Top things to do in Florence, Italy

The Duomo to the Uffizi

Florence has been a dream trip for both of us for several different reasons. Beth is an art history lover, and I am a Renaissance fan, so this city was a perfect destination, especially since we were meeting friends there.

We spent 5 days in the fair city, each day just as busy as the next. As you have read in our other posts, we are not ones to plan to do too much in a day. We love to have days where we can wander the streets and find the off-the-beaten-path jewels of the city

But when you travel with friends, you often end up doing more and seeing more in the process.

We arrived at our Air B&B in Florence on a Saturday night in October after taking a car, a plane, a bus, a train, and walking about a mile. Our friends were there to greet us with wine and appetisers before dinner. It was the perfect greeting.

The next day, we hit the ground running, making the most of the time we had with them and the lovely city.

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The Uffizi Gallery

What better way to experience the birthplace of the Renaissance than with the most famous Renaissance art! We spent several hours on our first day taking in all of the art of the Uffizi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were excited to see masterpieces from famous artists such as Michelangelo, Sandro Botticelli, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Leonardo Da Vinci. You can easily spend the day getting an amazing educational experience.

We both decided that you need more than one visit to really get it all in. If you are in town for just a few days, you may want to only hit the highlights, most of which are on the second floor. Check out our blog post on the Uffizi for more information. Do make sure you see the Birth of Venus. It is stunning.

The Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), the Baptistry (of San Giovanni), and Giotto’s Bell Tower

As you enter the centre of Florence, you can’t help but notice the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as The Duomo or the Florence Cathedral. The Polychrome marble and Gothic facade is like nothing you have ever seen before. You can imagine our surprise and wonder as we happened to stand in front of it on our long walk to our Air B&B. If Florence is this enchanting everywhere, we are in for a treat.

Get your tickets early

As we have discovered in our travels, there is no such thing as “skip the line,” but there is standing in a shorter line. When you first arrive at the Duomo and see the long lines, it can be confusing as to which line to stand in. If you buy your tickets early, you can stand in the lines headed to the tower (if you bought that option) or the door entering the crypt. The “buy tickets now” line is considerably longer and much slower.

The best time to go is in the morning. It is not quite as hot, and the crowds are not as big (relatively). You can buy tickets to visit the crypt, sanctuary, baptistery, and the tower. We opted not to climb the 414 steps up Giotto’s Bell Tower, but our friends told us the view was incredible. Check out Get Your Guide tickets by clicking here.

Inside the Cathedral

When you first enter the church, you are ushered to the crypt underneath first. This area was once the cathedral of Santa Reparata, and you can explore the ruins, including incredible tile work and graves of monks from the 1300s.

Inside the sanctuary, the light is a bit dim. We were taken in by the vastness of the church. Brunelleschi’s dome is the main attraction, as it should be. You can climb the 463 steps to the top of the dome and see it close up, as well as a beautiful view of Florence. It takes about an hour to do this. We also opted not to do this, but that’s because we wanted to save our energy for other adventures.

The Baptistry right outside the Duomo is also a beautiful building full of amazing frescoes. It is a very quick visit inside since it is small. While we were there, they were renovating the ceiling, so we were unable to see the frescoes, but the building was amazing nonetheless.

Santa Croce Basilica

The Basilica of Santa Croce is one of the most beautiful places we visited in Florence. Constructed in the 13th century, this Italian Gothic church is adorned with a treasure trove of Renaissance and medieval art. It is also the burial site for Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and Machiavelli. The frescos and stained glass are incredible.

Take note that they may ask you to cover your knees and shoulders while in the church. We asked for robes at the entrance but were waved through (we were in shorts and t-shirts). Many people had brought a wrap with them to cover themselves.

We took the self-directed tour at the church. They give you a phone, and you can walk the basilica at your own pace. It took us a couple of hours to walk the entire church and take in all of the amazing sculptures and frescoes. A guided tour is an option, and you can schedule one by clicking here.

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria (also known as Loggia de Lanzi) is a prominent square in the heart of Florence and a wonderful place to take a stroll. It has been the centre of political and social life in the city for centuries. It is also the location of the Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall in Florence. It is set up like an open-air museum with a replica of Michelangelo’s David and several other sculptures, including the fountain of Neptune.

Eat the Delicious Food

Italy is known for its amazing food, and Florence does not disappoint. We ate at several great places. Make sure you book a table for many of these restaurants, especially in the summer.

Vini e Vecchi Sapori

Vini e Vecchi Sapori was a TikTok recommendation, and I am so glad we tried it. They are very popular, so you need to book a table in advance. The fried zucchini flowers were amazing! I had the delicious meatballs, but the side of peas was a big hit. Don’t know how they make them, but we would go back just for that. Plus, Madonna once ate here, so how could we not!

