Travel Guide for Florence, Italy | Perfect for First-Time Visitors
First-time visitor to Florence? You're in the right spot! This travel guide for Florence, Italy, details all the essentials for a successful trip! Learn a general overview of the city as well as what to see, the best restaurants, top gelato spots, and more!
Florence is a special city. It's small enough to be walkable and not overwhelming, boasts some of the best food on the planet, radiates medieval charm, houses world-renowned artworks, and offers incredible day trip options to the coast, the Tuscan countryside, and hilltop villages.
It's also a place that can fit any budget. Florence can be as cheap or extravagant as you wish.
Foodies, wine lovers, art enthusiasts, and shopaholics will adore Florence. Those who appreciate a walkable, historic city with culture and good food will also love Florence.
There's a reason I've returned to Florence 10+ times since my study abroad days. It's fair to say I've spent a good chunk of time in this Renaissance city.
I've put together this travel guide to Florence, Italy, as an intro for first-time visitors.
I'll take you through all the essentials for a first visit to Florence: how much time to spend in the city, how to get around, the top restaurants, must-visit sights, and more!
This map shows everything listed in this travel guide for Florence, Italy. Click the icon on the top left to see a list view of each pinned location. Select the top right button to enlarge the map (which will automatically save it to YOUR Google Maps). To access this map once saved, open Google Maps (on your phone/computer/tablet), click the "You" on the very bottom, scroll to the bottom, and select "Maps". Your newly saved map should be listed at the top.
- Blue - top Florence sights and attractions
- Purple - coffee shops, gelato, restaurants, etc.
- Black - recommended luxury, 5-star hotels
- Yellow - recommended mid-range hotels
- Red - recommended 3 and 4-star hotels under $300 during high season
Ditta Artigianale - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy
Florence in December - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy
The best time to visit Florence Italy
One of the most important parts of planning your visit to Florence is WHEN to go. Choose the wrong time and you'll be fighting the masses. Much of the charm will be lost.
The best times to visit Florence, Italy are early spring and late fall. Mid-March through mid-April and October through November bring mild weather and fewer tourists.
Because Florence is fairly small, peak tourist season (mid-May through August) has a very noticeable impact on the city (mainly hotel prices and overwhelming crowds).
Try to avoid August at all possible costs. Not only can it get terribly hot during this month but the city is absolutely packed with tourists. Many locals leave town to escape the aforementioned tourists and heat.
SEE MY OTHER FLORENCE BLOG POSTS:
BEST VIEWS IN FLORENCE + MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE PLACES
FLORENCE VS ROME | WHICH IS BEST FOR YOUR TRIP TO ITALY?
A WEEK IN ITALY – 5 ITALY ITINERARY IDEAS
Piazzale Michelangelo - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy | Perfect for First-Time Visitors
How many days in Florence are ideal?
I recommend 4 nights in Florence in order to have time for day trips. You have plenty of options: Tuscany, Siena, Cinque Terre, etc.
You'll need 2 days to explore Florence and 2 days for day trips.
On the quickest of trips, I recommend 2 nights in Florence. It will feel rushed, but you'll have enough time to see the top sights in the city.
For those not in a rush, this is a city I love to slow down in. Personally, I think Florence is a better place to bake in extra time than Rome, Venice, and Amalfi.
If you want to do several day trips, go wine tasting, shop, eat your way around the city...then you could easily spend 5 days in Florence.
Getting to Florence, Italy
Peretola (FLR) is the main airport in Florence, Italy.
To get from FLR airport to the city center, the best option (and cheapest at €1.50) is the new tram system. It takes 15 minutes to get from the airport to the Santa Maria Novella (SMN) train station.
It's a 10-minute walk to the very center of Florence from SMN.
If you don't want to walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station to your hotel, then grab a taxi for about €25. Uber is not available in Florence (as of this writing).
To keep travel costs low, you could also fly into the larger airport hubs of Rome (FCO) or Milan (MXP). Chances of finding a direct and cheap ticket are higher for these airports.
Florence is a 1.5-hour train from Rome on Trenitalia and a little under 2 hours from Milan (also Trenitalia).
Piazza della Signoria - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy
Duomo - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy
Where to stay in Florence for first-timers
If you're visiting Florence for the first time, staying in the city center is a must. Basically, locate the Duomo and pick a hotel within a radius of 15 to 20 minutes from there.
Go farther than this and you'll lose a lot of precious sightseeing time getting to all the top sights and restaurants.
These are the hotels I recommend for first-time visitors with ideal locations.
