Florence, or Firenze, is located in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is well known for its significant culture and art history. There are tons of awesome things to do throughout this area depending on your interests. We happen to have a wide variety of interests so our explorations were far and wide. These are the activities that we recommend as cannot miss activities while in Florence, Italy!

Historical Art

1. Piazza Duomo

Plan time within your trip to stop by the Florence Cathedral. The full name is the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, translating into Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower. Often just called the Duomo. This was the name that we heard the most while in the area. It is possible to visit inside and consists of multiple areas including the actual cathedral (free entry), Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery of St. John, museum, and Brunelleschi’s Dome.

There are multiple ticket options that determine where you will have entrance into. We chose the pass that allowed us to go to the bell tower. This was because you can get an amazing photo of Florence with the dome in the photo, like the one above! The bell tower is only by stairs and it has 414 steps to the very top. Be prepared for a very small and spiral staircase. There is only one way up and down.

To go into the Baptistery of St. John, women must have their shoulders covered and be wearing close toed shoes. I recommend bringing a scarf or shawl with you. If you forget one, there are plenty of people selling them outside. The Cathedral requires the same dress code but is free to enter. Ross did go inside and said it was beautiful and there is some artifacts in the basement area.

When ordering tickets, it is recommended to double check which areas it grants you access to. They also have timed entry, so ensure you have time to go between places if needed. There are lockers available and you are required to put large bags in the lockers before access is granted.

Website: Piazza Duomo

Time/Cost: Dependent on where you go and how long you take. Visiting the Cathedral and the Bell Tower was around 1.5 hours for us.

2. Galleria dell’Accademia

Everyone knows about Michelangelo’s David and this art museum is his home. This gallery is located in the in the Dorsoduro district of Florence. Along with visiting David, there is plenty of other artwork to take in. In staying with the Michelangelo trend, there are many of his other sculptures that show his artistic process. We booked a guided tour to the gallery and it was a great choice! It was very helpful to understand the different art pieces and how they all were related. This gallery is also home to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and many other great artworks!

Address: Via Ricasoli, 58/60 50122 Firenze

Cost: 13€

Time: 1.5 hours

Website: Galleria dell’Accademia

*Tip: Book ahead of time, we didn’t so the only way we got tickets was to buy the guided tour which was more expensive.*

Explore Florence Town

1. Wine Windows

One of the most fun experiences when in Italy is eating pasta and drinking wine. Throughout the city there are multiple small windows on walls that have a bell. When you ring the bell, a person will open the window and you can buy a glass of wine! These windows have a history dating back to the 16th century and have experience different eras. Now they are a fun way to get your wine and remember some history.

Address: Via Santo Spirito, 21R, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy (this is the one we went to but there are many more!)

Time: 30 minutes (there was a line when we arrived)

Options: it is possible to go on your own and just ring the bell, there are also many wine tours that will include these spots)

2. Arno River Bridge Shops

Have you ever been to shops that are built into a bridge? Head over to the Arno River bridge and that’s where you will find plenty of shops that are located right on the bridge! We walked over the bridge a few different times as we were walking around Florence. It is always a lovely area. If you go too early or too late, the shops may not be open. If you are wanting a cute photo, I highly recommend heading to the other bridge early in the morning to get a photo in front of the Arno Bridge.

3. Piazzle Michelangelo

One of my favorite spots to watch the sunset in Florence was from this plaza! They have the statue of David in the center of the plaza. All around is an amazing view of Florence. There are often little food carts around as well. We grabbed dinner then found a spot to watch the sunset. It was extremely crowded when we were there. Sunrise likely would have fewer people. It has been said that this plaza is a common spot for evening dance parties. Sadly, we did not experience that. Perhaps it is only on the weekends or later into the evening. Still an amazing view!

Get Outside of Florence

Town Area

1. Tuscany Day Hike

This was high on our to-do list. We chose to do a 5 mile hike that took us through some vineyards and olive orchards. There was also a small castle along the way! It was absolutely gorgeous and a great way to experience a different part of the region. We chose this one as it was only a half day hike and very easily accessible with utilizing the busses in and around Florence. There are tons of other hikes that are much longer and allow for stopping at different wineries along the way. A great option is to rent an e-bike if you plan to do a longer route!

Hike: Grassina – Vacciano – San Giusto

Time: ~6 hours depending on travel time to get there

App Used: AllTrails

2. Tuscany Italy Day Tours

If you have the time in your schedule, it is possible to take guided Tuscany day tours. These are often to visit different vineyards and other parts of the country side. We did not have time to do this but here are some links that can be used to schedule your tour —

3. Saturnia Springs Day Trip

Another option of getting out of the Florence city is to head to Saturnia Springs! This is a well-known spring that has mineral water that supposedly has healing properties so it is common for people from the area to visit. We had rented a car to go here. It is also possible to use the public transportation system to get to the springs. If you do not arrive super early, there likely will be crowds. They have a small lunch area so it is possible to get snacks or lunch. They also have bathrooms and showers. Make sure to pack good water shoes! It is also important to note this can be a day trip from Rome as well.

Cost: Free

Time: 1-2 hours, not including travel time.

Are you planning a trip to Florence, Italy soon? We would love to hear about it! Check out our other posts related to Italy!

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