Discover where to go shopping in Florence in this article. We bring you the best places to buy great products, as well as tips for saving money. Check it out:
1. Shopping at the outlets in Florence
Our first tip is a great option for shopping without spending so much. One of the great things about the outlets is the wide range of branded products on offer at very good discounts. This is because they are sold wholesale, without going through retailers.
Another benefit of these shopping centers is that there you have the chance to get products from older collections, which would be more difficult to find in conventional stores. In Florence, there are even more outlets than shopping malls. Some you’ll find are Barberino, The Mall and Space, which are also the most popular in the city.
If you’re taking the kids shopping, we recommend that you visit the outlet’s website first and see if it has an area reserved for little ones. This is quite common, as the structure is designed for those who are going to spend all day shopping, but it’s still worth making sure.
Another important tip is that you’ll probably have access to restaurants, snack bars and cafés to take a break between stores. However, if you’re not so keen on eating in these places and want to save even more money, our tip is to take a ready-made snack and eat it in the open area of the outlets.
2. Shopping in the designer stores in Florence
If your desire is to buy clothes from the world’s biggest brands, you should know that Florence has many streets with luxury stores. A bonus of consuming Italian fashion is that its cities have a great influence on fashion trends.
Some of the streets we can mention are Via Roma, which has stores such as Emporio Armani, Longchamp, Pandora, Jimmy Choo, Maje, Prada, Gucci accessories and Miu Miu. Another great street for buying luxury clothes, shoes and accessories is Via Strozzi, which has names such as DIOR, Paul&Shark, Cartier, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana and Ferrari.
Finally, take a stroll down Via Tornabuoni, which is the most luxurious street in the whole city, as well as being very beautiful. There, you’ll find the best brands to stay in fashion, including Prada, Romanelli Firenze, Versace, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Tiffany & Co., Burberry (which is currently temporarily closed), Gucci and Giorgio Armani.
Shopping in Via Calimala in Florence
Shopping on Via Calimala offers a wide variety of products such as make-up, stores, shoes, accessories and much more. Unlike the other streets mentioned above, here you’ll find famous brand stores such as Zara and Calvin Klein, but most of the stores are smaller boutiques.
4. Shopping at the San Lorenzo Market in Florence
The last option on where to go shopping in Florence is the San Lorenzo Market. Located on a street near the Basilica of San Lorenzo, it is reminiscent of 25 de Março in São Paulo, with stalls selling handbags, shoes, wallets and much more.
One of the most interesting things about this market is that you can buy good quality products at very good prices. Another cool thing is that many of the traders there are Brazilian, which makes buying a lot easier. It’s worth remembering that all the vendors in the market have their own license to sell there, so it’s very safe.
Finally, something really cool is that you’ll find another equally interesting market ahead, the Mercado Central. There you’ll find everything from accessories to food. Be prepared to do some shopping when you pass by, as it will be hard to resist.
Some tips for shopping in Florence
A great tip we like to give you for shopping in Florence is to make a list of the items you want to buy, so you don’t forget anything and prioritize what you want to buy the most. Another good thing to do is to wake up early and have a good breakfast and wear comfortable clothes to face the crowded streets and many stores to explore.
Another great tip for those who want to save money on shopping in Florence is to use the Tax Free system. This feature is very common in some European countries and works for tourists who, when buying outside their country of residence, receive a discount on the taxes added to the price.
These taxes are called VAT and their value changes in each country on the continent, but in general it is between 16% and 25%.
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.
Tickets: find out where to buy your Florence tickets in the cheapest and safest way. You can save up to 40%!
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.