**FLORENCE HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS**
Detailed blog post on where to stay in Florence
Luxury
- Rocco Forte Hotel Savoy
- The St. Regis Florence (Marriott)
- The Excelsior, Florence (Marriott)
- Hotel Lungarno - Lungarno Collection
- Hotel Bernini Palace
Midrange
Affordable 3-star and 4-star options (under $300 during high season):
Piazza della Signoria - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy | Perfect for First-Time Visitors
Getting around Florence
The best way to get around Florence is by foot. The city center is easily walkable and small enough that you can get from one end of the tourist center to the other in 30 minutes.
It's an enjoyable and safe city to walk around. There's plenty to look at between river views, people watching, and gorgeous architecture.
I've never felt unsafe wandering the city on foot, even at dark. Streets are well-lit, and there always seems to be a healthy crowd out. Granted, I'm not walking alone at 2:00 am.
Much of the city center is pedestrianized, so you'll be in good company walking from place to place.
Must-see sights in Florence
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and therefore offers the best Renaissance art in all of Europe. The museums are some of the best in the world.
You'll also find art all over the city, like in the main square of Piazza della Signoria (photo above).
If this is your first time visiting Florence, I would recommend a minimum of 3 days to see the major sights in Florence.
Accademia: Michelangelo's David. Reserve in advance! You can't visit Florence, Italy, and NOT see THE David. It's a requirement.
Uffizi Gallery: the greatest collection of Italian paintings and one of the most famous museums in the world. Reserve in advance!
Duomo: the most iconic sight in Florence, also known as the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Entrance to the cathedral is free, but paid admission is required for other areas, including the climb to the dome, the Duomo Museum (worthwhile), and the Baptistry.
Ponte Vecchio - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy | Perfect for First-Time Visitors
Ponte Vecchio: famous bridge lined with gold and jewelry shops. Make sure to stop by during the morning and evening during your visit to Florence.
Piazzale Michelangelo: the best photo opportunity in Florence located on a hilltop square with panoramic views of Florence as your backdrop.
Piazza della Signoria: the main square in Florence with the Palazzo Vecchio, a towering medieval fortress and tower, and an outdoor sculpture gallery including a copy of Michelangelo's David.
San Lorenzo Market: lively outdoor market selling leather, clothing, and popular souvenirs.
Mercato Centrale: indoor food market with traditional food stalls on the first floor (meat, produce, cheese, etc.) and an Eataly (large food court style) on the second floor with 500 seats and free WiFi.
Best places to eat in Florence, Italy
Best coffee shops in Florence
I have an entire blog post dedicated to the best cafes and coffee shops in Florence. Here's a summary:
Ditta Artigianale: one of my favorite coffee shops in Florence.
Ditta Artigianale Neri is small, always busy, and more popular with tourists.
The Ditta Artigianale Sprone is two stories, has a large patio, and seems to draw the student crowd.
Both serve an excellent cappuccino and flat white along with iced coffees, matcha, and cafe bites like burritos, avocado toast, pancakes, croissants, muffins, and sandwiches.
La Ménagère: if you're looking for an Instagrammable coffee shop in Florence, this is it.
La Menagere is a concept store combining a coffee shop on the right side and a flower, home, cafe/restaurant on the left side. They have a nice sidewalk patio as well. Grab a Nutella croissant!
Ben Caffe: this was a hidden gem when I first discovered it, but it seems word has gotten out. The mornings can get very busy. I still love it and the prices are great considering its location in the heart of Florence.
Note di Vino
La Strega Nocciola
All'Antico Vinaio
Quick and casual Eats in Florence
Mercato Centrale: Eataly food market (mentioned above). Create a picnic from a selection of fresh produce, meat, and cheese on the first floor.
Head upstairs to eat in with a wide selection of stands offering pizza, sandwiches, gelato, coffee, cheese, truffle dishes, and more!
Gustapizza: a visit to Florence means consuming lots of quality pizza and pasta. Gustapizza offers some of the best pizza in Florence at low prices (around 5-10 euros).
La Divina Pizza: Roman-style pizza in the Santo Spirito neighborhood. Try the fig and burrata!
I Due Fratellini: take-away sandwich shop.
All'Antico Vinaio: arguably the best panini in Florence. It's so popular they have several tiny shops right next to each other to speed things up.
Be sure to get the truffle cream on your sandwich.
Note Di Vino - Enoteca Wine Bar: - great little wine bar with crostini, small sandwiches, and other snacks. They have a cute sidewalk patio with a view of the Santa Croce Basilica and piazza.
Le Vespe Cafè: come here if you need a break for the typical pasta and pizza meal. When I'm craving some greens, I come here.
The Mediterranean and salmon poke bowls are fantastic and fresh. This is a popular brunch spot too.
Best gelato in Florence
La Strega Nocciola: my favorite gelato spot located in the city center. Try the Buontalenti flavor, a specialty cream of Florence.
Gelateria La Carraia: low prices and great flavors. Try the white chocolate pistachio.
