tourist map of florence

Interactive Map of Florence

Florence may not be the capital of Italy but it’s certainly a well-deserving contender. The city is filled to the brim with natural beauty, fascinating history, and unique architecture. Unlike a regular street map of Florence Italy, this interactive and informative map of Florence will ensure you are well-prepared for your visit. We highlight not only the best sites in Florence but also provide interactive, explorable maps of the best hotels, restaurants, and bars. Use our comprehensive map of Florence to help you find your bearings in one of Italy’s most beautiful cities!

Table of Contents

Map of Florence Italy Attractions:

As the standout city of Tuscany, Florence has so much to offer in summer, winter , spring, or Fall. From spectacular buildings to Florence pizza-making classes , there is an abundance of things to see and do . It can be difficult to plan your days around the many attractions located all over the city. For this reason, we recommend a guided tour of Florence . All of our tours include an expert guide who will escort you around the city and teach you fascinating insights about the sights. There’s even a historical food tour that will take you on a tasting journey through traditional Tuscan cuisine. If you’d still rather do it yourself, use this tourist map of Florence which is essentially a map of the Florence Italy attractions. Using this will help you visualize your itinerary and serve as a walking map of Florence when you arrive. For an extra magical experience, make sure to schedule a nighttime stroll through the city!

Visit Florence's attractions

Map of Florence’s Top-Rated Restaurants:

No Italian visit would be complete without a food sampling or two! Make sure to prepare ahead of time and note where the city’s top-rated restaurants are located. It might also be worthwhile browsing through our handy Florence restaurant guide . Book reservations in advance to avoid disappointment!

Map of Hotels in Florence Italy (Top-Rated, 3-5 Stars)

You’ve booked the flights to Florence but now you’re left with the overwhelming challenge of booking accommodation. A good approach to this is selecting a hotel based on its proximity to certain spots. This map of hotels in Florence Italy will help you to visualize your options and make the right choice for you. The various hotels have been placed on a map of the Florence neighborhoods, so you can choose your accommodation accordingly. If you know which Florence neighborhood you want to be based in but having trouble selecting a suitable accommodation, check out our guide on where to stay in Florence based on the area. If it’s all the same to you, check out our list of recommended hotels in Florence !

See all Florence Hotels

Map of Top-Rated Bars in Florence

There’s no better way to end a day of touring Florence’s hotspots than with a refreshing Italian aperitivo in a local bar. Florence’s Center has many great bars to visit, and we recommend checking out as many as you can. If time constraints are an issue, check out below which top-rated bar is near you! Alternatively, we’ve listed the best bars in Florence for you to choose from.

We’re Just Getting Started!

Looking through this map of Florence Italy should be a key stage of your trip-planning process. If you’re still looking for more information on Florence and want to understand what makes it such an incredible city, check out our in-depth Florence travel guide . If you’re still unsure how much time to spend in Florence , allow us to help you make that decision. Exploring Florence is just the beginning! Once you’ve ticked off all of Florence’s best attractions, there’s so much more to see beyond its borders. From trips to the Tuscan countryside to Cinque Terre’s quaint villages, our guided tours from Florence will transport you to the best spots in the region!

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Home / Florence Tours / Attractions Map

Florence Tourist Attractions Maps | City Tours Map

Florence offers a wide range of attractions for different travelers. It is for this reason why the city remains busy all year long. For first time visitors, Florence can be a bit difficult to navigate. So if you're coming for the first time, you better grab a copy of the Florence tour map so you can familiarize the city and easily find your way.

In order to explore Florence with ease, Tripindicator has provided Florence interactive map, which everyone can access for free and use as their guide in exploring Florence's attractions . Whether you are visiting the Florence Cathedral, Uffizi Gallery , Ponte Vecchio or Palazzo Vecchio , the Florence tourist map pdf will come in handy.

Those who have been to Florence would agree that the city is best explored on foot. When exploring the city on foot, you need to have a copy of the Florence tourist map walking. Although the historic center is compact and can be easily explored, the streets can get confusing for first time visitors. Thus, having a copy of the Florence tourist map printable is indeed very useful. Tripindicator has created these Florence sightseeing maps in order to help tourists to easily find their way in the city's busy streets.

The printable map of Florence includes information on the various attractions, monuments, museums, and popular landmarks of Florence. Thus, it's ideal for tourists who prefer to navigate the city on their own instead of hiring a guide. The map of Florence is very easy to use and comes with detailed instructions on how to get from one place to another.

Like most of the major cities in Europe, there's a hop on hop off bus in Florence that will take you to the city's most famous attractions in a more convenient way. To find out where the bus will take you, check out the Florence hop on hop off bus map.

Sure, there are lots of tour agencies that you can book for your trip to Florence, but if you want to get a taste of the local city life, the best way is to explore on your own. When it comes to this the printable tourist map Florence will be a great help.

• Interactive Florence Attractions Map
• Top Rated Florence Attractions

City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour

Florence metro map, florence transport map, florence tourist map, florence walking tour map.

Top Florence Attractions Skip-the-line Tickets & Tours

Skip the Line: Galileo Museum Ticket

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Skip the Line: Uffizi Gallery Visit with Audio-Guided Tour

Accademia and Uffizi skip-the-line Ticket & Audio-guided Tour

Accademia Gallery Entrance Ticket with Priority Access

Uffizi Gallery Entrance Ticket with Priority Access

Leonardo Interactive Museum® Entrance Ticket

Top Incredible Travel Guides of Florence

comprehensive tourist maps for busy professionals

Ultimate tourist map of florence.

This Tourist Map of Florence includes 30+ of the top Florence attractions, recommended restaurants, authentic gelato shops and more! We’ve mapped the best museums, the most beautiful squares, historic churches and scenic lookouts. Save this Florence sightseeing map, download it for offline use, and easily navigate from one attraction to the next.

Tourist Map of Florence

Table of Contents

Michelangelo Square

Florence cathedral, brunelleschi’s dome, giotto’s bell tower, the baptistery of st. john, uffizi gallery, gallery of the academy, pitti palace & boboli gardens, gucci garden, basilica of the holy cross, republic square, st. minias on the mountain, santa maria novella, holy trinity bridge, bargello palace national museum, san lorenzo market, basilica of san lorenzo, plaza of the rulers, piglet fountain, galileo museum, zoological & anatomical museum, museum of semi-precious stones, bardini gardens, more resources.

A little background on this map … The top sites in Florence are marked with blue pins. Green pins with knife and fork icons show you some of my favorite restaurants . Pink ice cream cones point out some natural gelato shops . Purple pins with a cocktail glass icons will help you find the coolest rooftop bars. When you click on a pin, you’ll find out more information about it.

How to Use This Map: If you click the tab at the top left corner, you’ll be able to select specific layers. Click the checkmark to select or hide specific categories.

Save This Map: Click the brackets in the top right corner to expand the map in full view. It will open in a new tab. Under the map title, right of the map description, there is a star. Click this star and the map will be saved to your Google account  in Google Maps. You can access it later from your computer or device. On desktop, go to Google Maps and click ‘Your Places,’ and ‘Maps.’ On app view, select ‘Saved, scroll down and click ‘Maps.’

Florence Attractions

Here’s a preview of what you’ll find in our Florence Tourist Map. Take a look at photos & prioritize your top picks.

This square is located on a hill just south of the Arno River. It’s of the most impressive Florence tourist attractions! From Michelangelo Square, you’ll see dramatic views of Florence and Tuscany’s rolling hills as the backdrop.

The square is named for Michelangelo Buonarotti. You can find bronze replicas of some of Michelangelo’s famous sculptures here.

Make sure to check out the Rose Garden nearby. It’s free to visit and heavenly during warmer months. Not only do they have over 400 varieties of roses, but they also have over a thousand total plants! It’s especially ideal for a romantic sunset stroll.

Duomo Square

Duomo Square is one of Tuscany’s most iconic landmarks and one of the most popular of Florence tourist spots. It is one of the most visited places in the world!

Duomo Square is where you’ll find the beautiful Florence Cathedral, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistry of St. John.

The Florence Cathedral is breathtaking. It is the 4th largest church in the world. The gothic façade is made from intricately carved marble pillars that glimmer in the sun. Visit the inside of the cathedral and you’ll find priceless frescoes. You’ll also find beautifully preserved stained glass windows and wood carvings.

The church and dome structure took over 200 years to complete! Work started in the late 13th Century on the cathedral and then slowed to a halt. At the time, the envisioned dome was so large that architects couldn’t figure out how to build it! The project laid unfinished for years. It wasn’t until the 15th Century that the dome was finally completed! Filippo Brunelleschi was the one who engineered a solution and made it possible to build the largest dome of its time.

Vising the Duomo is an unforgettable experience. It should be on any Florence bucket list! You’ll want to reserve your spot on a tour early, as these do sell out. Also, make sure to visit the Duomo’s excellent Museum —The Opera del Duomo holds over 750 works of art that have originated from the Duomo and Baptistery over the years.

Climb Giotto’s Bell Tower for distinct panoramic views of Florence. It’s a cramped and narrow trek up, but completely worth it!

Like the Florence Cathedral, the Bell Tower is distinctly Gothic. It’s also called Giotto’s Campanile.

The Baptistery dedicated to St. John is one of the most important monuments in Florence. Before it was a baptistery, it was a minor basilica. Historians believe that the basilica was built on top of the ruins of an ancient Roman temple. That makes the baptistery the oldest religious site in Florence!

The outside of the Baptistery of St. John is adorned in white and green marble. It is a stunning example of Florentine Romanesque style architecture. When inside, you’ll notice the baptistery’s unique octagonal layout. Be sure to check out the impressive bronze doors and their sculptures. The original doors are on display in the Duomo museum.

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most important museums in all of Italy and one of the most visited museums in the world! Their collections of Italian Renaissance works is unmatched.

The Uffizi Gallery is also one of the world’s oldest museums. It was open to visitors even in the 16th Century! The collections were primarily founded on donations by the Medici family. Today, at the Uffizi Gallery you can visit masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello (just to name a few).

The Gallery of the Academy of Florence, or Galleria dell’Accademia, should be only any Florence itinerary. This museum is home to Michelangelo’s sculpture David. David is a Renaissance masterpiece —a marble structure of the masculine form.

He was originally built to sit on the roof line of the Florence Cathedral. Instead, he was placed in the famous Piazza della Signoria (roughly translated as “Plaza of the rulers”). In the Piazza della Signoria today, you can find a replica of Michelangelo’s David.

You can find more of Michelangelo’s works in the Gallery of the Academy. Also, large collections of Florentine paintings. Due to the popularity of these museums, it may be worthwhile to book a skip-the-line tour for your visit. Buy your tickets, and book your tours in advance!

The Palzzo Pitti , or Pitti Palace, is best known for being owned and lived in by the Medici family. Although, many other famous rulers (such as Napoleon) did use it. It’s currently the largest museum complex in Florence.

You can purchase a single ticket that provides access to all the Pitti Palace museums and the Boboli Gardens.

The Boboli gardens are an open air museum. Surrounded by centuries old trees, you’ll find a collection of sculptures that date back to the 16th Century. Make sure to check out the views from Kaffeehaus!

For fashion lovers will delight at the Museo Gucci , or Gucci Garden . This Italian Gucci boutique has a small but charming museum dedicated to the iconic Italian label.

Basilica of the Holy Cross is a unique Franciscan style church. Also, the largest Franciscan church in the world! It is the final resting place for my greats such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiaveli.

The lavish neo-Gothic marble facade that makes this church memorable was added in the 19th Century. The beautiful frescoes inside were painted by Giotto. Donatello carved out the limestone that decorate the southern wall.

Inside the museum, there is also a small museum and a monument dedicated to Florence Nightingale. For $8 euros you can get access to the church and museum. This is one of the best places to see in Florence!

Republic Square is one of the top Florence attractions you can visit for free. Also, you don’t need to spend much time here. My favorite restaurant in this square is Irene Firenze. A few minutes away is GROM for gelato!

This plaza was center of the city during ancient Roman times. You’ll notice a column with a statue on top. These are remnants from Medieval times when this square was a bustling hub for commerce. While the square has changed much in recent years, it still retains some of its Medieval features.

The Ponte Vecchio , or Old Bridge, was the first bridge to span the Arno River. It was the only bridge that crossed the Arno until 1218. Since then, it’s been rebuilt, but has retained its medieval stones and segmental arches. It’s now one of the top places to visit in Florence.

Fun Story: the Medici family used secret passages above the shops to traverse the bridge and listen to townspeople gossip.

This bridge connected the Uffizi to the Medici home (Pitti Palace). When the Medici took over this passageway, they wanted it to reflect their status and wealth. So, they drove out the butchers, fishmongers and tanners. They replaced them with goldsmiths and jewelers! As you walk along the Old Bridge today, notice the jewelry shops.

The San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain) is one of the top Florence tourist spots. It’s another basilica style church that’s thought to be one of the prettiest in Tuscany. It’s an excellent example of the Romanesque style.

St. Minias is literally located “on the mountain,” or at least on the highest point of the city. You can gain access to this church’s lovely frescoes for free.

Sick of churches yet? The Santa Maria Novella is another must-see. This is another Romanesque style church of the Dominican denomination. It holds more masterful frescoes, but is especially famous for its collection of funerary monuments and other art treasures.

You can gain entry for 7.50 euros. Inside, you’ll notice the familiar arches. This is another one of Brunelleschi’s works. Make sure to check out Masaccio’s Trinità and Giotto’s Crucifix.

The Ponte Santa Trinita , or Holy Trinity bridge, is characteristic of the renaissance style. It holds the title of being the oldest elliptic arch bridge in the whole world.

Just across the Arno, there are a few great rooftop bars. I love Golden View Open Bar! It’s an ultra posh restaurant with excellent sunset views of the Old Bridge. Another favorite is Panorama Restaurant at the Hotel La Scaletta. Call ahead for reservation!

Palazzo Vecchio or ‘old palace’ is one of the top places to visit in Florence. It was originally built as a fortress in the 13th Century, and it was built on top of the ruins of a Roman theater. You can visit the underground ruins of this Roman theater!

This palace was built to house the civil government. It was designed an expression of wealth and power. Make sure to visit the Hall of Five Hundred. Its paneled ceilings and gold detailing will take your breath away!

Fun Fact: This palace has a secret labyrinth of passage ways and escape routes.

