18 top things to do in Florence, Italy

Florence is so packed with delicious art and architecture that it would take a lifetime to see it all. Of course there are some unmissable highlights, but it’s just as much fun to watch the world go by from a cafe terrace or escape the crowds in the Boboli gardens.

Here are 18 top things to do in Florence that I discovered on my weekend break, with a video too. I had just a weekend and not wanting to miss any of Florence’s attractions, I certainly packed in the sightseeing!

Here’s my video that covers the best things to do in Florence and the fun things that I enjoyed while I was there. You don’t have to see it all, just take your time and have a few stops for a slice of pizza or a gelato as you discover this historic city.

If you can’t see the video above the best things to see in Florence, you can see it on my blog here.

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1. The Duomo in Florence

Most visitors will want to visit the city’s star attraction, the Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It’s free to enter and is one of the top things to do in Florence. The west facade, covered with intricate pastel coloured marble looks old, but in fact dates only to the 19th century.

Most famous of all is the terracotta-tiled dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. He studied the Roman Pantheon to come up with the double layer egg shaped design, which you can still climb inside today.

Buy a ticket from the office opposite the Baptistry entrance to visit the Baptistry, Campanile, Museum and to climb the cathedral dome. An optional timed entry will enable you to skip the lines.

2. The Baptistery in Florence

Another must see in Florence is the octagonal Baptistery of St John that sits right in front of the cathedral. The exterior is clothed with patterns of white, pink and green marble. Inside, the small arched windows illuminate the magnificent gold mosaics on the roof depicting scenes of the Last Judgement.

The north doors of Ghiberti’s ‘Gates of Paradise’ are a magnet for the tourists, showing Old Testament scenes in intricate relief. The doors you see here are bronze copies of the originals in gold, which now reside in the Duomo museum.

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3. Climb the Bell Tower in Florence

Rather than climb the dome itself, I decided to try the 85 metre high Bell Tower or Campanile. It yielded views over the old city and also a bird’s eye view the dome itself. The lines were long, but with my timed ticket I had a much shorter wait to start my climb up the 415 steps to the top.

There were three different stages to take a break and admire the view before I arrived at the very top, looking down onto the Dome. Although the views were fantastic, be warned that it’s not for the fainthearted. It can be quite claustrophobic trying to pass the long stream of people on the narrow stone stairs.

4. Stroke the nose of Il Porcellino

At the covered loggia known as the New Market or straw market, you’ll find Il Porcellino, the famous bronze statue of a wild boar. This ‘little pig” is a copy of an earlier marble version and is one of the a popular places to visit in Florence.

Visitors consider the statue to be a lucky charm. Put a small coin in his mouth and watch it fall through the grill below, then stroke his nose, and your dreams are sure to come true!

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5. Mercato Centrale in Florence

The morning is the best time to admire the fresh produce in the Mercato Centrale, since this part of the market winds down after lunch. It was a pleasure to wander around and admire the traders at work. Butchers expertly cut up meat, fishmongers fillet fish, the fruit and veg arranged in attractive polished pile.

The deli counters sell everything, from cheeses to dried mushrooms to bottles of limoncello to take home as a souvenir. I also enjoyed a tasting at the stall piled with cantuccini. This is a twice baked almond biscuit that’s perfect to dunk in your morning coffee.

6. Try some Tripe in Florence – the city’s specialty

While we might feel a little squeamish at eating tripe, in Florence it’s considered a local specialty, so consider giving it a try. In the market you’ll see the white, spongy cow’s stomach on sale at the butcher’s counter.

It’s on the menu of many traditional Trattorias, a hearty home-cooked dish with a rich tomato or wine sauce. In the Mercato Centrale, the crowds were flocking around Da Nerbone. This stall on the ground floor of the market serves tripe as a lunchtime snack in a bread roll.