La Buchetta

We happened upon La Buchetta restaurant, looking for a great place for lunch, and they did not disappoint! This magnificent little place is entertaining as well as cozy. We almost went there twice.

I had the fantastic shrimp risotto, but the show was the cheesy pasta dish that Renee had. Evidently, they heat a small wheel of cheese and mix pasta in it at your table. Delicious!!

All’Antico Vinaio

On our way out of the Uffizi, All’antico had a line a mile long. Obviously, it is the place for tours and tourists to have a sandwich, but oh so worth it. We happened to visit it on a Monday, a little before the lunch rush. There are several options for sandwiches on the menu (more than 20), but I could not decide, so the guy said, “I’ll make one for you.” I gotta tell you, it was awesome! It had some sort of cheese spread, salami, and greens. I’d stand in line for this sandwich.

Antica Mescita San Niccolo

Every day, we would walk up and down the streets, and someone would be eating a giant steak or sharing it with someone, since it is so big! I wanted to have one and finally got it on the last day at Osteria Antica Mescita San Niccolo. They have a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor, and I don’t know why it is not a 5.

When we told the waiter we wanted one, he was apprehensive. He said, “Two things: it is very big, and it is served rare.”

Sign us up!! We had roasted potatoes and some greens, but the steak was the main course. Cooked perfectly, the waiter also cuts it up for you. If you love meat, you must have one!!

Find a Wine Window

A window…that serves wine, you say? YES!!

There are two original wine windows in Florence, and we visited one just to see what the hype was about. When they ask for your order, you can choose from a red, or white, or a limoncello cocktail. The wine was good, the cocktail was better, but the experience is why you go.

Accademia Gallery

So while relatively small compared to Florence’s other museums, the Accademia (Galleria dell’ dell’Accademia)is an absolute must-see attraction solely for being the purpose-built home designed to showcase Michelangelo’s transcendent statue of David. It represents the apex of Renaissance genius. The Accademia also showcases works from Giotto, Filippino Lippi, and other Renaissance artists.

Advanced tickets are a must at the Accademia Gallery (click here to get them). We were lucky that in October, they were allowing for some night showings.

When we went to book tickets, we almost didn’t get them. They sell out quickly, but in October and other chosen times, they will keep the museum open later. We didn’t get in until 8:15 pm. We were exhausted, so we didn’t see much more of the museum.

I also listened to Rick Steves’ tour before we arrived to get some background information. Guided tours are available if you are interested. We were just too tired for that.

Walk the City Center (Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Repubblica)

One of our favourite things to do when we travel is to wander around. The Piazza del Duomo is always teeming with life, with restaurants, cafes, shops, and the occasional opera singer busking for tips. Take a walk during the day, but also come back at night. It is a different vibe then.

Walk the Ponte Vecchio Bridge

We had a little time before our scheduled tour of the Uffizi, so we decided to walk down to the old bridge. It is a short walk from the Uffizi along the Arno River. We took a moment to do some window shopping and take some pictures of us on the bridge.

This historic bridge in Florence is known for its shops built along the sides. It is the perfect place to buy a beautiful piece of jewellery, art, or a souvenir to take home.

Piazza de Michelangleo

Piazza del Michelangelo (Piazzale Michelangelo) has the best views of the city of Florence. It is located across the river and up the hill, which could be quite a hike, but is well worth it. There are several souvenir shops set up on the hill, as well as a place to get snacks and water. The plaza also features replicas of Michelangelo’s sculptures, such as David. We got our best pics of the city here.

Wine Tours in Tuscany

This should be at the top of the list of our favourite things, but of course, it is outside of the city of Florence. We booked a day trip through Get Your Guide, which included a driver, a visit to the city of San Gimignano, two vineyards, and wine tastings. One was at a bigger vineyard, and the other was a very small but wonderful place to sit and have a glass of wine. We had a most wonderful day!

To find out all about our wine tour trip, check out our Blog post by clicking here.

Honorable Mentions

The Galileo Museum was a very interesting find in the city. It houses a vast collection of scientific instruments and some of the telescopes that he used. It also exhibits many other scientific instruments, including globes and maps, and thermometers. If you enjoy that sort of thing, I would put it on your list.

Next time, we want to go visit the Santa Maria Novella Basilica. We just didn’t have enough time this trip, but the frescos and art are supposed to be amazing.

We also skipped the Pitti Palace and Gardens this trip due to time. The Palazzo Pitti is home to several museums, including the Gallery of Modern Art, the silver museum, the porcelain museum, a costume gallery, and a carriage museum, just to name a few. The palace was home to the Medici family in 1550, great influencers of the Renaissance movement.

We did A LOT in Florence–more than we normally would do in such a short amount of time. Next time, we will probably spend more time trying to find those hidden gems on back streets and out of the tourist areas that we visited this time. It takes more than 5 days to really appreciate a city like Florence.

This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Florence.

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