Bargello Palace was used as a fortress, living quarters for officials and eventually a prison. Currently, it’s home to an impressive museum that displays many masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture. Including works by Donatello, Michelangelo and Dante.

Aside from the art, the building itself is enchanting. Take the time to appreciate the grand courtyard and the armory relics decorating its walls.

There’s an amazing gelato place just few minutes walk from the Bargello Museum. It’s called Vivoli.

Visit the San Lorenzo Market is the perfect refuge from museums and churches. Turn your brain off and take a relaxing stroll.

First, visit the indoor Central Market and grab farm fresh meats and artisanal cheeses. Purchase olive oils, truffle butter & balsamic vinegar to bring home. You have to eat here! Next, head back outside and shop for leather. The Italian leather sold here is of the finest quality. Grab that perfect leather jacket or icon tote for an unbelievable price. This is the perfect place to grab souvenirs for the family!

The rustic looking facade of the San Lorenzo Church may not appear to be as impressive… but this was the original Florence Cathedral! Its Duomo was the original Duomo! It held this title for over 300 years before it was upstaged by today’s Duomo.

The San Lorenzo church was also the parish church of the Medici family. The head of the ruling Medicis, Cosimo di Medici, is entombed here. Also, his friend the infamous artist Donatello. It’s also notably mentioned in Dan Brown’s Inferno .

The outside of the San Lorenzo Basilica isn’t the only unique aspect of this church. Notice the distinct style of the church’s interior. Visit the enchanting green space of San Lorenzo’s cloister. If you can, make sure to check out the incredible library! The library holds the Medici family’s collection of thousands of precious manuscripts.

The Piazza della Signoria has always been one of the top places for Florence sightseeing… because there’s so much to see here! This square is basically a free outdoor museum. During medieval times, it was the focal point of the Florentine Republic. One prominent feature of this square is the Vecchio Palace.

Make sure to visit all the remarkable sculptures. This was the original resting place for Michelangelo’s David (although, now a replica sits here). It’s a great place to see David if you don’t have time to visit the Uffizi Gallery.

Also, visit the Loggia dei Lanzi — an open-air sculpture museum. Notice the Rape of the Sabines by Giambologna. Find the Fountain of Neptune here too!

The new market has been used by traders since the 16th Century. It was the place to go for luxury goods like gold and silk. It was also the site of public humiliations and punishments.

Today, the New Market is a semi-enclosed leather market. Underneath a beautiful loggia, it’s a great place to shop even in rainy weather.

My favorite Florence sightseeing spot in the New Market is Piglet Fountain. Make sure to rub the snout of this boar… Legend has it, that if you do, you’ll return to Florence! Although, there’s a way to go about it. First, you have to place a coin in the boar’s mouth. Wait for the coin to fall into the water, and then you can rub its snout.

Galileo is considered “the father of modern science.” The Galileo Museum in Florence has one of the world’s coolest collections of historic scientific instruments. Including some telescopes used by Galileo himself. Exhibits showcase the historical pursuit of astronomy, timekeeping, scientific measurement and chemistry.

It’s a pretty small museum that you can easily visit in 1-2 hours. It costs 9 euros to enter. It’s located a few steps away from the Uffizi Gallery.

This museum is best known for its anatomical wax collection. Their whole collection includes over a million animals, but nearly 5,000 are on display. Kind of creepy… Although, considering some of these animals have long been extinct, it’s pretty cool! It’s one of the few places in the world you can see what a Tasmanian tiger looked like.

Another one of the lesser known Florentine attractions, but you shouldn’t miss this place! The Museum sits on the site of a historic workshop. In the 16th Century the Medici established this place as a laboratory for the development of semi-precious mosaics.

Throughout history, the laboratory expanded its interests and restored everything from tapestries to bronze pieces, terracotta and archaeological finds. It became one of the premier restoration workshops in the world! You can find many of these restored items in the museum. Also, learn about the restoration process.

The Bardini Gardens are one of the newer tourist attractions in Florence. They’ve only opened to the public in recent years.

In the garden, you’ll find roses, azaleas and endless hydrangea. There are many sculptures, fountains and panoramic views of Florence here. Make sure to visit the breathtaking Wisteria Tunnel and the great Baroque staircase.

Visiting other Italian Cities?

• Tourist Map of Venice 
• Tourist Map of Rome

Thinking about booking a tour, but not sure if you want to spend the money? Italy’s Best Guided Tours   

If you think I missed something on this map, please comment below! I’d be happy to add your favorite attractions, restaurants, gelato spots and rooftops!

This post may contain compensated links. Please read our disclaimer for more info.

Dining in Italy: How to Find the Best Restaurants

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I just wanted to send a huge thanks for the Google map that you put together. It was so helpful, and it’s actually changed the way I will plan my holidays from now on. I look forward to reading more of your posts.

Really glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your support 🙂

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• Maps of Italy >
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• Florence, Italy Map & Guide

Florence, Italy Map & Guide

Visit firenze, everyone's favorite renaissance city in tuscany.

Why go to Florence, or Firenze as the Italians say? Well, certainly you know that Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, was one of Italy's first UNESCO world heritage sites and stands as one of the top tourist destinations in Tuscany . The Arno river flows through it--and sometimes over and under it.

Florence is 172 miles north of Rome and 185 miles south of Milan. Despite traffic jams on the perifery, Florence isn't a huge city. It has a population of around 400,000 people, with around 200,000 more in suburban areas.

In the summer, Florence's centro storico , the historic center, is hot, humid and clogged with tourists. The mass of tourists shouldn't be a surprise to you. After all, nearly everyone wants to see its palaces and museums. Besides, summer offers a chance for the tourist to extend their days into the evenings. According to the folks planning these things, April 30 marks the "First Night of Summer", which kicks off "Estate Fiorentina" (Florentine Summer) which features six months of concerts, shows and events of various kinds taking place in venues across the central city.

Yes, along with tourists come the dollars that encourage historical preservation and hedonistic celebration, so don't let them tell you to skip Florence if you haven't explored it.

Just don't think you can drive around the center of Florence at will. The train will do nicely, because the ZTL, the limited traffic zone that marks the heart of Florence, is one of the most diabolical tourist traps of them all. Really, they have this one covered. Don't plan on driving in central Florence. Parking lots ring the ZTL for your convenience, and here's a page that maps the best lots and explains it all to you: Parking in Florence: Where to park?

When to Go to Florence

We have already discussed summer. Go if it appeals to you, but you might want to make sure your hotel or apartment includes air conditioning--or at least decent ventilation. I prefer spring and fall climate conditions, specifically April and May or September and October. November is a fine time to buy that leather coat and wrap yourself in one of the iconic Fiorentine jackets while touring in the chill of Autumn. Of course we have historic climate information and the latest, up to date weather in Florence .

Florence Airport

The Aeroporto di Firenze, commonly referred to as Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci or simply Peretola, is located 4 km from the center of Florence. A taxi can make the trip in 15 minutes, and the Sita/Ataf "Fly by Bus" between the airport and Firenze SMN (Santa Maria Novella) railway station takes 20 minutes. The Florence bus station is adjacent to Santa Maria Novella.

Find a Good Price on a Flight

If you are coming into Florence from an international destination, you are probably using Galileo Galilei airport, closer to Pisa.

To order a trip to a hotel with a private driver in advence of your trip, we recommend our partner Welcome Pickups.

Welcome Pickups, Florence, Italy

Florence Train Stations

Florence's main train station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella , is located in the historical center of Florence. Most tourist attractions are within walking distance. It's a busy station with many services; nearly 60 million people a year pass through it.

Most of the important city buses (orange) stop across the road from the station on Via Valfonda.

You might decide to use Florence as a base and explore other Tuscan cities via train. It's the convenient way to do it, since you don't have to look for parking for a car every time you leave the city. Arezzo , for example, is 40 minutes away by train, and the cost of a ticket is around $13. Venice is a little over two hours away, if that's your next destination, and costs about $54 per person.

Florence has two other outlying stations, Firenze Campo di Marte , which handles regional traffic to the south, and Firenze Rifredi , which handles regional traffic to Prato, Bologna, Pisa, Livorno, Pistoia, Lucca, Viareggio, Carrara, La Spezia, Siena, Campiglia Marittima and Grosseto.

Finding a Taxi in Florence

As is usual in Italian cities, one generally gets a taxi at a taxi stand or by calling. Taxis don't roam the narrow streets for fares. You can find the cost of a taxi using the widget below. 

There are no Uber services in Florence. The Tour Guy explains:

In the past, Uber was tested in Florence Italy but in the end, it didn’t make much sense. The city is majority pedestrian with a strong train system getting travelers in and out. You can walk from Accademia on one side of the city to the Pitti Palace on the opposite side in 20 minutes. -- Why Is Uber Not in Florence, Italy ?

Calling (or messaging) a Radio Taxi

Local Telephone: 055-4242 or see Taxi 4242

Map of Florence

The top attractions in florence.

To get a ticket that allows for "beat the line" tours of Florence's top things to do, see: The Florence Pass , which allows for visits to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, a climb up Brunelleschi's Dome and a Florence app for your phone.

Duomo di Firenze

Officially it's the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Pick a time when the tourist traffic is minimal, like in the early morning, and just walk all around this amazing building. The details will astound you. The piazza contains Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi's Dome (popular, best done on a skip the line tour ), Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Crypt of Santa Reparata and the Opera Museum.

What to See in Piazzo del Duomo

Uffizi Gallery

Cosimo I di Medici wanted offices, so Giorgio Vasari began building them in 1560. After the age of the Medici's passed, the building was opened to the public as a museum in 1765. The Uffizi is ranked as the 25th on the most visited art museums in the world, with around 2 million visitors annually. In high season (particularly in July), waiting times can be up to five hours. Buy your tickets in advance.

Website Skip the Line Tickets & Tours

Pitti Palace

The Palazzo Pitti is a major tourist attraction on the south side of the Arno river not for from the Ponte Vecchio. Originally the residence of Luca Pitti, the Florentine banker, it dates from 1458. It is now the largest museum complex in Florence. Besides paintings, you'll see Museums of Silver, Porcelain, Consumes and Carriages and you'll be able to stroll through the adjacent Boboli Gardens.

Find out more... Pitti Palace Tours

More Florence Attractions

• Florence's Archaeological Museum -- Museo archeologico nazionale di Firenze is housed in a palace built in the 1620s and filled with great, Roman, Greek, Egyptian and Etruscan collections. 1 piazza Santissima Annunziata, in the Palazzo della Crocetta, Admission € 4,00, free on the first Sunday of the month. [ Information and Skip the line tickets for the National Archaeological Museum ]
• House-Museum of Dante -- ok, it's a little offbeat, but I liked the medieval section of the city and visiting a house of the famous Dante. Via S. Margherita, 1, 3 Euros, closed Tuesday.
• The Ponte Vecchio -- The Old Bridge looks from the outside as if it were still crowded with the crammed blacksmith and butcher shops of the medieval period, but it's all glittery gold and tourist baubles today. Spared from bombing in WWII, it used to be built of wood but a rebuild in the 1300's made it mostly stone. Free, unless you run afoul of a jewelry or porcelain statue salesman.
• The Church of San Lorenzo -- It's not impressive from the outside, but it's probably the oldest religious structure in Florence. They say it was probably founded before year 400 and its art holdings include stuff by Donatello and Bronzino.

Top Sites in Florence

Hidden Florence

Church of Ognissanti

See the recently restore Crucifix by the Giotto school (pictured) as well as the Last Supper by Domenico Ghirlandaio in this church founded in 1251 by the Umiliati, who had come to Florence from Lombardy in 1239

Find out more...

Museo Nazionale di San Marco

Don't let the name put you off. This is an inexpensive visit to the Dominican church and convent of San Marco with its atmosphere--and spectacular Fra Angelico frescoes--intact. The early renaissance painter frescoed each cell of the monks cloister. Founded in 1436, the complex was also home to Girolamo Savonarola in the late 15th century.

Hours and Opening Times Tickets

Secret Itineraries Tour, Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

Our guide shows us the clothing of the Signoria, the group of men who formed the ruling body of the Republic of Florence. We have squeezed through a narrow door and a tiny flight of stairs to reach the the red clothing dyed with the eggs of an insect, distinguishing these men from the hoi palloi . This is our favorite tour of Florence.

Palazzo Vecchio Tours

Eat and Drink

Piero, our Florence Food Guy, recommends some interesting places he like to take meals in the city.

Piero's favorite Breakfast Bar: Cucciolo Bar Pasticceria. The Cucciolo Bar Pasticceria is known for its Bombolone, a sort of Tuscan donut that here is cooked and immediately send town a chute from the kitchen upstairs so that each one slides down to the front of the bar where you can grab one and chow down. Your breakfast bombolone doesn't get fresher than that. Also try the Fishermen's Bread. Via del Corso 25r, Florence.

Lunch among the Leather Jackets: Trattoria Sergio Gozzi. Look up from the rows of leather jackets and search out the old fashioned sign. Get there early. Locals pack the place.

Piazza di San Lorenzo, 8R, 50123 Florence, Italy

Drinks With a View: Biblioteca delle Oblate

The Biblioteca delle Oblate is a former convent; the nuns here did the laundry for the adjacent hospital--you can see the wash tubs downstairs. And there really is a historic library here. But the star of the show is the second floor cafe with a view of the dome of the duomo.

(In the evening the space features an antipasto buffet and occasionally concerts; Patty Smith has played here.)

Biblioteca de le Oblate

Via dell’Oriuolo 26

Closed on Sundays and Holidays

Dinner and Wine:

There are many ways to enjoy your evenings out in Florence. One of our favorites includes fancy drinks and dinner at the traditional Cafaggi. Another includes dinner at La Cucina del Ghianda and dessert at Cibreo Cafe . Both are fantastic choices.

We also like L' Osteria di Giovanni on a narrow street, Via del Moro, 22, between the Arno and Santa Maria Novella train station in Santo Spirito. You can reserve online through the website.

Tired of restaurants? Another dining option you might wish to consider is to go to the place of residence of a "home chef" and have an evening of discovery over some good, home cooked food. See: Where to Eat in Florence, Italy .

Where to Stay

We enjoyed our stay at the Adler Cavalieri Hotel . a four star historic hotel near the train and bus stations. Free wifi and Gluten free breakfast is available. The hotel is marked on the map above.

