# Things to do in Florence: top sights and where to go

> Florence is a compact Renaissance city where nearly everything is walkable: the cathedral with Brunelleschi's dome, the Baptistery and Giotto's Bell Tower, David at the Accademia, the Uffizi, Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio. Across the Arno are Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michelangelo with the best view. Allow 2–3 days, plus half a day for Fiesole.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/florence

## Ready itineraries

- [One day in Florence: a walking route](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/in-1-day.md): The Baptistery and Brunelleschi's dome, David at the Accademia, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, all on foot, in order and with timings.
- [Florence in 2 days: day-by-day itinerary](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/in-2-days.md): The Duomo, David and the Ponte Vecchio, then the Uffizi Gallery, the Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce and sunset over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo.
- [3 days in Florence: day-by-day itinerary](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/in-3-days.md): The Duomo and David, the Uffizi and Medici Chapels, then the Oltrarno: Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens, Santo Spirito and sunset at San Miniato.
- [Florence with kids: a family day out](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/with-kids.md): Climb Giotto's Bell Tower, try the hands-on rooms at Museo Galileo, cross the Ponte Vecchio and run around the Boboli Gardens: an outing children love.

## All 26 places with the YesGo score

- [Florence Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral.md): YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free; dome paid. Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo, is Florence's cathedral, crowned by Brunelleschi's red dome — the largest brick dome in the world. The…
- [Ponte Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/ponte-vecchio.md): YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free. The Ponte Vecchio, the "Old Bridge", is Florence's emblem: a 14th-century stone bridge over the Arno lined with colourful little…
- [Piazza della Signoria](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazza-della-signoria.md): YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free. Piazza della Signoria is Florence's main square, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio town hall and at the centre of civic life for seven…
- [Palazzo Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio.md): YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Courtyard free, museum paid. Palazzo Vecchio is Florence's medieval town hall, its tall crenellated tower rising over Piazza della Signoria — and it's still the city…
- [Uffizi Gallery](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/uffizi.md): YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h · Paid. The Uffizi is one of the world's great art galleries and the finest museum of the Italian Renaissance, in a 16th-century building between…
- [Santa Croce](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santa-croce.md): YesGo score 50/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h · Paid. Santa Croce is Florence's largest Franciscan basilica, on the square of the same name. Called the "Temple of Italian Glories", it holds…
- [Palazzo Pitti](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-pitti.md): YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Paid. Palazzo Pitti is the Medici's vast palace on the south bank of the Arno, in the Oltrarno quarter. It holds several museums — the Palatine…
- [Santa Maria Novella](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santa-maria-novella.md): YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Paid. Santa Maria Novella is the Dominican basilica beside Florence's main station, with a beautiful marble façade by Alberti. Inside are…
- [Florence Baptistery](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-baptistery.md): YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Combined cathedral pass. The Baptistery of San Giovanni is an octagonal white and green marble church facing Florence Cathedral and one of the oldest buildings in…
- [Basilica of San Lorenzo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/san-lorenzo.md): YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Paid. San Lorenzo is one of the oldest churches in Florence and the Medici family's parish church, rebuilt by Brunelleschi in the 15th century…
- [Vasari Corridor](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/vasari-corridor.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Paid, timed entry. The Vasari Corridor is a covered passage about a kilometre long that let the Medici dukes walk from the town hall to their palace without…
- [Palazzo Medici Riccardi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-medici-riccardi.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Paid. Palazzo Medici Riccardi was the Medici family's first palace, built in the 15th century for Cosimo the Elder; Lorenzo the Magnificent grew…
- [Orsanmichele](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/orsanmichele.md): YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free. Orsanmichele is an unusual church on Via dei Calzaiuoli, between the cathedral and Piazza della Signoria: it began as a covered grain…
- [Laurentian Library](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/laurentian-library.md): YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Paid. The Laurentian Library holds the Medici book collection at the Basilica of San Lorenzo, in a building designed by Michelangelo. The draw…
- [Santo Spirito](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santo-spirito.md): YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free. Santo Spirito is a basilica in the Oltrarno and Brunelleschi's last major work; behind its plain cream front lies one of the most…
- [Galleria dell'Accademia](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/galleria-dell-accademia.md): YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Paid. The Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence holds Michelangelo's original David, the five-metre marble statue of 1501–1504. Alongside are his…
- [Medici Chapels](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/medici-chapels.md): YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Paid. The Medici Chapels are a museum behind the altar of the Basilica of San Lorenzo with two main parts: the Chapel of the Princes, clad…
- [San Miniato al Monte](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/san-miniato.md): YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free. San Miniato al Monte is an 11th-century Romanesque basilica on the hill just above Piazzale Michelangelo and one of the most beautiful…
- [Piazzale Michelangelo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazzale-michelangelo.md): YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Piazzale Michelangelo is a big viewing terrace on a hill south of the Arno with Florence's most famous panorama: the cathedral dome, the…
- [Brancacci Chapel](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/brancacci-chapel.md): YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Paid, timed entry. The Brancacci Chapel is a small chapel in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine, south of the Arno, where Masaccio and Masolino painted…
- [Giotto's Campanile](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/giottos-campanile.md): YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Combined cathedral pass. Giotto's Bell Tower is a slender tower of white, green and pink marble next to Florence Cathedral, about 85 metres tall. 414 steps with no…
- [Bargello](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/bargello.md): YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Paid. The Bargello is Florence's great sculpture museum, set in a stern medieval palace five minutes from Piazza della Signoria. It holds…
- [Palazzo Strozzi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-strozzi.md): YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Courtyard free, exhibitions paid. Palazzo Strozzi is one of the grandest Renaissance palaces, built for the banker Filippo Strozzi near fashionable Via Tornabuoni. Today…
- [Museo Galileo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/museo-galileo.md): YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Paid. Museo Galileo is a museum of the history of science on the Arno embankment, steps from the Uffizi. It holds Galileo Galilei's only…
- [Boboli Gardens](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/boboli-gardens.md): YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Paid. The Boboli Gardens are a huge hillside park behind Palazzo Pitti, laid out by the Medici in the 16th century and a model for the Italian…
- [Fiesole](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/fiesole.md): YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Town free, ruins paid. Fiesole is a small old town on a hill 8 km from Florence, where Florentines have escaped the summer heat for centuries. It's older than…

