half a day to explore the place in its entirety. I also suggest hiring a guide or you might end up wandering. For tickets, bookings, etc., you can check out this website.

Getting Around Florence

If you plan on staying within the city limits, in my opinion, the only way to travel within Florence, is on foot. Walk, my friends! You’ll thank me for it. The city centre is so small that you can literally span the whole thing in 30-40 minutes.

Parking is limited and some lanes are extremely narrow so I advise against using a car. If you would prefer not to walk, there are a few electric buses that take you between the main attractions. But seriously, please try not to.

Best Time to Visit Florence

Peak Season. The best months to travel to Florence are usually between June to September. They are also the busiest months and draw major crowds. The month of your visit would also depend on your preference. Good Weather, less or more crowd (although the answer is always less crowd).
Shoulder season months like April/May and October are the best of budget travelling. The crowds are either just coming in or waning. You can get some good deals and discounts.
Off Season. The weather between November and March is comparatively harsh, cold and windy. However, the lines are shorter, and tourist attractions are less crowded.

This is obviously a very concise low-down on visiting times. If you’re looking for more detailed information, then you can check out this amazing article that I found. Or this one. They’ll give you a monthly description and information on events taking place as well!

Best Areas to Stay in Florence

You can either stay in the centre, outside the centre but within city limits or in the countryside. Personally, I recommend staying within the city limits because Florence is really small. Well, at least the main tourist attractions. Therefore, if you choose to stay in the city centre, every attraction will be easily accessible to you.

A little outside the city centre, but still within city limits, may yield more affordable accommodation but slightly hampers accessibility.

Another consideration is the purpose of visit. If you’re looking to make Florence as a base for other regions in Tuscany, Outside the centre would be a better option. This is due to the fact that the city centre does not allow cars without a permit. While it wont hamper travel inside, day trips may be tough.

Of course, the level of luxury affects price point heavily. We usually stay in self-catering apartments which is more affordable. As a solo traveler, you have the choice of staying in a hostel or Couchsurfing as well.

You can check out this amazing article I referenced for more information.

How Many Days do You Need in Florence

Honestly, the answer to this question varies based on personal preference. Sources all over the internet will tell you that you can explore it in anywhere between 1 to 7 days. But, if I had to leave you with any pivotal advice in this Florence Travel Guide, it would be this

Do not. I repeat, do not aim to complete Florence in 24 hours. It won’t happen.

Well, it might but it will be no fun. Florence is a city to be savoured and experienced, not merely toured. Walking the streets, eating some gelato, experiencing the nightlife and actually taking in the city is essential to the perfect experience.

You need at least 3 days to tour the city and factor in some unplanned exploration. There’s a reason I never suggest Florence as a day trip. It’s just not possible.

What to eat in Florence

Gelato. Did you know Florence is the Birthplace of Florence Nightingale? But that’s beside the point. Florence is also considered the birthplace of Gelato. Make sure you stop by the Family-owned Gelateria Edoardo. Their organic gelatos are to die for!
Tagliatelle. This dish is amazing. More so because it’s made with local truffles and Porcini mushrooms. You have to try this rich, creamy goodness.
Crostini. Various types of bruschetta topped with sauces, purees and salsa. You’ll love these bite-sized appetizers.
Schiacciata. This is basically the Florentine focaccia bread. It basically means smashed bread and can be eaten alone or as a sandwich.
Pizza. But not the large ones in beautiful restaurants. Hit up a street stall near some tourist attractions and enjoy it, the authentic street-style way.

Florence Budgeting Tips

From experience, I know that Florence can be quite expensive. Especially when you visit during peak seasons. So, these are some tips I follow to save some bucks.

Walking is your best friend. Mentioned it before but I’ll say it again. In fact, when I was mapping out routes, I realised that all attractions can be easily accessed on foot. Honestly. it’s better that way too! You really get to enjoy and immerse yourself in the city.
Get an all-access pass. Or what you would call a day pass. Considering it would give you access to all popular attractions, it actually is a good bargain. You can get it for more than one day as well.
Free walking tours. I literally do this wherever I go. They’re amazing! Since the tour guides work on a tip-based system, they go that extra mile to make the tour remarkable. Absolutely recommend it. Check it out here.
Plan your visit. This one is important because rates vary between seasons. Peak tourist seasons sometimes charge double for entry. Its the ultimate saving tip!
Choose your location wisely. Especially when you eat. A few streets away from a central attraction and the food is just as good but much more affordable.

Florence Travel Tips

I hope this travel guide helps you plan the best possible trip to Florence. Here are some additional tips that could be helpful for you too!

Safety– Pickpockets. They exist. So, be careful when you’re travelling, especially via public transport. Ensure that all your documents and credit cards are safely stashed in some secret compartment in your bag. We actually experienced them in action in Rome and a tourist ended up losing all his valuables. Better safe than sorry.
Travel Insurance– Invest in good travel insurance with a reasonable cover so that you’re protected from major contingencies. If you have expensive gear, ensure the cover includes that too.

***

So, there you have it. I’ve tried to make this travel guide as detailed as possible so you won’t need to go anywhere else. Almost like a one stop shop. As always, you know the drill! Comment and let us know about your Florentine experience. If you’re like us and love spending a long day in quarantine planning your next trip, tell us about that too. Let’s plan together!

Until then, Bon Voyage!