For a hotel you can drive to, the Classic Hotel is an old palace converted to a hotel near the Boboli Gardens that offers free parking and WiFi.

Looking for an great apartment within spitting distance of the Duomo? We enjoyed our stay at Asso's Place , which includes spectacular views of the dome of the Duomo.

Looking for a cheap, centrally located hotel that folks who've stayed there like? The Hotel Giappone will do.

For choosing a hotel, B&B or vacation apartment by location, see the map below:

Shopping in Florence

Tourist junk is on sale everywhere, so you will need no assistance to find the ubiquitous tee shirts people foist upon their kids and friends. Things good for poking a stranger in the eye like selfie sticks and umbrellas are handled conveniently by immigrants. Here are some specialty shopping opportunities.

Housewares and Cooking Supplies: Bartolini - Food is special in Italy, so If you're looking for a special device to make ravioli for your Florence apartment or want a small kitchen trinket to bring as a gift, this emporium on Via dei Servi 66/68R should have what you want.

Arty Stuff: Galleria Alessandro Bagnai - unique art works and jewelry by More than two dozen artists exhibit their unique art in a rotating display at the gallery in Piazza Goldoni 2 near the Arno. Even if you don't buy anything, you can admire the frescoes on the store's ceiling.

Come up and see their etchings: Il Tamarino Stampe d'Arte - Purchase etchings and prints using ancient engraving and printing techniques hand painted with watercolors. You can special order subjects. Via del Moro 46R.

What's your perfect scent? Acquaflor - Yes, a perfume shop like no other. You can take classes on perfumery or have them make you a scent tailored to who you are and what you smell like normally. Read about Acquaflor .

We totally like the concept of shopping provided by Florentine Experience Shopping . Instead of buying cheap tourist crap made by political prisoners in China, you can be guided by Maria to the best artisans in Florence. You can get shoes made just for you, see and buy stone mosaics and more. Be a responsible traveler. Buy something real.

Our Favorite European Plug Adapter for Italy

Day Trips from Florence

If you are convinced Florence is the town for you, it's not a bad idea to consider it as a base for travels in Northern Tuscany, which offers many interesting towns and places to visit. You could spend a week or two in an apartment and use the train to visit such places as the popular walled town of Lucca or the Spa town of Montecatini Terme for example.

If you prefer coach tours you can get out into the Tuscan countryside without a car. Viator's top Florence tours include walking and Segway tours of Florence itself, or tours of Pisa and the Tuscan wine country. You can also tour Tuscany in a Vespa .

Your itinerary for two weeks could focus on this interesting bit of Tuscany, or you could combine Florence and Tuscany with a trip to Rome , perhaps.

How to Visit Italy's Big Three Cities Via train, bus, car, or airline

How to get from Rome to Florence

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Florence top tourist attractions city travel maps

Detailed street art travel guide with must-see places, sites, churches, museums, gardens, popular hotels - florence top tourist attractions map.

Maps of best attractions in Florence, Italy

Florence maps will guide you to the best destinations in this renaissance city. With the help of our maps your will find that the city is very easy to find your way around. There is no metro (subway, underground, tube) transport but don't worry - Florence is a walking city. Distances between sights are easily manageable on foot, with very few exceptions. You can leisurely stroll between the two top sights, Il Duomo Square Cathedral and the Uffizi, in less than 5 minutes. Our free maps will equip you with the basic tools you’ll need to get under the stony skin of Florence. We break down the city layout and provide useful facts and information on art, history, culture and restaurants. You can find the detailed locations of the must-see sights including, Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia), Bell Tower (Campanile), Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli), Palazzo Pitti Pitti Palace, New market (Mercato Nuovo), Basilica di Santa Croce, the Baptistery (Battistero) Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, Basilica di San Lorenzo, San Lorenzo’s Market, Pallazo Medici Riccardi, Piazzale Michelangelo, Bargello Museum, Museo di San Marco, Santa Maria del Carmine - just click on a selected map to access a high resolution version that can be downloaded and printed; or saved onto your mobile device.

Free map of inner city centre best destinations, favourite points of interest to visit in one day including Ponte Vecchio Bridge - Florence top tourist attractions map

You can view, download or print a full, high resolution (detailed, large) version of this image by clicking on the plan itself

English map with inside floor plans of historic renaissance attractions including Duomo Cathedral, Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti - Florence jpg map

City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus double decker open top coach tour passing by Basilica di Santa Croce - Map of Florence tourist attractions

Old city must-do sights, main landmarks, great spots, most popular locations including Santa Maria del Fiore - Florence free city map

Public transport in historical center showing electric buses city lines C1, C2, C3, D &Tramvia tram line 1 T1 - Florence printable sightseeing map

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A-Z list of highlights, interesting locations, train railway station, Boboli Gardens, Accademia Gallery - Florence offline map

Street names plan showing where to stay accommodation, theatres, Bargello Museum Santa Maria Novella - Florence pop up map

What to see, Where to go, What to do in the pedestrian zone - Top sites worth visiting including San Lorenzo Market - Florence online map

Fun things to do with family & kids, Bird's eye 3d buildings aerial virtual interactive view poster showing Baptistery - Florence map showing tourist spots

Airport terminal driving directions with roads & monuments including Pallazo Medici Riccardi & Piazzale Michelangelo - Florence tourist guide map

Highways map of central district areas, regions, zones, neighbourhoods, administrative divisions - Florence main tourist attractions map

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Tram stops to the city center - T1 Tramvia line 1 - Firenze transit system diagram - Florence interesting places map

Map of top 10 attractions in Florence

The typical top ten attractions are listed below. You can find the detailed locations of these places on the maps above.

• Marvel at the Uffizi Gallery (Galleria degli Uffizi) and Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell'Accademia).
• Visit the Duomo Cathedral and get to the top of the Cupolone.
• Walk along the Arno River and listen to a street musician on the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
• Shop for locally grown fruits at the San Lorenzo Market.
• Sit down at the Loggia dei Lanzi and soak in Scenery at Piazza Della Signoria.
• Pay respects to Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and Dante and light a candle for art at the Basilica of Santa Croce.
• Rub the snout of Il Porcellino for good luck and a future return to Florence. Il Porcellino is the statue of a wild boar located under the loggia of the Mercato Nuovo, near Piazza della Signoria.
• Hear Benedictine monks sing in Georgian chant at the church of San Miniato al Monte.
• Take a stroll through the leather markets at the San Lorenzo street market (Piazza del Mercato Centrale) and Scuola del Cuoio.
• See the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo.

What are some interesting facts about Florence?

According to UNESCO, almost a third of the world's art treasures reside in Florence - not bad for such a small city. The main viewing galleries include the Uffizi, the Bargello and the Academy.

A monument of architectural genius in its time, the Cathedral of Holy Mary of the Flowers, known as the Duomo, dominates the Florence skyline and is the second largest church in Italy after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. You can climb 463 stone steps into the cupola for a close-up of The Last Judgement and a sweeping view of the city.

In 1817, French author Henri Stendhal staggered around the streets of Florence emotionally overwhelmed at the aesthetic beauty of the city. His symptoms of dizziness, palpitations and panic attacks on seeing so many exquisite works of art gave rise to the condition, medically diagnosed as recently as 1982, known as Stendhalismo.

Michelangelo's statue of David was originally commissioned to adorn a buttress of the Duomo but now stands in the Gallery of the Academy. A copy also attracts the camera-clickers in the Piazza della Signoria.

The centre of the city is split by the River Arno and whilst most of the principal attractions lie north of the river, a number are scattered in the more artisan district to the south, an area known as the Oltrarno – literally translated as 'beyond the Arno'.

The Galleria degli Uffizi is the single most visited building in Italy with some one and a half million admirers passing through each year. It's housed in what used to be the administrative offices of the city's most famous family, the prosperous Medicis.

The Ponte Vecchio, now occupied by goldsmiths, was the only bridge spared by Hitler as the Germans retreated under the advance of the American 5th Army in 1944 in Europe. Hitler said it was too beautiful to destroy.

When it comes to eating, the Fiorentini definitely know good food. Tuscany, the region where Florence is located is home to the best wine and cheese; so you can just imagine what the rest of the food is like. Some typical regional dishes include: Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a large rare T-Bone steak cooked over charcoal; Crostini Toscani, sliced pieces of crunchy bread with chicken pâté spread on top; and the Tagliata, sliced rare beef served on a bed of arugula, topped with slices of Parmesan cheese.

Did you know that some of Italy's finest and most famous artists and celebrities came from or made Florence their home? The artistic inspirations of the great sculptor Donatello and painters Rafael and Michelangelo were born in Firenze. Other important historic figures who lived in Florence include Amerigo Vespucci the explorer, Niccolo Macchiavelli the philosopher, Galileo Galilei the astronomer and haute couture fashion designers such as Guccio Gucci, Roberto Cavalli and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Florence Nightingale, famous for revolutionizing the field of nursing, was born in and named after the city of Florence.

Via Chiantigiana is arguably the most beautiful road in all of Italy. Winding through the vineyards and woodlands surrounding Florence connecting to Siena.

Florence is the capital city of the province of Florence and the Italian region of Tuscany.

How can I find specific tourist attractions on the map of Florence?

Our interactive city maps are easy to explore. You can pan, zoom in, and zoom out on the high-resolution map to locate major tourist attractions. Each map highlights key landmarks, making it simple to find the sights you're most interested in, whether it's a famous monument, museum, or other point of interest.

Can I get a visual representation of the area around Florence?

For some cities, we provide a general view of the area surrounding popular attractions. While this image won't show the exact street-level view, it helps you understand the layout of the neighborhood, showing how the landmarks are situated in relation to other points of interest around Florence.

Can I explore maps for both tourist attractions and other points of interest?

Yes! Our platform offers maps covering a range of highlights, from top tourist attractions to other noteworthy areas such as parks, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Whether you're planning a visit to a museum or looking for a nearby park, our detailed maps make it easy to find the best spots in the city.

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Map of Florence: Top attractions

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Planning your day : Florence would well be worth a week, but you can still fit a lot into just a day or three .

To help you get the most out of your limited time in the Cradle of the Renaissance, here are some perfect itineraries , whether you have one , two , or three days to spend in Florence.

» Florence itineraries

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How To Get A Free Tourist Map Of Florence

This article has been written,  reviewed, and fact-checked  by Rick and I.  We live in Italy  and travel throughout the country to help you make the best choices for your trip. We wrote this piece  to help you have the best trip possible on your next trip to Italy.  Portions of this article have been written using assistive AI tools to help with tasks like research, spell-checking, grammar, and translation.

In this article, you'll learn how:

• The Santa Maria Novella train station is an ideal starting point for exploring Florence, whether you arrive by train or car. It offers secure parking options, making it a practical choice for travelers.
• The famous Ponte Vecchio bridge is a unique attraction on the map, known for its jewelry stores and a historic secret passage used by the Duke of Tuscany. 
• At the Mercato del Porcellino, travelers can shop for Florentine leather goods and participate in a superstitious tradition. They can place a coin on the boar's tongue, let it fall in the fountain, and then rub the boar's nose for good luck.

Are you planning a trip to the amazing city of Florence, Italy, but don’t know how to get there ? Well today we will give you a Map of Florence with the perfect itinerary to explore all the best spots in the city!

Also, if you follow this link , we will give a link for you to download the Map of Florence to take with you!

Stops On Our Map of Florence

If you’re wondering whether you can tour Florence alone or not, the answer is YOU CAN . Just follow this easy and simple Map of Florence to visit this incredible city’s best attractions.

Santa Maria Novella Train Station

Florence is a very walkable city , and all the best spots are a few steps away from each other! For this reason, our Map of Florence begins at the Santa Maria Novella train station, which receives over 400 trains daily . 

Tip: If you’re starting your trip to Italy in Rome, you can travel to Florence by train in just a few short hours.

This is the perfect gateway to Florence if you plan to take the train. But it is also a great spot for you if you plan to drive to Florence . In fact, on the side of the train station, you can find a couple of great underground parking lots that are the most convenient places to park.

Now, these are not the cheapest parking spots in Florence, but they are the most convenient, the easiest to reach, and very secure. So if you decide to drive to Florence , we recommend you park here. And speaking of cars, a rental is the best option if you want to get around the Florence countryside. 

Santa Maria Novella Church and Pharmacy

You can walk a few steps from the train station and reach the beautiful Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. You can admire the Church of Santa Maria Novella in the piazza with its colorful facade. This church was completed in the year 1350 , which means it’s around 674 years old. 

From the Piazza of Santa Maria Novella, you can reach Via Della Scala, where you can find another beautiful place in Florence, the Ancient Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella. This very old and ornate pharmacy is a must-see in Florence. This ancient pharmacy has been crafting fragrances, soaps, elixirs, and more since 1221, making it an over 800-year-old pharmacy , yet you can still shop around nowadays. 

Walking to the Duomo

After visiting the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella, we continued on our map of Florence and reached via dei Banchi. At the end of this short street, you’ll find one of the most beautiful monuments in Florence and maybe in the world. The Duomo!

The church of Santa Maria del Fiore is also known as the Duomo. This church has stood for nearly 600 years since its completion in 1436 . The Florence Cathedral is entirely free to visit , you just need to reserve your time online.

Walking is surely the best way to get around Florence, but how long does it take to walk around Florence? To give you a hint, most visitors walk 6-7 hours to get enough, but it can take 2-3 days to see everything in Florence. 

Off to Palazzo Vecchio

Next on our Map of Florence , we take via dei Calzaiuoli, one of the main strolls of Florence. On this street, you can enjoy one of the many stores, coffee shops, gelateria, and so on.

At the end of this street, we reach another incredible Piazza. Piazza della Signoria with the majestic Palazzo Vecchio . Also, in this Piazza, you can admire the Loggia dei Lanzi with its stunning sculptures, the Fountain of Neptune, and of course, the David of Michelangelo. Now this is not the real statue of David, but it is a replica. We will get to the real deal in a bit!

Right on the side of Palazzo Vecchio, you’ll find one of the most famous museums in Italy and maybe in the world! The Galleria degli Uffizi . Inside of the Uffizi, you can admire some of the most important Renaissance paintings in the world. Remember that if you plan on visiting the Uffizi, you must buy your tickets in advance; otherwise, you might risk waiting in line for hours or, worse, find it sold out!

At the end of the Galleria degli Uffizi, you reach the Lungarno (or the Arno river banks), where you have a stunning view of the most famous bridge in the city.