## Florence travel guide

What to know before you go: best areas to stay, museum bookings, the airport and Pisa, weather, food and costs.

## Trip essentials

- How long: 2–3 days, +½ day for Fiesole
- Best time: April–June and September–October
- Bookings: Uffizi, Accademia, dome — timed, in advance
- Entry: Schengen rules; ETIAS for visa-free visitors when it starts
- Money: Euro; cards and contactless widely accepted
- Airport: Peretola (FLR) — T2 tram to the station ≈ 20 min
- Getting around: Compact centre — walk everywhere
- City tax: Charged per person per night by your hotel
- Churches: Shoulders and knees covered
- Time zone: CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer

## Key facts

- **1982** — the historic centre joined the UNESCO list (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 174)
- **1436** — the cathedral with Brunelleschi's dome was consecrated (source: Wikipedia, Florence Cathedral)
- **The Arno** — splits the centre from the Oltrarno (source: Wikipedia, Florence)
- **≈ 1.5 km** — from the station to the Ponte Vecchio via the Duomo (source: City map)

## Things to do in Florence

The essentials in Florence are the cathedral and Brunelleschi's dome, the Baptistery and Giotto's Bell Tower, David at the Accademia, the Uffizi, Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Ponte Vecchio. Across the Arno are Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and Piazzale Michelangelo. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.

| Area | What to see | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Piazza del Duomo** | [Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral), [Baptistery](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-baptistery), [bell tower](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/giottos-campanile) | ½ day |
| **Piazza della Signoria** | [Palazzo Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio), [Uffizi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/uffizi), [Bargello](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/bargello) | 1 day |
| **San Lorenzo** | [Basilica](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/san-lorenzo), [Medici Chapels](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/medici-chapels), [Accademia](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/galleria-dell-accademia) | ½ day |
| **By the station** | [Santa Maria Novella](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santa-maria-novella), [Palazzo Strozzi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-strozzi) | 2 hours |
| **Santa Croce** | [Santa Croce](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santa-croce), [Museo Galileo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/museo-galileo) | ½ day |
| **Oltrarno** | [Palazzo Pitti](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-pitti), [Boboli](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/boboli-gardens), [Brancacci](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/brancacci-chapel) | 1 day |
| **The hills** | [Piazzale Michelangelo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazzale-michelangelo), [San Miniato](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/san-miniato), [Fiesole](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/fiesole) | ½ day |

Rather not plan it yourself? The list above includes ready-made itineraries with the places already in order.

## Florence itinerary: 1, 2 or 3 days

With one day in Florence, see the cathedral and Baptistery, David at the Accademia, Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio, then sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. A second day adds the Uffizi and the Medici Chapels; a third, Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and the Oltrarno. Use a fourth for Fiesole or a train to Pisa.

