Florence Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to Florence, Italy — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in Florence

• Michelangelo's David at the Accademia. Stand face-to-face with Michelangelo's monumental masterpiece, the 17-foot marble David, in the Galleria dell'Accademia. Book a skip-the-line guided tour to make the most of the experience.
• Uffizi Gallery. One of the world's greatest art museums, the Uffizi houses Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo across 50 rooms of Renaissance masterpieces.
• Brunelleschi's Dome Climb. Climb the 463 steps inside Brunelleschi's engineering marvel for a panoramic view over Florence's rooftops and the Arno River — one of the city's most rewarding experiences.
• Pasta-Making Class. Roll fresh tagliatelle, ravioli, and pappardelle by hand alongside a local chef, then sit down to eat what you made paired with Tuscan wine — a Florence highlight for foodies.
• Chianti Wine Country Tour. Ride out through cypress-lined roads to small-production Chianti estates, taste Sangiovese wines at the cellar door, and enjoy a classic Tuscan lunch under the vine arbor.
• Vespa or Fiat 500 Ride Through Tuscany. Channel La Dolce Vita by piloting a vintage Fiat 500 or an iconic Vespa through rolling Tuscan hills, stopping at hilltop villages and a winery for lunch.
• Oltrarno Food & Wine Tour. Cross Ponte Vecchio into the authentic Oltrarno neighborhood for a sunset food tour: ancient wine windows (buchette del vino), centuries-old fiaschetterie, and artisanal gelato.
• Siena & San Gimignano Day Trip. A full-day escape to medieval Siena's Piazza del Campo and the UNESCO-listed towers of San Gimignano, typically combined with a Chianti winery lunch.
• Cinque Terre Day Trip. Take the train or a guided coach from Florence to the five pastel-colored fishing villages of the Italian Riviera — hike the coastal path or hop a seasonal boat between villages.
• Hot Air Balloon over Chianti. Float silently above the patchwork vineyards, olive groves, and medieval hilltop castles of Chianti at sunrise — a bucket-list perspective on the Tuscan landscape.

Best time to visit Florence

April through June is ideal: warm days (65–80°F), long daylight hours, and fewer crowds than peak summer. September and October offer excellent weather with harvest festivals, golden vineyards, and cooler temperatures. July and August are very hot and crowded — lines for the Uffizi and Accademia can stretch 90 minutes without advance tickets. Winter (November–February) is quiet and cold but atmospheric, with shorter queues and lower prices.

Florence weather by month

Getting to Florence

Florence's own airport (FLR) is small; many arrive via Pisa (PSA, ~1 hr by train) or by fast train from Rome/Milan into Santa Maria Novella. The historic center is tiny and pedestrian — walk everywhere; a car is a liability inside the ZTL zone.

• FLR Florence Airport (Amerigo Vespucci) — 20 min drive
• PSA Pisa International (≈1 hr by train) — 75 min drive

Where to stay in Florence

Florence's centro storico is compact, and staying inside or just outside the historic walls puts every major sight within walking distance. The Oltrarno neighborhood south of the Arno offers a more local, less tourist-heavy atmosphere.

• Centro Storico / San Giovanni. The historic core around the Duomo and Piazza della Repubblica puts every major landmark within a short walk. Hotels here tend to be boutique properties in medieval or Renaissance buildings — ideal for first-timers who want maximum convenience, though prices… Good for: First-time visitors, couples, art lovers who want to walk everywhere.
• Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano). South of the Arno, Oltrarno feels authentically local — artisan workshops, aperitivo bars, and trattorias frequented by Florentines rather than tour groups. It's a 15-minute walk from the Duomo and offers quieter streets, lower prices, and proximity to… Good for: Travelers seeking local character, food lovers, artisan shoppers, repeat visitors.
• Santa Croce. East of the center around the famous basilica, Santa Croce offers a slightly more relaxed atmosphere with wider streets, excellent independent cafes and restaurants, and easy walking access to both the Uffizi and the Accademia. A strong choice for a balance… Good for: Families, culture seekers, travelers who want a less touristy pocket while staying central.
• San Lorenzo. Florence's main market district, close to Santa Maria Novella station and the Mercato Centrale. Lively, multicultural, and practical — good transport links and a range of budget to mid-range accommodation, though the street-market bustle can feel crowded… Good for: Budget travelers, solo visitors, those arriving by train.
• San Niccolò. A tranquil enclave south of the Arno, tucked beneath Piazzale Michelangelo and the rose garden. San Niccolò has a village-within-a-city feel, with wine bars, small trattorie, and far fewer tourists than the center — a short walk to the Ponte Vecchio and… Good for: Romantics, repeat visitors wanting peace, photographers keen on early-morning hilltop views.