Ponte Vecchio

We continue our Map of Florence by walking on this beautiful bridge to admire the many jewelry stores. On the bridge is a secret passage that the Duke of Tuscany used to go freely from his Palace to Palazzo Vecchio . 

Let us give you a fun fact: in the old days, those stores were butcher stores. The butchers used to throw scraps of meat and bones in the river. In 1594, the Duke of Tuscany Ferdinand the First signed a law to remove the butcher stores from the bridge because the smell of the rotten meat bothered him when he was walking in the secret passage. 

Palazzo Pitti and The Gardens

Right after crossing the river Arno on Ponte Vecchio, we continue our Map of Florence on via dei Guicciardini to reach Palazzo Pitti .

This huge Palace was the residence of the Duke of Tuscany. The Palace inside is very ornate and has an incredible art collection.

But the real gem here is the Gardens right beside the Palace, Il Giardino di Boboli. These gardens represent one of the best examples of Italian gardens, with statues, fountains, and beautiful views. Definitely a must see when visiting Florence.

Porcellino Market and Fountain

Let’s continue our Map of Florence tour by walking back on the Ponte Vecchio and continuing on the Via Por Santa Maria.

We reach the Mercato del Porcellino on this street with the famous fountain. At this market, you can shop for the famous Florentine leather goods. At the market, you can find the Fontana del Porcellino.

According to superstition, you must put a coin on the boar’s tongue, let it fall in the fountain, and then rub the nose for good luck. Who doesn’t want some good luck?

Santa Croce

From the market, we walk on Via della Condotta and then on via dell’Anguillara until we reach another famous landmark of Florence. (For a complete list of what to see and do in Florence, click here) The church of Santa Croce. Inside this magnificent church, you can admire the tombs of Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and Galileo. 

See The Real David

From Santa Croce, we walk on via del Proconsolo until we reach the back of the Duomo. We can then walk alongside the stunning duomo until we reach via Ricasoli, the same family that makes the fantastic chianti!

We walk a few minutes on via Ricasoli until we reach the Galleria Dell’Accademia. Inside this Galleria, we can admire the real David. Again, if you plan on visiting the David, book your skip-the-line tickets way in advance because they get sold out quickly!

Off to San Lorenzo Market

Let’s continue our Map of Florence by walking back on via Ricasoli until we reach Via De’ Gori and then the Piazza San Lorenzo with the church of San Lorenzo. From here, we are just a few steps away from one of Florence’s best Markets: The market of San Lorenzo. This market is the perfect place to shop for Tuscan specialties or to sit for a quick lunch or a glass of wine – or both 🙂

Take your time at the market, and explore the many things it has to offer. Also, just outside the market, you can find many places that sell leather goods. From the market, we walk on via Nazionale to reach our final destination of, Santa Maria Novella Station. 

Final Thoughts

Well, this concludes our Map of Florence tour. Florence has so much more beauty to offer, but for the purpose of this article, we picked the ones that are easy to walk to from the Santa Maria Novella train station.

Also, remember we told you that we would give you a downloadable version of the map? Here it is. Visit this link , and you’ll receive the map right in your inbox. Also, if you have any questions about Florence, leave a comment below, and we will get back to you.

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Santa Maria del Fiore

Vecchio Bridge

Uffizi Gallery

Piazza della Signoria

Accademia Gallery

Giotto's Campanile

Florence Baptistery of St. John

Palazzo Vecchio

Fountain of Neptune

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Drinking Fountains

A map of the drinking fountains that you can find in the center of Florence.

Where to Park in Florence

A useful map of parking lots around Florence's historical center, perfect for leaving the car outside the ZTL while you visit for the day. Includes free parking areas as well as information on opening hours and costs for parking in Florence.

Top Experiences in Florence

Our travel guides.

Are you planning to take a trip to Florence? We can help! At Introducing Florence you'll find updated information about what to see , where to stay , the best places to eat , and much more!

Florence Travel Guide

• General Info
• Top Attractions
• Getting to Florence
• Where to Stay
• Where to eat
• 48-Hour Itinerary

Florence (Firenze in Italian) is a small cultural metropolis that offers visitors some of the world’s top museums and art galleries . The city is a real open-air museum and is the birthplace of the Renaissance .

Why visit Florence?

Tuscany is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, and as the capital of the region, Florence is mainly visited for its museums , its fashion boutiques, its tasty Florentine cuisine, for an unforgettable experience watching the sunset over the Ponte Vecchio or to admire some of the most stunning Renaissance artwork, like the sculpture of David . If we're sure of something, is that Florence will leave no visitor indifferent.

Florence is a tourist destination that can be seen in one day or in a week . Some travellers prefer to go for a day or two from Rome to see the top attractions and get a feel for the city, while others prefer to take their time in Florence and take advantage of their trip to visit other villages and towns in the stunning region of Tuscany. Whether it be for a day, a week or a month, visitors will want to return to Florence in the near future .

How to organise your trip?

Before preparing your trip to Florence, we recommend reading about the city’s history and general information , which can be useful for when you're in the metropolis. Then why not read about  Florence’s top attractions , the best museums and art galleries ?

When it's time to look for a hotel,  we suggest reading our article on the best areas to stay in Florence. And just before travelling, we recommend reading about the region’s traditional cuisine , so that you do not miss out on any of the city’s top dishes. With all this information, you'll guarantee an unforgettable trip to Florence.

Book your hotel in advance

Since Florence is one of the most visited cities in Italy, we recommend booking your hotel or accommodation as far in advance as possible. Check out the following link and  you'll find all types of hotels, hostels and apartments with the best rates guaranteed . You can get up to 75% off if you pay directly at the hotel.

• Hotels in Florence – Book online for the best rates guaranteed

Want to discover other Italian cities?

If you're travelling through Italy and want to find information on other great places to visit, check out our travel guides of Rome , Milan and Venice .

top activities

Leonardo Interactive Museum® Ticket Discover the incredible inventions, ideas and objects designed by the most renowned Florentine artist in the world with this Leonardo Interactive Museum® Tour.

Pisa, Siena & San Gimignano Day Trip Take a day trip from Florence and discover three of Italy’s most beautiful cities . The Tour also includes an exquisite 3-course Italian lunch at a winery.

Free Walking Tour of Florence Join us on this free walking tour in Florence. We'll explore the  historic centre of what is a Renaissance open-air museum and uncover the Tuscan Capital's past.

Cinque Terre Day Trip Take a day trip to Cinque Terre - a group of fishing villages on the Italian Riviera surrounded by hills and vineyards. One of the best day trips from Florence!

Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour Skip the line and visit the most important museum in Florence with a professional guide. The Uffizi is a must-see for all first time visitors to Florence.

Florence Cathedral Tour + Dome & Terraces Discover the Italian Renaissance on our tour of the Florence Cathedral . You'll have access to the temple, the panoramic terraces & the Brunelleschi Dome !

San Gimignano, Siena, Chianti & Monteriggioni Day Trip Set off on a fabulous day trip from Florence and discover Tuscany’s medieval towns, beautiful countryside and wine territory .

Palazzo Vecchio Secret Passages Tour Wind your way through a labyrinth of hidden doors and corridors concealed within an ancient Florentine palace on our Palazzo Vecchio Secret Passages Tour.

Pienza, Monteriggioni & Montalcino Day Trip Join us on a route of medieval Tuscany on this day trip to Pienza ,  Monteriggioni and  Montalcino . We'll see the most charming corners of Tuscany !

Chianti Half-Day Wine Tour Explore the Chianti wine region during a half day trip from Florence and visit two rustic wine estates, where you will enjoy a tasting of local produce.

Accademia Gallery Guided Tour Accompanied by an expert guide, skip the line and get straight into the Accademia Gallery and discover Renaissance masterpieces including Michelangelo's “David”

On our unforgettable electric buggy tour of Florence, we'll explore  one of the Italian Renaissance's most important cities  in a fun and unique way. Let's go!

Assisi and Orvieto Day Trip On this tour, we'll remember the film Under the Tuscan Sun travelling through the regions of Umbria and Tuscany and visiting towns such as Assisi and Orvieto .

Opera in the Santo Stefano al Ponte Vecchio Enjoy a live performance of the famous opera interpreted by the three tenors in an unsurpassable auditorium : the Santo Stefano al Ponte Vecchio church.

Medici Florence Tour Dive head first into  Florence ! Stroll through the street on a guided tour as we uncover the impact of the famous Medici family on the city's architecture .

Medici Riccardi Palace Guided Tour Visit one of the most important buildings of the Renaissance on this Medici Riccardi Palace tour. You'll learn how the most powerful family in Florence lived!

Palazzo Vecchio Guided Tour Skip the line and step into the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s town hall and one of the city’s most emblematic buildings with an expert English-speaking guide.

Florence Cathedral Guided Tour Fall in love with one of the jewels of the Italian Renaissance with this fantastic guided tour of Florence Cathedral. It's perfect for art and history lovers!

Dante Alighieri Tour around Florence Uncover the medieval history of the Tuscan capital and its most famous citizen on this Dante Alighieri tour of Florence . Explore where the author was born!

Arno River Boat Tour On this peaceful boat ride through Florence, we'll navigate the Arno River and cross under the arches of the Ponte Vecchio in an authentic Florentine gondola!

Florence Hop On Hop Off Bus Discover Florence’s top sights, monuments, squares, and streets at your own leisure along the route of this Hop-On Hop-Off tour bus.

Discover the life and legacy of Leonardo da Vinci on this tour of Florence. Unravel the secrets of the genius and how the city influenced his work!

Private Tour of Florence Discover the most emblematic landmarks of Florence accompanied by an exclusive guide. The birthplace of the Renaissance awaits!

Pisa and the Leaning Tower Half-Day Trip Set off on a day trip to Pisa and explore one of the most visited cities in Italy on a guided tour of the centre and then climb the world-famous Leaning Tower.

Florence Outlet Shopping Tour Take a shopping trip just 40 minutes from Florence and discover the Barberino Outlet with over 200 stores, including Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Nike and Prada.

Tuscan Cooking Class and Dinner During this Tuscan Cooking Class and Dinner, a professional chef will guide you step by step to make some of the most typical dishes of the region.

Pienza & Montepulciano Day Trip + Wine Tasting Travel into the heart of Siena on this day trip . You'll visit two villages famous for their charming atmosphere and sample some fine local wines .

Pisa and Lucca Day Trip Take a day trip from Florence to discover Pisa and Lucca, two of Tuscany’s most-visited cities, and their famous attractions including the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Florence Bike Tour Join us to explore Florence by bike on this tour. We'll pedal through the winding streets and past the city’s most magnificent architecture!

Guided Tour of Santa Croce Basilica Discover the beautiful Tuscan church, originally dating back to 1212, hosting a great amount of artistic wealth with this Guided Tour of Santa Croce Basilica.

Pitti Palace & Palantine Gallery Tour Discover the Medici dynasty's place of residence and be fascinated by one of Italy's largest art collections with this Pitti Palace & Palantine Gallery Tour.

Chianti Wine Tour Discover one of Italy's most famous winemaking regions with this Chianti Wine Tour. Visit this charming town in the picturesque Tuscan landscape.

Venice Day Trip Discover the most famous floating city in the World when you take this brilliant trip to Venice, Italy's most enchanting city.

Chianti Vespa Tour Touring the Chianti region is incredible, but doing it on a Vespa while soaking up the smells and sounds of Tuscany makes it a unique experience.

Sunset in Siena and Chianti Dinner Set off on a day trip to the magnificent city of Siena and admire a beautiful sunse, then head to a wine estate in the Chianti area. A perfect Tuscan evening.

Skip-the-Line Ticket to the Hard Rock Café Enjoy delicious American cuisine in a restaurant decorated with tons of rock 'n' roll memorabilia at the Hard Rock Cafe in Florence !

Sant’Ambrogio Market Food Tour On this food tour of the San Ambrogio market , you'll get to taste the delicious schiacciata of the award-winning All'Antico Vinaio sandwich shop  and much more!

Pizza and Opera in Florence Would you like to enjoy an unforgettable evening in Florence ? Then, don't miss this pizza dinner and opera in the Oltrarno district of the Renaissance city!

Florence Food Tour On our Florence food tour , we'll visit the San Lorenzo Market and several restaurants. We'll also taste lots of delicious, traditional Tuscan products .

Inferno Guided Tour Are you a fan of Professor Robert Langdon's adventures? Follow in his footsteps with this Inferno Guided Tour and discover the settings of the novel and film!

Private Self Guided Day Trip from Florence Explore the areas surrounding the Renaissance capital with a Private Day Trip from Florence. Discover the charming Tuscan region!

Italian Pizza & Gelato Workshop Experience Italian cuisine first-hand and cook alongside a professional chef on this Italian Pizza and Gelato Workshop. Enjoy making your own delicious dishes!

Bargello Museum Guided Tour Admire remarkable works of art to come from the Italian Renaissance with this Bargello Museum guided tour . Discover the impressive techniques and history.

Renting a Vespa with an audio guide is the most fun and typical way to discover all the treasures that surround Florence , the city of the Renaissance.

On this electric bike tour of Florence and Piazza Michelangelo , we'll ride through one of the most beautiful areas of the capital of Tuscany.

Florence City Pass Save money while travelling in Florence with the Florence City Pass ! Also, enjoy priority access to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery .

Baptistery & Duomo Museum Tour + Giotto's Bell Tower Explore two of the most important buildings in Piazza di San Giovanni on this tour of the Baptistery & the Opera del Duomo Museum .

Chianti Tour by Vintage Fiat 500 Spend the day driving a beautiful and  classic Fiat 500  and explore Tuscany’s stunning landscape and its scattered medieval and Renaissance villages

Mount Vesuvius Day Trip Hop on a train to Naples for a day trip to Mount Vesuvius - ascend to the summit aboard a minibus and learn about this historic volcano from an expert guide.

Electric Boat Ride & Tuscan Lunch Experience the charm of Florence from a unique vantage point with this electric boat ride on the Arno River , followed by a delectable Tuscan lunch .

The Medici Conspiracy Adventure Quest History and adventure come together with this Game of Clues in Florence . Discover the legacy of the influential Medici Family at the city's iconic spots.

Florence: Michelangelo Adventure Quest Stroll around the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Florence, and follow in the footsteps of Michelangelo  on this fun treasure hunt-style quest .

