Here are our tips for the 12 best things to do in Florence. This beautiful Italian city is full of activities and outings for the whole family. So make the most of it.
1. Visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence
This first tip is also the city’s main tourist attraction. Considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore began construction in 1296 and was inaugurated almost 200 years later. The building is also considered to be one of the most important works of Gothic architecture ever built.
Address: Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Florence.
2. Going to Piazza della Signoria in Florence
This square is the most important in all of Florence and is home to some of the city’s history and culture. Here you’ll find incredible monuments such as the equestrian statue of Cosme I, Palazzo Vecchio and the Fountain of Neptune.
A great tip to make the most of your visit to Florence is to stop for a gelato at Vivoli, located in Via Isole delle Stinche 7 R, and of course take lots of photos of the square.
3. Visit the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence
This beautiful church is also one of the richest in all of Florence. Its interior was designed by the great artist Michelangelo and its external structure is surrounded by bronze pulpits created by Donatello.
To enter the church and have access to all these riches, you need to buy a ticket. Therefore, at the end of this article we bring you an incredible tip for buying your tickets for this and other attractions in Florence.
Address: Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9, 50123 Florence.
4. Walking around Piazza del Duomo in Florence
Piazza del Duomo, as its name implies, is the square where Florence Cathedral stands. It is one of the most visited in the country and has other very interesting sights, such as Giotto’s Campanile and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, which has works from the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore as well as works by the artist Donatello.
5. Visiting Florence Cathedral
Not only is the Cathedral square beautiful, but so is the Cathedral itself. But to visit it, we recommend that you buy your ticket in advance. This excursion is perfect if you want to discover this treasure trove of Italian art. With it, you have privileged access and as well as seeing the Cathedral, you can also go up to the Brunelleschi Dome and visit its panoramic terraces.
6. Visiting Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence
Piazzale Michelangelo is another square in the city that has become an important tourist attraction, because it is located high up in the city and therefore offers incredible views of the city. Our tip is to go to the square in the late afternoon to catch the sunset, which will give you impressive photos.
7. Walking around the Mercato di San Lorenzo in Florence
Near the Basilica of San Lorenzo is the Mercato di San Lorenzo, which is a large market with a huge variety of products, making it the most important in all of Florence. Further on, you’ll find another equally interesting market, the Central Market. So be prepared to do some shopping when you pass by, as it will be hard to resist.
8. Visit Florence’s Central Market
Near the Basilica of San Lorenzo there is a market in a closed area with several stalls selling everything from food to clothes and accessories. Without a doubt, this is one of the most interesting things to do, apart from buying a few things there.
9. Stroll through Palazzo Pitti and the Bóboli Garden in Florence
Palazzo Pitti began to be built in 1446 and was the residence of three royal dynasties. Today, it has become a great museum that enchants locals and tourists from all over the world who also take the opportunity to visit the Bóboli Garden, one of the most famous in the country.
Our tip is to buy tickets for this attraction in advance to get a guided tour of the complex.
Address: Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125 Florence.
10. Visit the Galileo Museum in Florence
This science-focused museum was founded in 1930 by the University of Florence and occupies 3 floors of Palazzo Castellani. It has an incredible collection of optical, astronomical, mathematical, navigational and surgical artifacts. Among them is the telescope used by Galileo in 1609 to discover the satellites of Jupiter and the lunar mountains.
Address: Piazza dei Giudici, 1, 50122 Florence.
11. Going to the Galleria degli Uffizi Museum in Florence
Another tip is to visit the Galleria degli Uffizi Museum, which is very close to the Galileo Museum, right on the banks of the River Arno, as well as being the most famous museum in the city and one of the most important in the world. It is also one of the oldest, as it is located in a building that is over 500 years old, having been designed by the Italian architect Giorgio Vasari in 1560.
Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Florence.
12. Be enchanted by the Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence
Founded in 1784, the museum of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence houses one of the most famous and enchanting works of art in the world: Michelangelo’s David. The original work is right inside the museum, but the city has two other replicas, one in the Pizzale Michelangelo and the other just outside the Accademia Gallery.
Address: Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50129 Florence.
How to save on tickets for paid attractions in Florence?
The city of Florence has some incredible tourist attractions. And to see some of them, you’ll need to have your ticket in hand. So, to save a lot on your ticket purchase, our tip is to buy in advance and online, preferably all on one site.
We’ve traveled all over the world and, on our last trips, we found a great company. Well, it was precisely this Florence Tickets website that we used. As well as being one of the biggest ticket sellers in the world, it’s very secure.
And you can buy all your tickets in one place. It’s worth noting that it’s always cheaper to buy in advance and online, to avoid queues and to avoid wasting your travel time.
Save money on your trip to Florence:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Florence cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Florence. You will find out the best areas and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