I would be remiss not to mention Vivoli for their Instafamous affogatos (hot espresso poured in the center of vanilla gelato).
I TAKE MY GELATO SERIOUSLY...WHICH IS WHY I WROTE A "TOP 5" POST ON THE BEST GELATO IN FLORENCE.
La Giostra - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy
La Giostra - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy
Best dinner restaurants in Florence
Ristorante La Giostra: if I died tomorrow, the pear ravioli would be at the top of the list for my last meal. Enough said.
Advanced reservations are strongly recommended.
Book La Giostra towards the beginning of your visit to Florence because you might just want to return before you leave.
Trattoria ZaZa: pizza and Tuscan cuisine restaurant that has unfortunately become a tourist hotspot (it doesn't stop me from loving it though).
I love the truffle sea bass, duck ragu tagliatelle, and the tiramisu. Reservations recommended.
Vini E Vecchi Sapori: incredible pasta...may be hard to get a reservation as it's quite small.
Antica Trattoria da Tito: while it's a tad outside the city center, it's worth the visit for classic Tuscan cuisine offered at low prices with a healthy dose of humor. Rick Steve's has apparently listed this in his book, so it's blown up in popularity. Reservations recommended.
Parione: wine cellar restaurant known for elevated cuisine, including Florentine steak and truffle gnocchi.
Il Santo Bevitore: romantic atmosphere with recipes that are less heavy and more refined. Reservations recommended.
Santino: cute Charcuterie spot that is the sister restaurant of the above.
O'Munaciella: popular with the locals for pizza and traditional Tuscan dishes.
Cinque Terra - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy | Perfect for First-Time Visitors
Siena - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy
Day trips from Florence, Italy
If it's your first time visiting Florence, I usually recommend spending at least 4 nights in the city so you can have time for two day trips.
Best day trips from Florence, Italy:
Cinque Terre - five colorful fishing villages strung together along the Mediterranean coast. It's popular to hike between the towns and the views are incredible.
I recommend joining a tour as it's a little complicated to get to Cinque Terre via public transport.
I did the group tour with Walkabout and highly recommend it. I felt like I got to see everything, had just enough time to explore the main villages, and the guide was informative, funny, and professional.
There is a wonderful private tour if that's more your style.
Tuscany wine region - pair rolling hills, medieval towns, quaint tasting rooms, and incredible wine into one memorable day. Join a tour to fully enjoy the experience...and the wine.
- Small-Group Wine Tasting Experience in the Tuscan Countryside - 4-hour tour visiting two wineries + olive oil tasting and snacks.
- Taste of Chianti: Tuscan Cheese, Wine and Lunch from Florence - full-day wine and food tour. Travel through the Tuscan hills by a 4x4 off-road vehicle, stopping to visit a wine estate and historic villa, and a cellar specializing in bottles of Chianti Classico, and finish with a 3-course meal.
- Full Day Tuscany Wine Tour - made with 18 - 39-year-olds in mind.
- Tuscany in One Day Sightseeing Tour from Florence - see it all with this tour: Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and lunch at a Chianti wine estate.
Siena - a smaller version of Florence that feels a bit more medieval. Take the train and wander on your own or join a tour. I recommend fitting in more than one city if you're doing a tour.
This tour visits both Siena and San Gimignano. This one combines Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano.
Basilica di San Miniato viewpoint - Travel Guide for Florence, Italy | Perfect for First-Time Visitors
Fitness in Florence
If you feel the need to run off some of the gelato and pasta you've consumed during your visit to Florence, then head towards the Arno River!
The best jogging route in Florence is to head West along the river toward Cascine Park (a nice size at 395 acres).
Once you reach the park you can either jog on the trails in the center among the trees or stick to the path along the river. You'll be in good company with local Florentines jogging, rollerblading, biking, and playing sports.
In general, I try to stay away from large parks after dark, just to be on the safe side.
In summary
I wrote this Florence travel guide with first-time visitors in mind. Hopefully this helped in planning your visit to Florence and answered some questions along the way.
These are the recommendations I've been sending to my family and friends for years and I'm so happy to finally finish this post and share it with you.
Share the love and save this post on Pinterest!
Travel Guide for Florence, Italy | Perfect for First-Time Visitors
Thank you, Madam ! Very romantic !
“From her to you comes loving thought,
that leads to highest good, while you pursue it,
counting as little what all men desire:
from her comes that spirit full of grace
that shows you heaven by the true way’:
so that in hope I fly, already, to the heights…”
Thank you for your tips for Florence, Being a first time visitor they proved invaluable.
The highlight of my trip was a dinner on our final evening at Vini E Vecchi Sapori, great food and great fun!
Isn’t that place THE BEST! It makes my day when I hear from other travelers enjoying my recs 🙂