Cinque Terre and Portovenere Day Trip Explore Cinque Terre on a self-guided day trip from Florence and visit Manarola , Vernazza , Monterosso , and Portovenere . Discover the Ligurian Coast!

Pompeii Train Excursion In Florence & want to visit the Roman city that was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius? Don't hesitate to book this excursion to Pompeii by train !

Florence Mysteries & Legends Free Tour On this free tour of Florence , we'll get to know the darker and more hidden side of the city while discovering its most surprising mysteries and legends .

Florence Walking Tour Take a guided tour of Florence and discover why it is considered the cradle of Renaissance while you admire its most emblematic monuments and buildings.

Learn how to make some Italian dishes and delicious desserts   with this pasta and pastry workshop in Florence . You'll get to sample your creations!

Florence Mysteries & Legends Tour The beautiful Italian city of Florence is a hive of legendary tales and hidden secrets. Explore its most mysterious corners on this guided walking tour.

Florence, Accademia and Uffizi Gallery Tour Take a guided tour of Florence’s historic center followed by the visit to two of the city’s most famous museums: Accademia Gallery and Uffizi Gallery.

Why read our Florence guide?

Our Florence tourist guide has been created by travelers like you to help you plan your trip and get the most out of it, all the while saving money.

The information in this guide was updated in February 2024. If you find any errors or anything you think we should change, please get in touch .

Our travel guides

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• Map of Florence

The important touristic attractions areas of Florence are located in the centre of the city, in districts such as: Santa Maria Novella, San Lorenzo, Santa Croce, Santo Spirito – San Frediano, San Miniato and of course the Historical City Centre.

If you are planning to come to Florence to visit Tuscany’s amazing capital, in order to get familiar with the city’s areas and arrive to the exact address, you will definitely need to use our interactive map above. You can zoom in or out by clicking on the map; the map widens while clicking on it making visible all the streets in Florence . While using the upper-right buttons, you will discover that map has a Satellite view mode helping you to view images of Florence taken from the satellites as well as identifying the tourist attraction areas, addresses and street names overlapping the satellite images.

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Map of Florence — Best attractions, restaurants, and transportation info

What’s on this map.

We’ve made the ultimate tourist map of Florence, Italy for travelers! Check out Florence’s top things to do, attractions, restaurants, and major transportation hubs all in one interactive map.

Visiting Florence? See our Florence Trip Planner.

How to use the map

Use this interactive map to plan your trip before and while in Florence. Learn about each place by clicking it on the map or read more in the article below. Here’s more ways to perfect your trip using our Florence map:

• Explore the best restaurants, shopping, and things to do in Florence by categories
• Get directions in Google Maps to each place
• Export all places to save to your Google Maps
• Plan your travels by turning on metro and bus lines
• Create a Wanderlog trip plan (link to create a trip plan for the city) that keep all the places on the map in your phone
• Print a physical map to bring it on your trip

Top 20 attractions in Florence

Basilica of santa croce in florence, uffizi galleries.

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Palazzo vecchio, piazza della signoria, galleria dell’accademia di firenze, mercato centrale, ponte vecchio, san marco museum, museo nazionale del bargello, basilica di san lorenzo, palazzo pitti, boboli gardens, basilica of santa maria novella, cappelle medicee, brunelleschi's dome, basilica di san miniato, campanile di giotto, opera del duomo museum, basilica di santo spirito, top 10 restaurants in florence, gucci osteria da massimo bottura.

Enoteca Pinchiorri

Cantinetta antinori.

Trattoria Cammillo

Trattoria la casalinga, il santo bevitore, vini e vecchi sapori, trattoria da ruggero, transportation in florence, nearby airports, amerigo vespucci airport, pisa international airport, bologna guglielmo marconi airport, highways and major roads.

• Autostrada A1 - the main highway that runs through Florence, connecting it to cities like Rome and Milan.
• Via del Corso - a major road in the historic center of Florence, connecting Piazza del Popolo to Piazza della Signoria.
• Via degli Alfani - another important road in the historic center that passes by the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella and the Accademia Gallery.
• Viale Europa - a large avenue that runs through the western part of Florence, connecting the city to nearby towns like Empoli and Fiesole.
• Via di Novoli - a busy street in the northwestern part of Florence that connects to the airport and many hotels.
• Via di Santa Maria - a picturesque road in the Oltrarno neighborhood that overlooks the river and leads to Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Viale Giuseppe Mazzini - a major boulevard in the southern part of Florence, connecting the city center to the outskirts.
• Via Bolognese - a scenic road that takes you from the city center to the hills of Fiesole.
• Via dei Calzaiuoli - a bustling street in the historic center that connects Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Signoria.
• Viale Guidoni - a wide avenue in the northwest that leads to the airport and the industrial area of the city.

Attractions

Top searches in Florence

Popular road trips from florence, what's the weather like in florence.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Florence for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Florence in January
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All road trips from Florence

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• Florence to Munich drive
• Florence to Nice drive
• Florence to Lisbon drive
• Florence to Ravenna drive
• Florence to Istanbul drive
• Florence to Edinburgh drive
• Florence to Dublin drive
• Florence to Assisi drive
• Florence to Brussels drive
• Florence to Vatican City drive
• Florence to Rimini drive

Explore nearby places

• San Vivaldo
• San Quirico in Collina
• Monterappoli
• Bagno a Ripoli
• Castelnuovo d'Elsa
• Sesto Fiorentino
• San Donnino
• Campi Bisenzio
• Lastra a Signa
• Molino del Piano
• Strada in Chianti
• San Casciano in Val di Pesa
• Pontassieve
• Mercatale di Val di Pesa
• Santa Brigida

All related maps of Florence

• Map of Reggello
• Map of San Vivaldo
• Map of Vitolini
• Map of San Quirico in Collina
• Map of Galluzzo
• Map of Monterappoli
• Map of Bagno a Ripoli
• Map of Covigliaio
• Map of Fiesole
• Map of Scandicci
• Map of Settignano
• Map of Grassina
• Map of Castelnuovo d'Elsa
• Map of Tavarnuzze
• Map of Sesto Fiorentino
• Map of Mosciano
• Map of Compiobbi
• Map of San Donnino
• Map of Impruneta
• Map of Campi Bisenzio
• Map of Lastra a Signa
• Map of Molino del Piano
• Map of Calenzano
• Map of Strada in Chianti
• Map of Signa
• Map of San Casciano in Val di Pesa
• Map of Pontassieve
• Map of Mercatale di Val di Pesa
• Map of Malmantile
• Map of Santa Brigida

Florence throughout the year

• Florence in January
• Florence in February
• Florence in March
• Florence in April
• Florence in May
• Florence in June
• Florence in July
• Florence in August
• Florence in September
• Florence in October
• Florence in November
• Florence in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Florence?

Get inspired for your trip to Florence with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Florence Itinerary
• 2-Day Florence Itinerary
• 3-Day Florence Itinerary
• 4-Day Florence Itinerary
• 5-Day Florence Itinerary

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Map of Florence, Italy Find Attractions and Great Places to Stay in the Renaissance City

Florence is everyone's favorite Renaissance city in Tuscany to visit. The attractions in Florence will keep you busy for days, if not weeks.

Florence can be very crowded and hot in the summer, when it is advisable to make hotel reservations early, but pleasant in the off season.

Our map has markers for all the old favorites of Florence as well as some new ones, like the Fiat 500 tour of Florence and surrounding hills.

Map of Florence, Italy

Below is our Florence Map showing some of the major tourist attractions.

Florence Travel Toolbox

The main train station in Florence is called Santa Maria Novella or Firenze SMN . It is marked on the map. The Regional Bus station is just to the west of the station.

The station is to the east of the historic center of Florence. It is an easy walk from the station to most tourist attractions.

You'll find Tourist Information in the train station at Piazza Stazione 4. The APT Tourist Information office is on Via Cavour, 1r.

Top Sights and Attractions in Florence - Here are the places to go and things you must see as you wander around Florence.

Our friend Piero is a specialist in composing an evening out on the town . It turns out that Piero has been hard at work fixing up his father's law office in Florence and made it into a spectacular place with a spectacular view of the Duomo called Asso's Place .

Florence can be hot, muggy and full of tourists in the summer (another reason to head for the nearby hills), but spring and fall are usually quite nice. Check out Florence Weather and Historic Climate Charts .

For information on other places to go in Tuscany, see: Tuscany Maps and Guide .

Online Paper Maps of Florence

Florence, Italy Crumpled City Map by Palomar S.r.l. (Our Favorite!)

Florence, Italy by Freytag-Berndt und Artaria

Italy, Tuscany, Wine Regions by VinMaps

StreetWise Tuscany, Italy by Streetwise Maps, Inc

If you are tired of tourist restaurants and would like to eat with locals "home chefs" then BonAppetour offers some interesting experiences for your vacation.

Florence Tickets and Tours

Like quirky tours? Enjoy telling people about things that they never imagined could happen in Florence? Check out these Florence Tours .

Art lovers will like the Early Entry Skip the Line Uffizi Tour & Palazzo Vecchio .

Art is one of the things Florence does best. Why not take a Florence Art Museum Crawl ?

The closest airport is Just outside of Florence: Aeroporto di Firenze . There is a shuttle between Pisa Airport and Florence Airport.

Our recommended hotels are represented by the yellow markers on the map above. For other options, check out the booking box at the bottom of the page

Detail of the Duomo of Florence

Top Florence Tours

Walk of Italy has many of the highest rated walks in Rome, Venice, Milan and Florence

Italy Rail Map

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Copyright © 2017 - 2024 · All Rights Reserved · Mapping Europe . Page modified: February 15 2022.

19 BEST Places to See & Things to Do in Florence, Italy (+Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 15, 2024

Looking for the best things to do in Florence, Italy, and feeling overwhelmed?

Indeed, with so many impressive landmarks and museums, deciding what to see and do in Florence is not always easy, especially if your time in the city is limited and you also want to make a few day trips nearby.

So to help you figure out where to go and what to see in Florence, in this guide we focus mainly on the VERY BEST sights and TOP tourist attractions in Florence that are worth your time the most if you are visiting the city for the first time .

In addition to the ‘must-sees’, we also share a couple of our personal favorite things to do in Florence – experiences that will make your visit so much more memorable.

For all the sights and attractions in Florence mentioned in this guide, we also include our experience-based tips and useful information for your visit.

At the end of this article, you will also find a map of the best places in Florence . It will help you plan your sightseeing itinerary and make the most of your first trip to the beautiful Firenze . Take a look!

The cultural capital and one of the most beautiful cities in Italy , Florence (Firenze) is famous for its art, spectacular architecture, and rustic cuisine. Nestled on the banks of the Arno River and surrounded by the scenic Tuscan countryside, it is home to the world-famous artworks of Michelangelo, but also Botticelli, da Vinci, Rafaello, and many others.

You’ll find gorgeous Renaissance buildings and monuments at every turn and the city is filled with traces of its historic wealth and power.

With so much to explore, it’s really not easy to decide which of Florence’s landmarks to see unless you have at least 3-4 days in the city. So in this guide, we mostly focus on the top sights, places that are worth it the most if your time is limited.

At the same time, your visit will be much more pleasant if you get a bit off the beaten path as well, even if just to get a drink and enjoy the views from some of the amazing rooftop bars in Florence . So in our guide, we include a few additional recommendations, beyond the ‘musts’.

TIP: I also recommend that you check our Florence 1- day itinerary for recommendations on how to see the very best of Florence in a short time.

Here are the best things to see and do in Florence:

1. Duomo & Brunelleschi’s Dome

The most recognizable landmark of Florence, the Cathedral or the Duomo is absolutely not to be missed when visiting Florence for the first time.

And there’s a lot more to see and do here than it looks at first sight! So much, in fact, that we listed the main attractions as separate points in this guide.

But let’s start with the main sight – the Duomo – first. The spectacular Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is an enormous structure towering high above the skyline of Florence. The fourth-largest cathedral in the world, its beautiful exterior is covered in a combination of pink, green, and white marble.

Inside you’ll see many beautiful frescoes and mosaic pavements, along with a magnificent 15th-century clock that still works to this day. However, the interior of the Dome is not nearly as impressive as that of the other magnificent churches in Florence. The most decorative is the inside of Brunelleschi’s Dome above the altar.

One of the best things to do at the Duomo is climb Brunelleschi’s Dome , which covers the cathedral. Climbing the 463 steps to the top is the only way to see its incredible paintwork from close by. In addition, the panoramic views of Florence from the top of the dome are simply stunning and well worth the effort.

Climbing the dome is one of the most popular things to do in Florence. Luckily, you can get timed tickets in advance , so you don’t have to waste time ( guided tours are also available). These tickets/tours normally also include a visit to Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery, and Cathedral Museum (you can find more information about these places further below).

Alternatively, there are many more tours that include a climb here, usually in combination with some other sights nearby.

Good to know: The cathedral itself is free to visit, but there’s usually a long queue to get in. If you climb the dome, you can enter the cathedral via a separate entrance and get to see it without extra queuing. Be sure to dress appropriately when you visit the cathedral (knees and shoulders covered).

TIP: Not widely known is the fact that in addition to climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome, you can also visit the Duomo Terraces .

This level can only be visited with a guided tour (it also includes the Dome climb) . While the Duomo terraces aren’t an absolute must, we opted for this option and found that it was quite interesting.

It gives you a very different perspective on the Cathedral itself, plus you get to enjoy some nice city views from yet another angle. It’s also really special to be able to visit a place that not many people get to see.

Our experience: Because we wanted to see the Duomo terraces and also visit Galleria Accademia with a guide, we opted for this amazing tour . It includes the Duomo Dome climb, exclusive access to the Duomo terraces, as well as Galleria Accademia (Michelangelo’s David).

2. Giotto’s Bell Tower

Standing right next to the cathedral, you’ll find another landmark of Florence, Giotto’s Campanile . This is the cathedral’s bell tower .

The construction of this magnificent tower began in 1334. Thanks to its unique coloring and sculptural decorations it is considered to be one of Italy’s most beautiful spires.

If you like to see the best high-angle view of the Duomo and its impressive dome, be sure to climb the 414 steps to the very top! The views from here are almost as impressive as from Brunelleschi’s Dome, except that you also get to see the dome itself .

TIP: If you have the time and are physically capable, I highly recommend both – the dome climb and Giotto’s bell tower. If you have to choose just one, most people go for the dome. Both towers give you great views of Florence, but the artwork of the Last Judgment in Brunelleschi’s Dome is just too special to miss.