Where to eat in Florence

Florentine cuisine is rooted in cucina povera — honest, ingredient-driven cooking. The canonical dishes are bistecca alla Fiorentina (thick T-bone grilled over oak), ribollita (bean and bread stew), pappardelle al cinghiale (wild boar pasta), and lampredotto (tripe sandwich) from street carts. Gelato, cantucci with Vin Santo, and schiacciata flatbread are essential snacks.

Local favorites & classics

• Trattoria Mario. San Lorenzo (near Mercato Centrale) · Traditional Tuscan / Florentine — A beloved lunch-only trattoria since 1953, famous for communal shared tables, a cash-only daily-changing menu of ribollita,…
• Buca dell'Orafo. Centro Storico (steps from Ponte Vecchio) · Traditional Tuscan — Operating in a 13th-century building by the Arno since 1945, this historic cantina is named after the goldsmiths who once worked here…
• Ristorante Buca Mario. Centro Storico (Piazza degli Ottaviani) · Traditional Tuscan — Founded in 1886 in the vaulted cellars of Palazzo Niccolini, Buca Mario is one of Florence's oldest restaurants. Signature dishes…
• Gelateria dei Neri. Santa Croce (Via de' Neri 9) · Artisan gelato — A less-touristy gem near Santa Croce churning small-batch gelato in intense, creative flavors including pistachio, passion fruit, and chocolate with…
• Gelateria Vivoli. Santa Croce (Via Isola delle Stinche) · Artisan gelato — Said to be Florence's oldest gelateria, family-owned since 1930 and serving gelato only in cups — no cones. Four generations have maintained…
• Gustapanino. Piazza Santo Spirito · 4.8★ (11,908 reviews)
• Trattoria Boboli 1978. Via Romana · 4.7★ (10,191 reviews)
• Trattoria Giovanni. Via Sant'Agostino · 4.7★ (7,570 reviews)

Fine dining & Michelin

• Enoteca Pinchiorri. Centro Storico (Via Ghibellina) · Italian fine dining / Tuscan — Florence's only three-Michelin-star restaurant, housed in a 17th-century palazzo. Opened in 1972, it pairs refined contemporary…
• Il Latini. Centro Storico (Via dei Palchetti) · Traditional Tuscan — Family-run since 1950 and listed in the Michelin Guide, Il Latini packs diners into communal tables for Florentine bistecca, ribollita,…
• Osteria dell'Enoteca. Oltrarno (near Boboli Gardens entrance) · Contemporary Tuscan / fine dining — A Michelin-starred restaurant in Oltrarno known for its curated Italian wine wall — guests select their bottle guided by…
• Ristorante dei Rossi Ponte Vecchio. Piazza dei Rossi · 4.9★ (3,719 reviews)
• Ristorante il Paiolo. Via del Corso · 4.6★ (6,051 reviews)
• La Buchetta Food & Wine Restaurant. Via dei Benci · 4.8★ (3,302 reviews)
• Il Santa Maria Ristorante Steakhouse. P.za di Santa Maria Novella · 4.8★ (3,177 reviews)
• Osteria Vecchio Cancello. Via Guelfa · 4.8★ (2,638 reviews)