- **Day 1** — cathedral, Baptistery, Accademia, [Piazza della Signoria](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazza-della-signoria), [Ponte Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/ponte-vecchio).
- **Day 2** — Uffizi, Palazzo Vecchio, Medici Chapels, evening at Piazzale Michelangelo.
- **Day 3** — Palazzo Pitti, Boboli Gardens, [Santo Spirito](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santo-spirito), Santa Croce.
- **Day 4** — Fiesole, or a train to Pisa, Siena or Lucca.

## Where to stay in Florence: best areas

Florence's historic centre is small, so staying inside it makes sense. The Duomo and Signoria areas put everything on your doorstep but cost more and are busier. Santa Croce is lively with restaurants, the Oltrarno across the river has artisans and a local feel, and the Santa Maria Novella station area suits day trips around Tuscany.

| Area | Best for | Keep in mind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Duomo** | First visit, all central | Pricey, crowded |
| **Signoria** | Museums and the Arno | Busy in the evening |
| **Santa Croce** | Restaurants and bars | Noisy at weekends |
| **Oltrarno** | Local life, quieter | Across the river |
| **Santa Maria Novella** | Trains, Tuscany trips | Plainer by the station |
| **San Marco** | Near the Accademia, calm | Fewer restaurants |

## Florence airport and Pisa: getting into the city

Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR, named after Amerigo Vespucci), is 5 km from the centre, and the T2 tram reaches Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes. Many people fly into Pisa (PSA) instead; from there it's about an hour to Florence by train or bus. From Rome and Milan, high-speed trains are the easiest option.

| How | From — to | Journey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **T2 tram** | Peretola — Santa Maria Novella station | ≈ 20 min |
| **Taxi** | Peretola — city centre | ≈ 15–20 min |
| **Train** | Pisa Airport — Florence | ≈ 60–80 min |
| **Bus** | Pisa Airport — Florence | ≈ 70 min |
| **High-speed train** | Rome — Florence | ≈ 1.5 h |
| **High-speed train** | Milan — Florence | ≈ 2 h |

## Getting around Florence

The historic centre is compact: the station to the Ponte Vecchio is about 20 minutes on foot, and nearly every place on the list is along the way. Cars are kept out of the centre by a limited traffic zone. Buses run up to Piazzale Michelangelo and Fiesole.

- **On foot** — the main way around; bring comfortable shoes.
- **Buses 12 and 13** — up to Piazzale Michelangelo.
- **Bus 7** — to Fiesole, about 30 minutes.
- **Tram** — T1 and T2 from the station, including to the airport.
- **Driving** — not allowed in the centre (ZTL); cameras issue fines.

## Florence weather by month

Florence is at its best in spring and early autumn, from April to June and September to October, with days of ≈ 20–28 °C. Summer in the Arno valley is hot, ≈ 32 °C or more, and some local restaurants close in August. Winter days are ≈ 11–13 °C with nights near freezing, but there are fewer tourists and shorter queues.

- **January in Florence**: day ≈ 11°C, night ≈ 2°C, rainy days: 7. Cool, few tourists.
- **February in Florence**: day ≈ 13°C, night ≈ 2°C, rainy days: 7. Fresh, short queues.
- **March in Florence**: day ≈ 16°C, night ≈ 5°C, rainy days: 7. Spring, gardens in bloom.
- **April in Florence** (best time): day ≈ 20°C, night ≈ 8°C, rainy days: 9. Warm, busy at Easter.
- **May in Florence** (best time): day ≈ 24°C, night ≈ 12°C, rainy days: 8. Lovely, the Iris Garden opens.
- **June in Florence**: day ≈ 29°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 6. Hot, long days.
- **July in Florence**: day ≈ 32°C, night ≈ 18°C, rainy days: 3. Very hot, go early or late.
- **August in Florence**: day ≈ 32°C, night ≈ 18°C, rainy days: 4. Very hot, some places close.
- **September in Florence** (best time): day ≈ 27°C, night ≈ 15°C, rainy days: 6. Warm, peak season.
- **October in Florence** (best time): day ≈ 21°C, night ≈ 11°C, rainy days: 8. Mild, Tuscan harvest.
- **November in Florence**: day ≈ 15°C, night ≈ 6°C, rainy days: 10. Rainy, quiet.
- **December in Florence**: day ≈ 11°C, night ≈ 3°C, rainy days: 8. Cool, Christmas market.