We did both and found that each experience was unique and worth the effort. This ticket includes everything there is to see at the Duomo including Giottos’ Bell Tower, the Dome climb, and more. While the dome climb is timed, you can come back to Giotto’s Tower at any time you like. It’s also open quite late and tends to be much less busy.

3. Piazza del Duomo & the Baptistery of St. John

Piazza del Duomo is Florence’s main square, home to the cathedral and the splendid buildings of Giotto’s Campanile and the Baptistery of St. John.

There are other impressive buildings to see there, too. These include the Loggia del Bigallo (originally a place for lost or abandoned children awaiting adoption) and the Palazzo Nonfinito (Unfinished Palace), which now houses the Museum of Mankind.

The Baptistery of St. John is the oldest religious site in Florence. It dates right back to the middle of the 12th century. It’s wrapped in marble just like the Duomo and the bell tower, but its most stunning features are its incredible bronze doors , which were added in the 15th century. You can see the impressive doors from the square – no need to enter inside.

However, the interior of the Baptistery is equally spectacular, with some beautiful mosaics lining the ceiling of this octagonal building. So if it’s not too busy, be sure to check it out! The good thing is that most people only spend a few minutes inside, so even if there’s a queue, it moves very fast.

Good to know: The ticket to the Baptistery of St. John is usually included with the tickets for the Dome climb and/ or Giotto’s Tower. Most tickets also include admission to Museo dell’Opera del Duomo , which contains many of the original works of art created for the Duomo, and also the Crypt of Santa Reparata , where you can see archeological remains under the cathedral.

You can easily spend half a day at the Duomo complex if you want to visit all these places. But if your time is limited, my personal top-3 would be the Dome climb, Giotto’s Tower, and the Baptistery. If it’s not busy, the Crypt of Santa Reparata can be visited in 10-15 minutes, so I’d consider that too.

4. Uffizi Gallery

It would be unthinkable to go to Florence without paying a visit to the Uffizi Gallery . Established in the 16th century, this is one of the oldest museums in the world. This galleria actually gave name to all the art galleries in the world.

This awesome art museum is the most visited museum in Italy. It’s considered equally as important as the Louvre in Paris or New York’s Metropolitan Museum. You’ll find some of the most important renaissance masterpieces in the world here. These include works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raffaelo, and Leonardo da Vinci .

You could easily spend an entire day admiring the thousands of unique exhibits, but it’s so overwhelming too. As a minimum, allow yourself at least 2 hours to see the very best pieces. However, the challenge is to know where to go and what to see, so I highly recommend visiting the Uffizi Gallery with a guide .

TIP: There are so many tours that visit Uffizi that the choice can get really overwhelming. After lots of research, we opted for this small-group tour and it was absolutely excellent.

Good to know: If you decide to go on your own, be sure to get timed entrance tickets ! The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular attractions in Florence, so the crowds here are enormous.

PRO TIP: If you can, try to visit very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The busiest hours are between 10 am and 3 pm. Also, be sure to do some research about the main paintings in the gallery so that you don’t miss them. Also, please note that Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays.

TIP: Check out the Uffizi Gallery Café on the top floor. It has a lovely outdoor terrace with a view of Palazzo Vecchio – it’s a nice place to rest a bit after all the sightseeing.

5. Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio (the Old Bridge) is the most iconic bridge and one of the must-sees in Florence. It’s located right next to the Uffizi Gallery and connects the city center to the other side of the river.

Until 1218, this was the only bridge crossing the River Arno, and later it remained the only bridge that the fleeing Germans did not destroy in World War II! What you see today is a slightly more recent version which was rebuilt in 1345 after a flood.

There have always been shops on the bridge, however, originally, they were occupied by butchers, tanners, and blacksmiths. This changed in the 16th century when the Medici family built the Vasari Corridor over the bridge and found the meat smell disturbing. Since then, the colorful bridge is lined with gold- and jewelry shops.

The bridge makes a lovely spot for a romantic evening stroll. But my personal favorite time to come here is very early in the morning when there are hardly any people around. This is the only time when you can see the bridge empty.

TIP: In addition to walking over this bridge, it’s just as interesting to simply see it from the sides. That way, you can better appreciate its unique structure. The Ponte Vecchio is especially impressive from a distance. For the best views and photos, head to Ponte Santa Trinita, but don’t forget to see the bridge from the west side too – it’s from here that you can also see the Vasari Corridor (more about it further below).

6. Michelangelo’s David – Galleria dell’Accademia

Galleria dell’Accademia (Accademia Gallery) is another must-see in Florence, attracting huge crowds. The Gallery of Fine Arts was founded here in 1563, making it Europe’s very first art academy.

The main attraction in this museum is the most famous statue in the world – Michelangelo’s ‘David’. Also not to be missed are Giambologna’s ‘Rape of the Sabines’, plus Botticelli’s ‘Madonna and Child’ and ‘Madonna of the Sea’.

In addition to its famous statues, you’ll find collections of paintings from local artists, religious prints dating back to the Middle Ages, and even works created by Accademia’s students.

The building also houses a fascinating Museum of Musical Instruments. It contains more than 50 instruments, some of which were owned by the Medici family and made by famous violin maker Antonius Stradivarius.

Good to know: This is Florence’s second most visited museum and it’s much smaller than the Uffizi Gallery. So the queues here are usually very long. Be sure to get the timed priority entrance tickets online , as they allow you to jump the queue. Please note that Accademia Gallery is closed on Mondays.

TIP: If you want to visit both the Accademia Gallery and the Uffizi museum with a guide, you’ll find plenty of tours that include the two museums .

7. Piazza della Signoria

Located in the heart of the old town, the L-shaped Piazza della Signoria is one of Florence’s most beautiful town squares. Filled with incredible sculptures, statues, Neptune Fountain, and home to the impressive Palazzo Vecchio, this square feels somewhat like an open-air museum.

Don’t miss the extraordinary sculptures at Loggia dei Lanzi, right under the terrace of the Uffizi Gallery café. Also note a copy of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ at the entrance of Palazzo Vecchio. If you don’t have the time to see the original at Galleria dell’Accademia, this gives you a bit of an idea of how special it really is. And if you think this one is impressive, the details of the original will take your breath away.

Be sure to pop back and visit the square in the dark as well. The lit fountains, statues, and buildings give it a magical appearance.

Piazza della Signoria is a great place to learn more about the city’s history, or simply hang out and people-watch. There are many cafes nearby and lots of benches on which to take a break and enjoy a gelato .

TIP: Try to avoid the tourist-oriented gelaterias selling ‘mountains’ of colorful ice cream. Instead, ask locals for recommendations or go for the less colorful, artisanal gelato. One of the better gelaterias in this area is ‘Perché no!’, just 2 minutes walk from Piazza della Signoria. Be sure to try the traditional Florentine ice cream flavor ‘buontalenti’ . It’s named after Bernardo Buontalenti, a 16th-century artist, who is often credited as an inventor of Italian gelato .

8. Palazzo Vecchio & Views from Torre di Arnolfo

The city’s most important historic government building, the 13th-century Palazzo Vecchio now serves as Florence’s town hall and houses a museum. In addition, you can also climb Arnolfo Tower for some of the best views in Florence. The most famous postcard views of the city are photographed from this tower.

Some people prefer to do this to climbing the Duomo dome, as it gives you a great view of the Duomo itself. Having done them all, I think that each is worth it (I know, I’m not helping here). But Arnolfo Tower climb is not as high as the Duomo Dome or Giotto’s Tower, and it’s also less busy and cheaper.

Soaring to 95 meters high, the palace towers over the city, its foundations resting on the remains of an ancient Roman theatre. This means that a visit here gives you a glimpse of three different eras – Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance.

With its cubic shape and battlements, the building of Palazzo Vecchio looks quite impressive and unique from the outside. But its interior is even more stunning. You can see beautifully carved columns and a fountain in the courtyard, then climb the grand staircase to reach the main floor housing the incredible Salone dei Cinquecento .

Good to know: Just as for all the main sights in Florence, it’s best to book your Palazzo Vecchio tickets in advance . This allows you to skip the line and avoid the disappointment of not being able to visit (tower tickets are timed too).

The standard museum ticket doesn’t include the entrance to the tower, so be sure to select that option if you want to do it. Here you can get a ticket that includes both – entry to the palace as well as Arnolfo Tower.

TIP: If you have extra time, consider a guided ‘secret passages’ tour . This tour takes you to the areas of the building that are not accessible to the general public and helps bring the incredibly interesting history to life. Of course, there are regular tours too.

9. Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo Pitti is another incredibly beautiful place to see in Florence. Located on the other side of the river in the Oltrarno district, this magnificent palace has had many famous residents over the years, including the Savoy, Lorraine, and Medici families, along with the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

Once the largest residence in Florence, it is still one of its most impressive! The Galleria Palatina – filled with Italian works of art – is its most famous room, but you can also see contemporary pieces in the Galleria d’Arte Moderna and silverware in the Museo degli Argenti.

The Royal Apartments are also open to visitors, along with the Galleria del Costume. Here you can see how tastes in clothing worn at the palace changed over time. Once you have seen all the rooms and exhibits inside the palace, take time to stroll through the famous Boboli Gardens (more info below).

This palace has a reputation for closing some of the smaller museums quite regularly. If there is one you particularly want to see, then I recommend checking it is open before buying your ticket. On the other hand, there is so much to explore here that you won’t be able to see everything anyway. Some parts of the palace and the gardens were indeed closed during our visit, but we didn’t feel like we missed much. We ran out of time just trying to quickly see some of the musts.

Good to know: The cost of admission to Palazzo Pitti includes all the museums housed within. You need to buy a separate ticket to visit the Boboli Gardens. You can get your tickets for the palace and Boboli Gardens in advance, but normally, you should also be able to get them on the spot. Online tickets will save you time since you won’t have to queue. Keep in mind that Pitti Palace is open daily except on Mondays, whereas the gardens are open daily.

These combination tickets include Piti Palace, Boboli Gardens, and Bardini Gardens. While not nearly as impressive as Boboli Gardens, Bardini Gardens are very pretty too, and they offer really nice views of Florence.

TIP: You can also opt for the Palazzo Pitti tickets that also include Uffizi Gallery (+ the gardens and two other museums as well). These are valid for 5 days, so you don’t have to visit all the places on the same day either. However, as already mentioned before, I’d really consider visiting the Uffizi Gallery with a guided tour, so in that case, your ticket to this museum will already be included.

10. Boboli Gardens

Boboli Gardens are located right behind the Palazzo Pitti. Dotted with beautiful fountains, sculptures, and ancient oak trees, these spectacular gardens have become one of my personal favorite places in Florence. Somehow we completely overlooked them on previous trips, but now that we visited here recently, I can’t recommend them highly enough!

These gardens were designed by the Medici family and their layout was used as a model for many other European courts, Versailles in particular.

One of the prettiest parts is the lovely Viottolone (Cypress Lane), a sloping avenue fringed with trees and the perfect spot for a romantic stroll. It takes you all the way to Vasca dell’Isola (Island Pond), a pretty pond with a fountain and sculptures at its center.

Don’t miss the beautiful rose garden Giardino dei Cavalieri (the Knights Garden). It’s a bit uphill at the very end of the garden and you may wonder if it’s worth the effort, but it sure is. The view of the Tuscan countryside from here is so beautiful.

Other must-sees inside the gardens include Grotta del Buontalenti , an impressive grotto right at the start/end of the Vasari Corridor. Just nearby, there’s also a smaller Grotta di Madama , that’s really special too.

Good to know: Boboli Gardens are usually open daily and the main entrance is through the courtyard of the Pitti Palace. You can get a ticket in advance , but you should also be able to get it on the spot.

TIP: There is A LOT to see at both Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. If you are short on time, I recommend taking a tour that includes both, so you don’t miss the highlights. Tours run all year round and take around 3 hours. This is one of the best tours that covers all the highlights here.

11. Vasari Corridor

Connecting Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery in the city center with the Pitti Palace on the other side of the Arno River, the Vasari Corridor ( Corridoio Vasariano ) is one of the most intriguing places in Florence. It was built in 1565 by the Medici family to give them easy and secure access between the two palaces.

This 1 km-long elevated passageway can best be seen from the Uffizi Gallery or from the western side of the Ponte Vecchio bridge (the corridor is actually built on top of the shops located on the bridge). It contains antique statues, 16th-century frescoes that were once on the exterior of the corridor’s walls, and memorials connected to bombings that occurred in Florence in the mid to late 20th century.

Good to know: This passage has never been really open to the general public, with few exceptions, and has always been surrounded by some mystery. However, this is about to change. The Vasari Corridor is undergoing a complete renovation. It was supposed to open to the public a few years ago, but the opening was delayed time and again. At the moment of the last update, they don’t even show the approximate date anymore.

When/if it opens, you’ll be able to walk from the ground floor of the Uffizi Gallery, over Ponte Vecchio, and all the way to Boboli Gardens. You’ll need a separate ticket for this and more information will be available here by the time when the actual opening date is in sight.

12. Basilica di Santa Croce

Florence has many wonderful churches, but this one may just be the best! If you visit just one church in Florence inside, make it the Basilica of Santa Croce , located on the Piazza di Santa Croce in the city center. It’s worth it even more than seeing the inside of the Duomo.

This impressive Basilica has a stunning neo-Gothic facade with colored marble and white stone. Just as most other Basilicas in Florence, it also has an impressive courtyard. However, in the case of Basilica di Santa Croce, it’s the inside of the church that is worth visiting the most.

Inside, light pours onto the wide nave through the gorgeous stained glass windows and highlights the imposing marble pulpit created by the Renaissance sculptor Benedetto da Maiano. The church is also filled with Donatello sculptures, beautiful frescoes, and the tombs of some very famous people .

Don’t miss the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Rossini, and Machiavelli, to mention just a few. You’ll also see the tomb of Dante, although he’s actually buried in Ravenna and not in Florence where he was born.

Good to know: The entry fee includes admission to the entire church complex, including the museum, cloisters, etc. You can get tickets online in advance , but when we visited, they were more expensive because they charged an extra reservation fee. We found that it was easy enough to visit without advance reservation (and it’s more flexible too), but this might depend on when you visit, of course.