A 7-Day Florence Plan

1. Day 1 — Cathedral, Baptistery & First Steps. Begin at the Piazza del Duomo, spending the first part of the morning at the Baptistery of San Giovanni to admire Ghiberti's magnificent Gates of Paradise up close. Then circle the cathedral exterior before joining your pre-booked tour of Brunelleschi's Dome for a…
2. Day 2 — Uffizi & Renaissance Masterworks. Dedicate the full morning to the Uffizi Gallery — arrive right at opening time with a pre-booked ticket to beat the crowds. Move deliberately through Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo's Annunciation, and Caravaggio's rooms; three hours is the minimum to do…
3. Day 3 — Oltrarno Artisans & Hilltop Views. Spend a slow morning exploring the Oltrarno artisan workshops — leather-working, bookbinding, and gold-leaf gilding studios are tucked into the streets around Via Maggio and Borgo San Jacopo. Many welcome visitors to watch the craft; this is Florence's living medieval guild…
4. Day 4 — Sacred Florence & Santa Croce. Start at the Basilica di Santa Croce — Florence's Franciscan pantheon and resting place of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Ghiberti. Spend the morning inside the church and its cloisters, then browse the artisan leather school that operates in the adjacent monastery…
5. Day 5 — Chianti Wine Country Escape. Take an early-morning guided day-trip or hire a car into the Chianti Classico wine country south of Florence. The SS222 Chiantigiana road winds through vine-covered hills and stone hill towns — stop first in Greve in Chianti for the weekly market and a visit to the Enoteca del…
6. Day 6 — Market Mornings & Hidden Gems. Start the day at the Mercato Centrale in the San Lorenzo district — go early for the ground-floor food market where vendors sell fresh truffles, aged Parmigiano, wild boar salami, and the freshest produce in the city. Breakfast on a lampredotto or schiacciata con prosciutto at a…
7. Day 7 — Fiesole Heights & Final Farewells. Take the ATAF bus 7 from Piazza San Marco up to the hilltop town of Fiesole, an Etruscan settlement that predates Florence and offers sweeping views back down to the city. Spend the morning at the Roman amphitheater and archaeological museum, then have a coffee at one of the…

Events & festivals in Florence

• Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) (Easter Sunday (date varies, March–April)). A 600-year-old tradition in which a decorated ox-drawn cart packed with fireworks is ignited by a mechanical dove released from the altar of the Duomo during Easter Mass in Piazza del Duomo. Tradition rooted in the…
• Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Late April through June (annually)). Italy's oldest and Europe's second-oldest music festival (after Salzburg), founded 1933 by Vittorio Gui. Annual arts festival featuring opera, ballet, and concerts under Opera di Firenze at the Teatro del Maggio.
• Calcio Storico Fiorentino (June (semifinals mid-June; final 24 June)). A centuries-old brutal sport combining elements of football, rugby, and wrestling, played in full Renaissance costume in Piazza Santa Croce. The final falls on 24 June, feast day of Saint John the Baptist (Florence's…
• Festa della Rificolona (Lantern Festival) (7 September (annually)). A traditional lantern procession dating to the mid-17th century held on the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Children and adults parade colourful handmade paper lanterns through the city centre, starting at…

Top-rated tours & activities in Florence

• The Best tour in Florence: Renaissance & Medici Tales - guided by a STORYTELLER — 5.0★ (13,644 reviews)
• Florence Pizza or Pasta Class & Gelato Making at a Tuscan Farm — 5.0★ (7,693 reviews)
• Winner 2026 Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe — 5.0★ (5,846 reviews)
• Small group Tuscan Wineries, Olive Oil & Gourmet Lunch or Dinner — 5.0★ (1,472 reviews)
• Tagliatelle, Ravioli & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine — 5.0★ (900 reviews)
• Florence Pasta Making Class or Lasagna, Tiramisu & Market Tour — 5.0★ (849 reviews)
• Private Self-Guided E-Bike Ride in Tuscany with Vineyard Visit — 5.0★ (802 reviews)
• Florence Overview by Golf Car with Local Tour Guide — 5.0★ (728 reviews)

Florence travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Florence?

April through June is ideal: warm days (65–80°F), long daylight hours, and fewer crowds than peak summer.

What are the top things to do in Florence?

Top experiences include Michelangelo's David at the Accademia, Uffizi Gallery, Brunelleschi's Dome Climb, Pasta-Making Class, Chianti Wine Country Tour.

Which airport is closest to Florence?

Florence Airport (Amerigo Vespucci) (FLR) is the nearest, about 20 minutes away.

Where should I stay in Florence?

Popular areas to base yourself include Centro Storico / San Giovanni, Oltrarno (Santo Spirito / San Frediano), Santa Croce, San Lorenzo.

How do I get around Florence?

Florence's own airport (FLR) is small; many arrive via Pisa (PSA, ~1 hr by train) or by fast train from Rome/Milan into Santa Maria Novella.