Complete Florence Travel Guide: Duomo, Uffizi and Tuscan Cuisine

Why Visit Florence

Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance. This compact Tuscan city holds more masterpieces per square metre than anywhere else on earth. Brunelleschi's dome dominates a skyline unchanged for centuries, Michelangelo's David stands in a purpose-built gallery, and the food is some of Italy's finest.

Best Time to Visit

• Spring (April–May): Ideal. 15–24°C, gardens blooming, pleasant walking weather.
• Summer (June–August): Hot (30–37°C) and very crowded. Peak prices. Estate Fiesolana outdoor festival.
• Autumn (September–October): Excellent. 15–25°C, harvest season in Tuscany, thinner crowds.
• Winter (November–February): Quiet and affordable. 4–12°C, occasional rain. Short queues at museums.

Top Attractions

Art & Architecture

• Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo): Brunelleschi's red-tiled dome is Florence's icon. Cathedral entry is free. Dome climb (463 steps): €30 combined ticket covering dome, baptistery, bell tower, crypt and museum. Book timed dome slots online.
• Uffizi Gallery: One of the world's greatest art museums. Botticelli's "Birth of Venus", Leonardo, Raphael, Caravaggio. €25 full price (€16 from 4 PM). Closed Mondays. Book timed entry online to avoid 2–3 hour queues.
• Galleria dell'Accademia: Home of Michelangelo's David (1501–1504). €16. Closed Mondays. Book online. 30-minute visit is enough for most.
• Ponte Vecchio: Medieval bridge lined with jewellers' shops. Free to walk across. Best photographed from Ponte Santa Trinita at sunset.

Piazzas & Views

• Piazzale Michelangelo: The best panoramic viewpoint in Florence. Free. Climb at sunset for the classic postcard view of the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and Arno River. Bus 12 or 13 from the centre.
• Piazza della Signoria: Florence's open-air sculpture gallery. The replica David, Loggia dei Lanzi with Perseus, Neptune Fountain. Free, always open.
• Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens: The Medici's main palace. Palatine Gallery €16, Boboli Gardens €10. Combined ticket €22. Allow half a day.

Neighbourhoods

• Oltrarno: The artisan quarter south of the Arno. Workshops, trattorie, Palazzo Pitti. Less touristy than the centre. Santo Spirito square has a laid-back, local feel.
• San Lorenzo: The leather market, Mercato Centrale food hall (upstairs is excellent for quick lunches) and the Medici Chapels.
• Santa Croce: Basilica of Santa Croce (€8, tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli), leather school and lively nightlife around the piazza.

Getting Around

• On foot: Florence's historic centre is small and flat. Duomo to Ponte Vecchio is a 10-minute walk. Walking is the best way to explore.
• Bus (ATAF): Single ticket €1.50 (90 minutes). Buy at tabacchi shops or on the app. Bus 12/13 to Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Bike: Florence is flat and increasingly bike-friendly. Rental from €10/day.

From Florence Airport (FLR) to centre (5 km):

• Tramvia T2: €1.50, 20 minutes to the central station (Santa Maria Novella). Every 5 minutes.
• Taxi: Fixed rate €22 to the city centre, €24 on weekends/holidays.

From Pisa Airport (PSA) (an alternative, often cheaper):

• PisaMover + train: €5.40 total, about 1.5 hours. PisaMover to Pisa Centrale station, then Trenitalia to Firenze SMN.

Florentine Cuisine

• Bistecca alla Fiorentina: Massive T-bone steak from Chianina cattle, grilled rare. Priced by weight, typically €45–60 per kilo (steaks are usually 1–1.2 kg, meant for sharing). Trattoria Mario (since 1953) at Via Rosina 2, or Buca Mario for a historic dining room.
• Lampredotto: Tripe sandwich, Florence's favourite street food. €4–5. At any trippaio cart. Il Trippaio di San Frediano in Oltrarno is excellent.
• Ribollita: Hearty Tuscan bread and vegetable soup. €8–12. A winter staple at Trattoria Sostanza.
• Pappa al Pomodoro: Thick tomato and bread soup. €7–10. Simple and deeply satisfying.
• Gelato: Florence arguably has Italy's best gelato. Vivoli (since 1930) on Via dell'Isola delle Stinche, La Sorbettiera in Oltrarno. €2.50–5.
• Schiacciata: Florentine flatbread, similar to focaccia. Plain or stuffed. €3–5. All'Antico Vinaio on Via dei Neri serves the most famous sandwiches (long queues).

Practical Tips

• Visa: EU/Schengen rules. UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days.
• Water: Tap water is safe. Florence has public drinking fountains throughout the centre.
• Tipping: Not mandatory. Coperto (cover charge, €1.50–3) appears on bills. Rounding up is sufficient.
• Leather shopping: Buy from established shops, not market stalls. The Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School) inside Santa Croce sells genuine Florentine leather goods.
• Reservations: Book restaurants in advance, especially Trattoria Mario (no reservations, arrive early) and popular dinner spots. Florence is a small city and good restaurants fill fast.
• Day trips: San Gimignano (1.5 hours by bus), Siena (1.5 hours by bus or train) and the Chianti wine region are easy day trips.