13. Basilica di San Lorenzo & Medici Chapels

No list of the best things to do in Florence would be complete without mentioning Basilica di San Lorenzo . Consecrated in 393 by Saint Ambrose of Milan, Basilica di San Lorenzo claims to be Florence’s oldest church. For a period of around 300 years, it was actually the city’s cathedral. But one of its main claims to fame is that it was also the parish church of the Medici family, so it remained an incredibly important building.

Located in the center of Florence’s main market district, the basilica complex has 5 different sections to explore. These include the pretty cloister, the library, the church itself, The Old Sacristy, and the Medici Chapels – the burial place of the Medici family.

While the church and the cloisters are interesting to see, I find that the Medici Chapels ( Capelle Medici ) are worth a visit most of all. I’d even dare say that this is one of the most remarkable places to see in Florence. In addition to the Medici tombs, you can also see some sculptures by Michelangelo, such as the statues of Dawn and Dusk at the Tomb of Lorenzo Duke of Urbino.

Good to know: You need separate tickets for the basilica (which give you access to the main church, crypt, and cloisters), the library, and the Medici Chapels.

The church is easy to visit and you can just get the tickets on the spot without any advance planning. I’m not sure about the library – it wasn’t open when we visited, and frankly, it didn’t look like it was an absolute must-see in Florence. But the Medici Chapels are well worth it and this is one of the places where you might want to consider booking tickets in advance.

The Medici Chapels have somewhat unusual opening times, so it requires some planning. Also, because the chapel isn’t big, they only allow a certain number of people. You may get lucky that the queue is not too long and you can just get a ticket upon arrival. However, if you absolutely want to be sure to visit inside without wasting time, it’s best to get a timed entrance ticket in advance.

14. Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

There are so many churches in Florence that you could spend days and days trying to see all of them (and who has the time or interest, right?).

But as far as the very best ones go – and well worth a visit – there’s one more church that deserves a mention among the top places in Florence. That’s the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella .

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella is located right next to the main railway station of Florence (which is actually named after this church). Founded between 1279 and 1357 by Dominican monks, the basilica has stunning stained glass windows and a Gothic interior filled with frescoes. You can see lots of works by famous artists here, including Brunelleschi, Botticelli, and Vasari’s ‘Madonna of the Rosary’.

We found that the cloisters of this basilica are particularly impressive. As you leave the hustle and bustle of the busy city behind the thick walls, it feels like stepping inside a real oasis of calm.

Good to know: The Basilica is open daily, with hours depending on the season and day of the week. While they also offer online tickets , we just got ours on the spot and it wasn’t busy at all. See their website for more practical info. Please also note that you are not allowed to take large bags into the church and there is no cloakroom. The closest place to leave them is in the lockers at the railway station. Regular day-backpacks should be ok.

TIP: If you visit around noon, you may see how the sun shining through the stained glass window marks the time of the year on the calendar on the floor.

15. San Lorenzo Market

Mercato Centrale Firenze , aka San Lorenzo Market , is one of the most popular places to visit in Florence for tourists. If you are looking for a nice place for lunch or even dinner, it’s definitely a great choice.

This bustling market is actually made up of two markets. The Mercato Centrale is indoors and devoted to food , whilst the outdoor section lining the surrounding streets sells everything from clothing and leather to pottery and souvenirs. This is a great place to buy gifts to take home, but it’s so overwhelming that I wouldn’t even know where to start choosing… Also, nearly all the goods sold here are marked at prices higher than you should expect to pay, so be sure to haggle.

I recommend that you come to San Lorenzo Market for some local food from various regions in Italy . The indoor market has many cafes and various places selling food, including a big food court on the top floor. And since the market is located so close to most of the main tourist sights in Florence center, it’s really simple to plan a visit (or a few) here.

We had lunch at Mercato Centrale a few times. From Tuscan specialties at one of the wine shops ( enoteca ‘s) on the ground floor to fresh pasta in the food court upstairs, everything was delicious, well-priced, and served with a smile. If you are brave enough to try the traditional Florentine sandwich lampredotto (made with tripe/cow stomach), head to the ‘Da Nerbone’ restaurant upstairs.

TIP: If you want to avoid the crowds and find a good place to sit, it’s best to arrive at the market before the popular Italian dining times. So for lunch, it’s best to come a bit before noon. Most locals have lunch at around 1-2 pm and the market gets really busy at that time.

Good to know: If you want to take food from the market back home with you, chat to your vendor about which products are permitted across different borders. The vendors all speak very good English and are very knowledgeable on this subject. They will also vacuum pack items for you on request.

16. Views from Piazzale Michelangelo

Located on a hill on the Arno’s south bank, Piazzale Michelangelo is Florence’s most famous sunset spot. It offers truly jaw-dropping panoramic views across the city. And whilst it is extremely popular (and crowded) in the evenings, the views across the city skyline and Tuscan hills are spectacular whatever time of day you choose to visit.

There is plenty to see and do on the square itself, which contains lots of replicas of Michelangelo’s statues and a memorial to the artist. There is also a loggia containing a restaurant and coffee bar, lots of street vendors, live music from time to time, and a very vibrant atmosphere.

If you come here in the evening on a nice sunny summer’s day, it almost feels like you are attending some kind of festival…

Good to know: You can drive to the square (there is a car park) or take the bus or a taxi. But if you don’t mind a bit of uphill climbing, you can also easily walk here from the city center! On the way, you’ll see the Porta San Niccolò – a high watchtower that was once part of the city’s defenses – and the beautiful Giardino delle Rose (rose garden) which is free to visit.

TIP: We visited Piazzale Michelangelo with this highly-rated e-bike city tour . We opted for the 6 pm tour in summer and were at the viewpoint about an hour before the sunset. We got to enjoy some spectacular views in a beautiful light with little effort. However, please note that biking in the center of Florence is not something you should do if you haven’t biked for a while. But if you bike at home once in a while, you should be just fine.

17. Piazza Santo Spirito & Basilica di Santo Spirito

One of Florence’s liveliest neighborhoods, the area around Piazza Santo Spirito is one of the nicest places to soak up a more local atmosphere in Florence!

Constantly busy, this area attracts an ever-changing crowd of local artisans, intellectuals, and students. In the morning, you can visit a local market here. But the area really comes to life at night, when the surrounding galleries and boutiques close, and the restaurants and bars begin to open.

In addition to enjoying a refreshing drink at one of the square’s many open terraces, be sure to visit the Basilica di Santo Spirito . This little church was Brunelleschi’s last masterpiece. It looks quite plain from the outside, but inside it is filled with many noteworthy pieces of art. These include The Cenacolo – a depiction of the Last Supper.

Good to know: In keeping with its hip and happening atmosphere, Piazza Santo Spirito holds regular markets and fairs. Local artisans display their wares on weekdays, whilst the weekends are set aside for vintage goods and food.

TIP: If you are looking for a nice restaurant for dinner , you’ll find plenty of great choices in this area. However, it’s best to book in advance. Or hope for some luck and use the trick of arriving at the restaurant as soon as it opens, before the locals start to arrive at 8-8.30 pm.

I indicated some of our favorite restaurants (not just in this area) on our map below.

18. Fontana del Porcellino

No list of the best things to do in Florence would be complete without mentioning the Fontana del Porcellino . And no, it can’t compare to the incredible architecture and Renaissance masterpieces you see in the city, but it’s one of those places that you really can’t miss when visiting Florence.

Fontana del Porcellino is the local nickname for the rather unique bronze boar fountain , located in the Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, also known as the Leather Market. It’s just a short walk from the main tourist attractions in Florence, just one block from Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria. Well worth a quick stop.

This famous pig has appeared in the 2001 film Hannibal and two different Harry Potter films. Originally placed to provide water to merchants trading locally, it is now a popular spot for making wishes! Tradition also has it that if you rub the boar’s nose before you leave Florence (and put a coin in its mouth), you are sure to return one day in the future.

Good to know: The fountain stands at the small market where you can buy all kinds of leather goods – purses, wallets, etc. If you find the street vendors at Mercato San Lorenzo overwhelming, this market is much smaller.

19. Florence Rooftops

Now that we covered all the must-sees in Florence, there’s something else that I’d like to add. Something that is not a must in any way, but will make your visit to this beautiful city so much more memorable. The stunning views from the rooftop bars and restaurants in Florence.

With such incredible architecture and a stunning setting surrounded by the Tuscan hills, Florence has some of the most beautiful skylines of any European city. You’ll see some amazing views if you climb the dome of the Duomo or the towers mentioned in our guide, but this doesn’t compare to a more relaxing experience of enjoying the amazing views from the rooftop bars and restaurants.

TIP: If you want to enjoy the best views without having to plan much, visit rooftop terraces during the day. For the best light and sunset views, go about an hour before sunset, but try to reserve a table in advance if possible.

There are so many beautiful rooftop bars in Florence that I felt they deserve a separate guide with more info. So if you are looking for a nice place to enjoy some of the best views in the city without too much effort, definitely check it out via the link below. It also includes the best hotels with rooftops – something to consider for an even more memorable stay!

LEARN MORE: Florence Rooftop Guide

More suggestions for things to do in Florence

As you can imagine, there is much more to see and do in Florence than covered in this guide.

While the places mentioned above will keep you busy for at least 2-3 days, here are some additional suggestions for what to see and do in Florence that are worth it if you have more time and/or want to escape the biggest crowds.

More things to do in Florence city:

• Riccardi Medici Palace . A beautifully-preserved Renaissance palace, just near the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
• Bargello National Museum . Located in one of the oldest buildings in Florence (1255), this is now a beautiful art museum where you can see the sculptures of Michelangelo and Donatello, among many other masterpieces.
• Leonardo Interactive Museum . This is a very popular museum featuring life-size machines based on the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci. Here, you can actually interact with the exhibits, so it’s really fun for the whole family. This is quickly becoming a very popular place to visit in Florence, beyond the traditional ‘must-sees’, so it’s best to get timed tickets in advance .
• Cooking classes. If you are looking for something special and more local to do in Florence, check out the big selection of cooking experiences .

Of course, one of the best things to do in Florence is simply wandering around the city center, exploring its incredible architecture, cozy streets, and looking for little hidden gems that will make your trip even more special.

In addition to the main attractions in Florence city center, there’s so much to see nearby . You can visit Bologna from Florence or Cinque Terre (even if just for a day), or rent a car and explore the nicest places and towns in Tuscany on your own. Or you can also opt for one of the many organized tours.

Here are some of the best day tours from Florence:

• Cinque Terre: This is the most popular and best-rated day tour .
• Tuscan towns & countryside: This is the best-rated day tour (you visit Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, and more).
• Wine & Tuscan countryside: This is a very popular half-day tour . This full-day tour takes you to the beautiful Val d’Orcia (including Montalcino, Pienza, and Montepulciano).

READ ALSO: What to See & Do in Siena & Best Things to Do in Montepulciano

Map of the Best Places to Visit in Florence

Florence is a very walkable city and all the main sights are located really close to each other.

But to help you orient, I created this map indicating all the best things to do in Firenze mentioned in our guide. I also included a few restaurant recommendations, based on our most recent experience in the city.

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

So, this is our guide to some of the best experiences and things to do in Florence. I hope that this guide helps you plan your visit to this incredibly beautiful historic city and make the most of your time there.

No matter what you have learned about the Renaissance period from books or television, there is nothing quite like visiting its birthplace and seeing its marvels first-hand.

READ ALSO: How to see the best of Florence in 1 day

Where to Stay

As already mentioned, Florence’s city center is quite compact and very walkable. So you can stay pretty much anywhere within 15-20 minutes walking distance from the Duomo and it will be ok.

That being said, one of the most convenient areas – especially if you are traveling by train – is the area close to the main railway station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella), or between the station and the river. It’s just a few minutes walk from the main landmarks AND you don’t have to take a taxi or walk far with your luggage.

Here are some hotel suggestions within a short walking distance from the railway station:

• €€€€€+ The Westin Excelsior .
• €€€€€ Hotel Calimala .
• €€€€ Hotel Croce di Malta (this is where we stayed on a recent trip – it has a beautiful rooftop bar and a garden pool!).
• €€€ Hotel Machiavelli Palace .
• €€ B&B Le Stanze del Duomo (one of the best-rated affordable hotels near Duomo).
• €+ Plus Florence (one of the most popular low-budget options).
• € Hotel Bodoni .

More travel inspiration for some of the nicest Italian cities:

• Best cities to see in Italy
• Best things to do in Rome
• Hidden gems of Rome
• Best things to do in Venice (+ Doge’s Palace & Venice Gondola )
• Best things to do in Milan
• Best things to do in Bologna
• Best things to do in Siena (+ Siena Cathedral )
• Best things to do in Montepulciano
• Best things to do in Naples
• Best things to do in Verona
• Best things to do in Ravenna
• Rome in 1 day
• Rome in 2 days
• Rome in 4 days
• Venice in 1 day
• Venice in 3 days
• Milan in 1 day
• Naples in 1 day

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

Some of our favorite places in Italy:

• Best places to visit in Italy
• Best Places to See at Lake Como
• Capri Island
• Naples area
• Best places in the Dolomites
• Bellagio (Lake Como)
• Varenna (Lake Como)
• Best towns to visit in Lake Como
• Cinque Terre vs. Amalfi Coast
• Most Beautiful Coastal Towns of the Italian Riviera
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Thursday 12th of October 2023

I'm putting together my FIRST trip/MBM to Italy (talk about overwhelming).... so glad I found your site! I would like to take a day trip via train from Florence to Siena, is that an option and if so, what is the speed train system? Thank you ~

Saturday 14th of October 2023

Hi Terri, yes, of course, you can easily visit Siena from Florence in a day. There are also tours available (but they usually visit several towns, spending little time in each - ideal if you want to see a lot in a day, but not ideal if you want to explore deeper). So if you just want to explore Siena, it's better to go on your own. Traveling in Italy by train is really simple and straightforward. You can use websites like Omio to compare all the best transportation options for any route you want to take and book your train/bus tickets. Between Florence and Siena, you can opt for a train or a bus. In this specific case, the bus is faster, but the train can be more comfortable and trains run more frequently. PS You may also want to take a look at our guide to the best places to see in Siena. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Tuesday 23rd of August 2022

You write the the best blogs! I enjoy reading them and they help a great deal in planning my trips. Thank you! :)

Friday 26th of August 2022

Thank you so much for your kind feedback, Rima. Happy travels!

