Looking for a European city break with incredible food, art, history and shopping?! Look no further than the stunning Italian city of Florence.
To prove how special it is, here’s our guide to the best things every visitor should see and do while they’re there:
1. Florence Cathedral
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore – or Florence Cathedral – is one of the city’s most beautiful sights – and there’s plenty of contenders to choose from! It was constructed and decorated over six centuries, and the last works only took place in 1887. Its most famous feature is the 15th-century Brunelleschi terracotta dome which dominates the Florence skyline. Also look out for the Paolo Uccello fresco of British mercenary army office Sir John Hawkwood, the belltower, and the baptistery.
Address: Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening times: Daily, 10am – 5pm
Entry: General entry to Florence Cathedral is free, but you’ll need to buy a €15 (Dh68) combined ticket for entry to the Cupola, belltower, baptistery and the Grande Museo del Duomo
2. Relax in Boboli Gardens
This is the largest garden in the city and is in the grounds of the Palazzo Pitti, but there’s enough to see to earn it a spot on the list of the best things to do in Florence in its own right. It covers 11 acres and has fountains, rose gardens, secret mazes, an amphitheater, and statues; plenty for the whole family to enjoy. It’s especially beautiful in summer when the trees and flowers are in full bloom.
Address: Piazza Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening times: Daily from 8.15am. Closing time depends on the season
Entry: November 1 – February 28/29 €6 (Dh27) for adults and €3 (Dh14) for concessions. March 1 – October 31 €10 (Dh45) for adults and €5 (Dh23) for concessions
Book a cheap flight to Florence3. Ponte Vecchio
The oldest bridge in the city is one of the most popular things to do in Florence for tourists and as such, gets very busy in peak season. Even so, it’s a fantastic place to visit and you don’t need to hang around any longer than you feel comfortable. There’s a museum in a “hidden” corridor above the bridge which was once the route across the Arno River for the Medici family. The bridge itself has been lined with shops ever since the 1300s, and there’s still plenty – mostly jewelry and gems – to buy there today.
Address: Ponte Vecchio, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening times: Daily. The shops usually open 9am – 1pm, and 3:30pm – 7:30pm, and are closed on Sundays
4. Tour the Leather School
If you have any interest in fashion and are looking for more unusual things to do in Florence, add Santa Croce’s leather school and shop to your vacation itinerary. The school was reportedly opened in 1950 by a family who wanted to help Florence’s orphans learn a trade. The school is still active today but there’s also a wonderful historical collection of things to see. It specializes in bags, jackets, briefcases and smaller accessories such as coin wallets and belts. According to those who’ve bought there, the quality of the leather goods is second to none. There are two tours each day Monday through Friday which will teach you the process of sourcing the best leather and the dyeing process, and everything in between.
Address: Via S. Giuseppe, 5R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Entry: €14 (Dh63) per person for groups of more than seven
5. Uffizi Gallery
This art gallery is Florence’s most celebrated and its most popular. This is not a surprise given its incredible collection on Renaissance masterpieces including The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, Michelangelo’s Tondo Doni and Bacchus by Caravaggio. The popularity of the gallery means you’ll need to book in advance if you want any chance of getting in. You can choose your day and time on the online booking system here.
Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening times: Tuesday through Sunday, 8.15am – 6.50pm
Entry: Tickets cost from €12 (Dh54) for adults depending on the season
6. Find the best bistecca fiorentina
il Latini restaurant in Florence is one of the most popular because of one particular type of food – its bistecca Fiorentina, a huge and delicious steak dish. The restaurant gets so busy you’ll need to be prepared to queue and elbow your way to a table. The atmosphere and food makes it worth the effort though.
Address: Via dei Palchetti, 6R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening times: Tuesday through Friday 7pm – 10.30pm, and Saturday and Sunday 12.30pm – 2pm and 7pm – 10.30pm
7. Palazzo Pitti
This huge Renaissance palace on the south of the River Arno was originally the home of Italian banker Luca Pitti when it was built in 1458, and later became the home of the powerful Medici family. It’s now a major cultural complex with several smaller museums and galleries in its grounds. If you’re all painting-ed out after the Uffizi Gallery, head to the Silver Museum, the Costume Gallery or the Porcelain Museum instead. They’re all housed in stunning buildings on the grounds of the main palace so walking from one to the other through the landscaped gardens is a wonderful experience in itself.
Address: Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening times: Tuesday through Sunday 8.15am – 6.50pm. Closed Mondays
Entry: Peak season (March 1 through October 31) adults €16 (Dh72), concessions €8 (Dh36). Off-peak season (November 1 through February 28/29) adults €10 (Dh45), concessions €5 (Dh23)
8. See the anatomical models at La Specola
The Museum of Zoology and Natural History (known as La Specola) is based at Florence University and has one of the most amazing collections of zoological and botanical specimens, including some rather macabre wax anatomical models from the late 1700s. They were used as teaching instruments for medical students at the university and are by far the biggest attraction – but be warned, small children might not enjoy the rather gruesome models so consider skipping the final rooms if you’re concerned.
Address: Via Romana, 17, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Opening times: June 1 through September 30, Tuesday – Sunday 10.30am – 5.30pm. October 1 through May 31, Tuesday – Sunday 9.30am – 4.30pm. Closed Mondays
Entry: Adult tickets cost €6 (Dh27), child tickets cost €3 (Dh14). Access to the anatomical model gallery is only via guided tour for an extra €3 (Dh14)
9. Take a Florence walking tour
Florence is a great city to do a walking tour because so many of the best things to do there are within comfortable walking distance of each other. You can choose either a self-guided tour or book a group organized tour with a company. There’s plenty to choose from including night tours, art tours, and food tours. They’re a great idea if you don’t have a whole lot of time but want to hit all the main sights like the Duomo, baptistery and the Medici family haunts.
10. Hit the shops
Be it leather goods, designer clothes or food, Florence is a fabulous place to go shopping. If you’re into designer labels head to Via de’ Tornabuoni which has a large Salvatore Ferragamo store and museum (this is where the designer owned his first property), as well as Gucci, Versace, Hermes and Tiffany & Co. If your spending money won’t stretch to these brands, take a walk down Via dei Calzaiuoli instead which has a better combination of mid-to-high end stores, as well as a Disney store to keep the children entertained for a while! The San Lorenzo Market near the Piazza del Duomo is open every day from Tuesday through Saturday and is the best place to go for bargains. You’ll find all the usual Italian goods such as leather jackets, wallets, crockery and souvenirs, all for a snip of what you’d pay in most shops. Our advice is shop around and haggle.
*Content first published June 2018. Prices correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change and/or availability.
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