24 June is the feast of St John the Baptist, Florence's patron saint, with fireworks over the Arno in the evening.

## What to eat in Florence

Food in Florence is simple Tuscan cooking: a huge bistecca alla fiorentina, thick bread and bean soups, lampredotto sandwiches from street kiosks and Chianti from the nearby hills. The Mercato Centrale by San Lorenzo is the easiest place to try a bit of everything, and the gelato is among the best in Italy.

- **Bistecca alla fiorentina** — a thick T-bone, meant for two.
- **Ribollita** — hearty bread, bean and cabbage soup.
- **Panzanella** — a summer bread and tomato salad.
- **Lampredotto** — a hot sandwich from street kiosks.
- **Schiacciata** — Tuscan flatbread with fillings.
- **Cantucci and vin santo** — almond biscuits with dessert wine.
- **Gelato** — Florentines claim to have invented it.

## Florence sightseeing costs

Free in Florence: the squares, bridges and riverside, Piazzale Michelangelo, the Loggia dei Lanzi sculptures, the Palazzo Vecchio courtyard and many churches, such as San Miniato and Santo Spirito. You pay for the Uffizi, the Accademia, the cathedral pass with the dome climb, Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and most museums. State museums are often free on the first Sunday of the month, but the queues are huge.

- [Florence Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral) — Free; dome paid
- [Ponte Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/ponte-vecchio) — Free
- [Piazza della Signoria](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazza-della-signoria) — Free
- [Palazzo Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio) — Courtyard free, museum paid
- [Uffizi Gallery](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/uffizi) — Paid
- [Santa Croce](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santa-croce) — Paid
- [Palazzo Pitti](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-pitti) — Paid
- [Santa Maria Novella](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santa-maria-novella) — Paid
- [Florence Baptistery](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-baptistery) — Combined cathedral pass
- [Basilica of San Lorenzo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/san-lorenzo) — Paid
- [Vasari Corridor](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/vasari-corridor) — Paid, timed entry
- [Palazzo Medici Riccardi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-medici-riccardi) — Paid
- [Orsanmichele](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/orsanmichele) — Free
- [Laurentian Library](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/laurentian-library) — Paid
- [Santo Spirito](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/santo-spirito) — Free
- [Galleria dell'Accademia](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/galleria-dell-accademia) — Paid
- [Medici Chapels](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/medici-chapels) — Paid
- [San Miniato al Monte](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/san-miniato) — Free
- [Piazzale Michelangelo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazzale-michelangelo) — Free
- [Brancacci Chapel](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/brancacci-chapel) — Paid, timed entry
- [Giotto's Campanile](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/giottos-campanile) — Combined cathedral pass
- [Bargello](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/bargello) — Paid
- [Palazzo Strozzi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-strozzi) — Courtyard free, exhibitions paid
- [Museo Galileo](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/museo-galileo) — Paid
- [Boboli Gardens](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/boboli-gardens) — Paid
- [Fiesole](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/fiesole) — Town free, ruins paid

## Tips

- Book the Uffizi, the Accademia and the dome climb ahead for a set time.
- Watch sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo or San Miniato.
- Bring comfortable shoes: Florence is a walking city.

## Questions

### What should I see first in Florence?

The cathedral and Brunelleschi's dome, the Baptistery, David at the Accademia, the Uffizi, Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo.

### How many days do you need in Florence?

Two to three days for the city, plus half a day for Fiesole or a day trip to Pisa or Siena.

### How do I get from Florence airport to the city centre?

By T2 tram to Santa Maria Novella station in about 20 minutes, or by taxi in 15–20 minutes.

### How do I get from Pisa to Florence?

By train or bus from Pisa Airport, about an hour.

### What's the weather like in Florence in May?

About 24 °C by day and 12 °C at night, one of the best months to visit.

### Do I need to book Florence museums?

Yes, the Uffizi, the Accademia and the dome climb are best booked ahead for a set time.

### Where is the best area to stay in Florence?

Around the Duomo or Signoria for convenience, Santa Croce for restaurants, the Oltrarno for a quieter, local feel.

### How do you get around Florence?

On foot, as the centre is compact; buses 12, 13 and 7 go up into the hills.

### Is Florence good with kids?

Yes: children enjoy the Boboli Gardens, Museo Galileo, the bell tower climb and Piazzale Michelangelo.

### What food is Florence known for?

Bistecca alla fiorentina, ribollita, lampredotto, schiacciata, cantucci and gelato.

## Sources

- UNESCO World Heritage List, no. 174 — Historic Centre of Florence
- Wikipedia: Florence; Florence Cathedral; climate of Florence (1991–2020 normals)
- Florence Airport (Toscana Aeroporti) — official site; Gest tram
- Uffizi Galleries and cathedral — official sites

Facts checked: 11.11.2026

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