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7. Hotels in Florence – Stay at Hotel Balestri in Florence

My hotel was the four star Hotel Balestri booked through Citalia, which was perfectly located for a city break. It’s just a 5 minute stroll from the Ponte Vecchio and other Florence tourist attractions. My window overlooked the river and despite being so central it was a quiet location, set apart from the busy tourist areas.

The decor was clean and modern with a glamorous Art Deco feel, plenty of marble and mirrors. There was no restaurant, but a sitting area and bar where I tried the Negroni cocktail. This is a favourite aperitivo with the Florentines since it was invented here.

8. Ponte Vecchio in Florence – window shopping and river views

My walk took me across another of the main places to see in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio. This medieval bridge with an arcade of jewellery shops that seem to hang precariously over the river. The shops were originally populated by butchers and leather tanners.

But in 1593 the Medicis decided that the smell was unbearable and ordered the shops to be let to goldsmiths instead. The shop windows dripping with gold jewellery are still there today. It’s a popular place to hang out with a view of the Uffizi and the river.

9. Time for Gelato in Florence

One of the pleasures of Italy is the frequent stop for a gelato tasting, to cool and revive before moving on for more sightseeing in Florence. Look out for gelato artigianale, where the gelato is made on the premises from fresh ingredients. These are without the lurid artificial colourings you’ll find in some gelaterias.

My favourite was La Strega Nocciola (Via de’ Bardi, 51) close to the Ponte Vecchio on the south side of the river. It has a stylish, modern feel and delicious flavours.

I also enjoyed the gelato at Vivoli close to Santa Croce (Via dell’Isola delle Stinche, 7) and Neri (Via dei Neri, 9/11). These had a neighbourhood feel and were packed with families choosing their afternoon treat.

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10. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

In Piazza della Signoria is the Palazzo Vecchio, where Cosimo I, the Grand Duke of Tuscany lived with his wife Eleonora. Later she sensibly moved with their eleven children to the Pitti Palace across the river. There’s a statue of Cosimo on horseback in the square and the imposing statue of Neptune in the fountain also has his likeness.

At the door of the Palazzo stands a copy of the David by Michelangelo which stood here until 1873. At that time it was moved to the Galleria dell’Accademia and now lives under its glass dome. Even if you don’t have time to visit the Palazzo apartments be sure to pass into the first courtyard to see the beautiful frescoes on the roof and walls of the loggia.

11. Loggia dei Lanzi – the outdoor sculpture gallery

To one side of Palazzo Vecchio is the Loggia dei Lanzi which forms an outdoor sculpture gallery. It’s sheltered from the weather by the roof terrace of the Uffizi.

The sculptures display scenes of struggle and violence. The twisting Rape of the Sabines by Giambologna and the bronze Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini, triumphantly lift up the gory severed head of Medusa.

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12. A hot chocolate at Café Rivoire

On Piazza della Signoria I couldn’t resist stopping at Café Rivoire for a hot chocolate and cannoli filled with whipped cream and candied orange peel. You pay a premium for waiter service at a table.

If you’re short on time copy the locals and order directly from the bar, which is much cheaper. It’s a great place to watch the crowds swirling through the Piazza della Signoria which is one of the busiest spots in Florence.

13. The Uffizi in Florence – art of the Renaissance

The Uffizi Gallery is the main art gallery of Florence with all the masterpieces of the Renaissance. It’s a good idea to book a tour, or to reserve a timed ticket online.

You could easily spend a whole day in the gallery, but a two hour tour will cover the most famous highlights. Look out for Botticelli’s Venus and Primavera and Filippo Lippi’s enchanting Madonna with two angels (a portrait of the nun who became his lover and their children).

14.Galleria dell’Accademia – Michelangelo’s David

Another of the top things to see in Florence is Galleria dell’Accademia. Most people come to visit Michelangelo’s sculpture of the shepherd boy David who slew the giant Goliath. The figure was carved from a block of marble that had been rejected by other sculptors. It was originally intended to sit on top of the cathedral.