Michael Cicchi

Monday 13th of June 2022

I will save this article for use also. I believe I would have to live here for two weeks.😀

Tuesday 14th of June 2022

:) Yes, indeed, Michael, there's so much to see in and around Florence. You could easily spend a few weeks in Tuscany and never get bored. Happy travels!

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15 Top Tourist Attractions in Florence, Italy

By Kay Pierce · Last updated on May 4, 2024

The capital city of Italy’s Tuscany region, Florence is internationally esteemed for its high concentration of Renaissance art and architecture. Because it served as a wealthy and important center for medieval trade and commerce, the city gave birth to the Italian Renaissance movement.

Florence is also credited with propagating many artists, inventors, writers, scientists and explorers as well as inventing opera and the florin currency, which lifted Europe from the Dark Ages.

Map of Florence

Simulating one enormous outdoor art museum, the city of Florence attracts millions of tourists every year. Walking is the best way to see the major tourist attractions in Florence. Some of the best places to walk include the Ponte Vecchio, a beautiful bridge spanning the Arno River and featuring a number of high-end jewelry shops.

15. Mercato Nuovo

Covered with an ornate loggia supported by open arches, the Mercato Nuovo is one of the most unusual marketplaces in Florence. While souvenirs like straw hats are sold here, it’s the history and legends connected with Mercato Nuovo that most attract visitors. In the center of the loggia is the “stone of shame,” a place where debtors were once punished with bare-bottom spankings.

A colorful Italian expression for winding up broke may have originated from this practice. On the southern side of the loggia is the Fontana del Porcellino, a fountain that features a bronze boar statue. Rubbing the snout of the “Piglet” is said to bring good fortune.

14. San Miniato al Monte

Perched high atop a hill, the oldest church in Florence offers panoramic views of one of Italy’s most scenic cities. Behinds its charming green-and-white façade is a treasure trove of beautiful art. Medieval frescoes, mosaics and inlaid-marble floors adorn the chapels of the Romanesque structure. The Renaissance era is well represented too.

With its carved pilasters, medallion ceilings, marble statuary and colorful frescoes, the Cappella del Cardinale del Portogallo showcases the diversity of the era. San Minato is most enchanting in the early evening when Benedictine monks celebrate mass with Gregorian chanting.

13. Piazza della Repubblica

One of the oldest sections of Florence, the Piazza della Repubblica sits on the site of the city’s Roman forum. The Colonna dell’Abbondanza, a monument built in 1431, marks the exact center of the ancient settlement. Densely inhabited during the Medieval Era, the square was completely renovated during the 1800s.

A triumphal arch on the west side of the plaza commemorates its transformation. Today, the plaza is best known for its elegant Neoclassical structures, luxury shops and outdoor eateries, including the famous Giubbe Rosse café, a notable meeting place for artists and writers.

12. Loggia dei Lanzi

Renaissance art and architecture are on full display at this ceremonial building adjacent to a corner of the Piazza della Signoria. Supported by columns topped with Corinthian capitals, wide arches invite visitors to view the sculptures under the bay of this open-air gallery.

Benvenuto Cellini’s bronze statue of Perseus holding the head of Medusa is a star attraction. Carved from a single block of white marble, the “Rape of the Sabine Women” by Giambologna is awe-inspiring as well. Considered a masterpiece of composition and movement, the dramatic sculpture was constructed to be viewed from all sides.

11. Santa Croce Church

No visit to Florence is complete without paying homage to the city’s most famous inhabitants, many of whom are buried within the church nicknamed the Temple of the Italian Glories.

The world’s largest Franciscan church, Santa Croce is the final resting place for luminaries like Michelangelo, Rossini, Galileo and Dante. The cathedral’s 16 chapels also feature breath-taking works of art, including frescoes by Giotto painted at the height of his talent.

The realism of his “Death of St. Francis” helped lay the foundation for the Renaissance Era. Located in the cathedral’s first cloister, the Pazzi Chapel is a must-see as well. Built after a design by Filippo Brunelleschi, it’s regarded as a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.

10. Palazzo Pitti

The Palazzo Pitti is a large 15th century palace situated on the quieter south bank of the Arno river The palace was long the residence of Florence’s rulers until 1919, when it was handed over to the Italian state, which transformed the palace into a museum complex.

In spite of its metamorphosis from royal residence to a state-owned public building, the palazzo, sitting on its elevated site overlooking Florence, still retains the air and atmosphere of a private collection in a grand house.

9. Piazzale Michelangelo

The Piazzale Michelangelo is a large, partly pedestrianized square located across the Arno River from the center of Florence. From the square visitors have a magnificent view over the city.

The spacious square was laid out in 1860 by Giuseppe Poggi, a local architect who is also known for his creation of boulevards around the center of Florence.

8. Boboli Gardens

Located behind the Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens were created by the Medici family in the 16th century. The beautiful and varied Italianesque garden is home to a large number of statues and fountains. The gardens have passed through several stages of enlargement and restructuring work.

They were enlarged in the 17th century to their present extent and have come to form an outdoor museum of garden sculpture that includes Roman antiquities as well as later works.

7. Basilica di San Lorenzo

Situated at the center of the city’s main market district, the Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the oldest churches of Florence and was the burial place of all

The church, originally designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century, is an early example of ecclesiastical Renaissance architecture. The façade of this church was never completed, giving it a striking, rustic appearance. Inside the church is pure Renaissance neo-classical splendor.

6. Galleria dell’Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia or “Gallery of the Academy” is certainly the most famous for its sculptures by the great Renaissance artist, Michelangelo. His Prisoners (or Slaves), his St. Matthew and, above all, the outstanding statue of David are what draw most of the hundreds of thousands of visitors the museum welcomes every year.

Other works on display are Florentine paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries, including works by Sandro Botticelli and from the High Renaissance such as Giambologna’s original plaster for the Rape of the Sabine Women.

5. Palazzo Vecchio

One of Florence’s most significant buildings is the Palazzo Vecchio, a grand palace overlooking the Piazza della Signoria. Built in the 12th century, the Palazzo Vecchio housed the powerful Medici family as well as Florence’s supreme governing body for six centuries.

Since 1872, it has served in part as a museum and as the city town hall. This impressive palace packs a wealth of artifacts and art works that include beautiful frescoes, sculptures, painted ceilings, intricate carvings and tapestries that all depict historic and Biblical events.

4. Piazza della Signoria

Serving over the centuries as an important center for politics and the site of several historic episodes, the Piazza della Signoria is a beautiful square centered among some of the top attractions in Florence.

It is here that tourists can visit remarkable places like the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Museum, the Palazzo Uguccioni, the Loggia de Lanzi and the nearby Ponte Vecchio bridge. This town square is also a treasure trove of notable sculptures such as a replica of Michelangelo’s Statue of David, the Fountain of Neptune, Hercules and Cacus as well as Perseus with the Head of Medusa.

3. Uffizi Gallery

Regarded today as one of the world’s greatest art museums, the Uffizi Gallery is located off the Piazza della Signoria. This former palace was first built in 1560 to house the offices of the city magistrates.

After the ruling dynasty of the Medici family relinquished its power, the palace evolved into an art gallery to showcase its stunning collection of Renaissance art treasures. Opened to the public since 1765, the museum offers thousands of art works by masters like Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Titian.

2. Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest, as well as the most famous, of the six bridges that cross Florence’s Arno River. Up until 1218, this bridge, also known as the Old Bridge, was the only bridge to cross that river.

Historians believe that the original bridge goes back to Roman times. The bridge connected the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace across the river from it. Unfortunately, a flood destroyed the structure in 1333.

Twelve years later, in 1345, the bridge was rebuilt. Workers replaced the original five arches with three, and widened the main part of the bridge. At this time, the bridge hosted shops and houses authorized by the Bargello, who was a combination mayor and magistrate.

Towards the 15th century, the shops were sold to private owners. Butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers occupied most of the shops. However, in 1593, due to the rank smell of the waste from these shops, Ferdinand I dictated that only goldsmiths and jewelers were allowed to own shops on the bridge. Today the shops sell affordable jewelry as well as expensive antiques and leather goods. In addition, the bridge serves as an art museum.

During WWII, the Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge crossing the Arno in Florence that the Germans did not destroy. Instead, they demolished the buildings on each end of the bridge to block access to it. In November 1966, the river again went through a serious flood. This time, however, the bridge withstood the weight of the silt and the water.

The Ponte Vecchio is a work of art, created with elements from all parts of the Florentine character. A walk across it gives one the chance to view and enjoy the many aspects of Florentine life both old and new.

1. Santa Maria del Fiore

Dominating the panoramic view of Florence is the Santa Maria del Fiore, the domed cathedral that is often called the Duomo. Known today as the world’s largest masonry dome, this majestic cathedral features 600 years worth of stunning architecture and art works.

Planning for the new church began in the late 1200s and building started in 1296. Unfortunately, politics and the plague interrupted the construction several times. In 1375, workers were instructed to tear down the partially completed church and start over. Except for the marble on the outside, the Florence Cathedral was completed in 1436.

The first architect to work on the Cathedral was Arnolfo di Cambio. He designed it in the Gothic style and left space for a huge dome to top the building. However, he had no idea how to build this dome. Fortunately, Filippo Brunelleschi, a goldsmith and clockmaker, solved this puzzle.

Added in the 15th century, Brunelleschi’s dome is 45 meters wide and 114.5 meters high (148 and 377 feet), and it is the largest masonry dome ever built. Because of the size of the dome, Brunelleschi made use of a unique building technique that had been used previously in Persia. He used 37,000 tons of brick, stone and timber, along with a unique herringbone pattern of laying the bricks, to create the dome. Four hundred sixty three steps were included to allow access to the top of the dome.

The facade of the Florence Cathedral was only partially built and remained that way for some time. It was then dismantled in 1587-1588. Architects at that time felt that the original Gothic exterior was old fashioned. In 1864, a competition was held to design a new façade. Emilio de Fabris won the competition, and in 1887, his façade was completed. It was a neo-Gothic façade in green, white and red marble, which complemented the cathedral’s 14th century bell tower. The use of circles, squares and triangles distinguished it from other French churches.

There are many great works of art in the interior of the Cathedral. Some of the most beautiful aspects of the Cathedral are the frescoes. The largest of these depicts the Last Judgment, designed by Giorgio Vasiri, but painted by his student, Federico Zuccari.

Through close inspection of the Cathedral, one can notice the differences in architectural styles used through the years. For instance, while the inside of the church, with the big arches and vaults is Gothic style, the dome is Renaissance style. One can find differences such as these throughout the Florence Cathedral.

Best Time to Visit Florence

The best times of year to visit Florence are either in spring or autumn – so from April to June and September to October. This is when the weather is mild but sunny and prices are a bit lower.

In summer, the city is overrun with tourists and the scorching heat makes sightseeing quite unpleasant at times. While July is the hottest month, averaging highs of 29°C (84°F though often much hotter), August is when most locals take their holidays and head out of Florence, closing their shops and restaurants in the meantime.

For a more authentic experience, you may also want to consider visiting between December and February. During this time the city is very quiet, prices are low and there are almost no queues and crowds. The weather is much cooler however, averaging from a low of 8°C (46°F) to a high of 9°C (49°F).

Although Florence doesn’t go all out for Christmas, the decorations and lights make it pretty magical to explore in wintertime. Due to all its romantic streets, many people head here for Valentine’s Day with its carnival also enticing plenty of visitors in the run up to Lent.

Another unforgettable event is the fiercely-contested Calcio Storico which is held each June in Piazza di Santa Croce. An early form of football, it sees colourfully-clad players representing each quarter of the city battle it out before baying crowds of locals and tourists alike.

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Reader interactions.

June 15, 2024 at 3:35 pm

Perfect guide. I am planning a trip to Florence – so I have read your guide with great pleasure. I am planning my trip in October – the temperature look ok, and that time 😉

February 25, 2019 at 1:41 am

Thanks for good advice and tips for places to visit in Florence. We planning to go this summer and looking forward to seeing the places mentioned.

January 19, 2019 at 5:58 am

The streets of Florence are a museum and a tribute to the incredible history of the capitol city of Tuscany. we spent many days getting to know the city by walking and also taking in the entire list that is discussed here. We have been to Florence twice and although it is a long way from Australia it is worth every moment spent travelling. Go to this city and lose youself in the beauty and magic that it has to offer.

August 12, 2018 at 1:55 am

What a great guide! We definitely will keep this in mind, for when we are going to Florence. It is such a lovely place.

April 25, 2017 at 1:47 pm

Wauw. This is a great post with a lot of valuable information. I haven’t been in Florence, but now I will def. consider it again when going to Italy

April 4, 2017 at 7:09 am

Yeah, it is a great list! I think you pick up the most important places and it is not easy because Florence is just full of things to see! I have one extra place to add and that is Piazza Santa Croce and its church. To me that’s the most authentic square you can find and it has a special charm. Of course it is a touristic attraction but less then others and its light is very special. I love to sit on one of its stone bench and just stare at light changing the colour of the Santa Croce Church facade by the sunset. Here you can find some history too, and it is peculiar. http://www.fibnb.com/insights/florence/basilica-of-santa-croce-in-florence/

December 4, 2016 at 4:25 am

Great post with all the best things to do in Florence. I have a few pieces of extra advice: Choose Forti di Belvedere insteaf of Piazzale Michelangelo. The view is at least as awesome, and there are almost no tourists. Do take your time to get lost in the old streets of Florence. Actually this might be the true number 1 thing to do in Florence. If you can – time your visit in Florence for one the many festivals in the city. Especially Scoppio del carro – festival of the exploding cart is fantastic. Hope to see you in Florence sometime.

May 17, 2016 at 3:12 pm

I agree with Jacob’s comment. I went through the list and couldn’t believe that the Galleria dell’Accademia was absent. I have been to Florence many times and always, ALWAYS take friends to see “THE DAVID” first thing.

October 23, 2015 at 12:28 am

Just realized I haven’t written a comment here, so I just wanted to say thank you for this awesome post. I bookmarked it before we went to Florence for 2 days in July this summer and it proved really helpful.

Thank you so much for an awesome guide!

September 12, 2015 at 2:47 am

Great article! I agree, Florence is fantastic. Just imagine all the great artists who lived here.

And yeah, Il Duomo is definitely the #1 attraction. I think you could add Galleria dell’Accademia to the list though – besides from that it’s perfect.

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