Once complete it proved too heavy so was placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio. Later it was moved to l’Academia under a beautifully lit dome. After admiring the David, take a look at the ‘Prisoners.’ This series of unfinished sculptures by Michelangelo seem to be struggling to be released from their blocks of marble.

15. The Pitti Palace Costume Museum

Walk across the river at the Ponte Vecchio and you’ll stroll through the Oltrarno district to the Pitti Palace. This residence that was purchased by Eleonora de’Medici, wife of Cosimo I who decided to move her large family away from the bustle of the city.

I particularly enjoyed the Costume Museum, displaying the couture collections of notable Italian women. There’s a startling exhibit of the funeral clothes removed from the tombs of Eleonora de’Medici, her husband Cosima I and their son Don Garzia.

16. The Boboli Gardens in Florence

After visiting the Pitti Palace I wandered around the Boboli Gardens. I walked up through the parterres and formal gardens to the small lake with fountain at the top of the hill.

The garden was commissioned by Cosimo I and is one of the Florentine’s favourite places to come and relax. On my way out I came across a spot where the view of the Duomo was framed by olive trees, the roof tiles of Florence glowing in the evening sun.

17. Dinner upstairs in the Mercato Centrale

The Mercato di San Lorenzo or Mercato Centrale was one of my favourite places to eat in Florence. Upstairs the open, industrial style space had different food stands around the walls. Each serve a different speciality, with bar staff who come around to take your drinks order.

I admired the oozing balls of mozzarella, deliberated over the wood-fired pizza ovens, the matured beef and the fresh fish laid out on ice. Finally I made my choice at the stall selling truffles for a plate of their antipasti covered with a generous layer of truffle shavings – heaven!

18. Designer shopping at Via de Tornabuoni

Most of the top designer stores are to be found on Via de Tornabuoni where I spotted Prada, Pucci, Gucci and Tiffany, to name but a few. At the end of the street, by Ponte Santa Trinita I popped into the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, a must for shoe collectors and fashion lovers.

Salvatore Ferragamo learned his trade in Italy, but emigrated to California in the 1920s where he made his name selling shoes to film stars and celebrities, before returning to Florence.

Book your weekend in Florence

My weekend in Florence was arranged through Citalia who are a leading specialist in Italian holidays, winning the title of ‘Best Tour Operator to the Italian Peninsula’ for seven years in a row. They have more than 85 years experience in putting together flexible itineraries to suit your needs, using Italy’s finest hand picked hotels.

The Citalia team are expert and knowledgeable in all things Italian and even have local concierges in each destination for personal recommendations, advice and help with day trips, car hire, or restaurant bookings. For more information visit the Citalia Florence page

Read next

What to eat in Florence – 10 delicious things to try – all the delicious Italian food, from pizza to gelato, truffles to cannoli as well as where to eat in Florence.

More articles about Florence

The best things to do in Florence for first time visitors

2 days in Florence – our perfect weekend itinerary

The best day trips from Florence

Plan your trip to Florence

You’ll find more information to plan your trip to Florence on the Florence Tourism website and the Italy Tourism website

I can recommend Hotel Balestri where I stayed on my visit to Florence, a four star hotel that’s perfectly located for a city break, just a 5 minute stroll from the Ponte Vecchio. If this hotel’s not right for you check out other hotels in Florence.

The nearest airport is Florence Airport (FLR) which is 4 km from the city centre and the transfer takes around 20 minutes by bus or 15 minutes by taxi. Florence is well connected by rail to other cities in Italy, so you may also find alternative flights to neighbouring cities such as Rome or Pisa.

Once you arrive in Florence, most of the historic centre is pedestrianised, and it’s easy to walk to most of the main sites, although comfortable shoes are advised due to the cobbled stone surfaces.

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Thanks to Citalia who hosted* Heather’s stay in Florence.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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