A lot of people visit Florence every year. It’s one of the most popular cities in Italy. If you’re reading this blog post you’re probably wondering “Is Florence worth visiting?”. Is it worth the hype? I’ll give you my view based on my personal experience there.
Yes, Florence is a must-visit destination. It has a rich history, it’s the birthplace of Renaissance, it has numerous world-renowned museums, and amazing food. It’s a really beautiful city that’s worth exploring while you’re in Italy.
However, be prepared for a lot of crowds no matter when you visit. Florence is not that big of a city, so you’ll always find a lot of people at the main attractions. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance
Palazzo Vecchio
Palazzo Vecchio is Florence’s town hall and the majority of it is a museum that’s open to the public. It was built in 1299 and it used to be the residence of the Medici family. Palazzo Vecchio has some secret passages that were used by the Medici family to escape their enemies. History is so fascinating. I wish I could go back in time and be a fly on the wall to see how they lived.
The Palazzo also has a replica of Michelangelo’s statue of David.
Piazza della Signoria
Palazzo Vecchio is located in Piazza della Signoria, the most famous square in Florence. You can also find Loggia dei Lanzi here. It’s basically an open-air museum with wide arches and a lot of statues. Tourists tend to sit down by the statues, so it’s also a place to hang out and catch your breath in between sightseeing.
Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens
The Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) is a Renaissance palace that used to be the Medici family residence after Palazzo Vecchio. Today it is a museum and it houses a lot of works of art that were owned by the Medici family.
The Boboli Gardens are located right behind the Pitti Palace. The gardens were designed for the Medici family, and they are one of the first examples of an Italian garden. Other European courts mimicked this type of garden. They became open to the public in 1766. You will need a ticket to visit the Gardens.
Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge over the Arno River that’s close to the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. It is the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed during World War II and it’s a must visit during your Florence trip.
What is unique about it is that it has shops along the bridge. There have been shops on the bridge since the 13th century. Historically a lot of the shops were occupied by butchers and fishmongers. I can only imagine the smell on the bridge. Thankfully, this evolved and since the 16th century the shops turned into jewelry stores.
Basilica di Santa Croce
Basilica of Santa Croce is the principal Franciscan church of Florence. The construction of this church started in 1294. Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and many other famous Italians are buried here. This plaza is much less crowded than the Duomo, so it’s a nice place to escape the crowds.
Attractions in the piazza del Duomo (Duomo plaza)
The Duomo di Firenze has an impressive architecture. What you might not know about it is that the Duomo complex is comprised of 6 major attractions: the Florence cathedral, Filippo Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower (Giotto’s Campanile), The Baptistery of St. John, Opera del Duomo Museum, and the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata. If you want to see them all your best bet is a 3-day pass.
I think it’s worth fitting them all into your Florence itinerary since the Duomo complex is such a major attraction in Florence. As you can imagine, there will be a lot of people visiting, but these are some of those attractions that are must-do’s no matter how large the crowds are. After all, they are popular for a reason.
Florence has wine windows
Get a glass of wine from a wine window
After visiting a lot of attractions in a day and probably walking over 10,000 steps, you need some time to relax. What better way to relax in Florence than getting a glass of delicious local wine? Even better – getting a glass of wine from tiny windows like people were doing centuries ago.
One of the coolest things you can do in Florence is to get a glass of wine from a wine window, or a buchetta del vino. They were used during the bubonic plague in the 17th century to serve wine with as little human contact as possible. It’s such a unique experience!
I love how people prioritized getting their vino no matter the century or the times. It’s safe to say they came in very handy during the recent pandemic too.
There are over 150 of them in Florence, but only a few of them are still functional. It’s an activity that you can only do in Tuscany, and it makes for a great memory.
Florence is home of the schiacciata sandwiches
All’antico Vinaio
All’antico Vinaio is a sandwich shop that’s native to Florence and they make really delicious sandwiches. They use a Tuscan bread for all their sandwiches, called schiacciata. It is similar to focaccia, but it’s thinner and chewier.
All’antico Vinaio has an extensive menu, but anything you choose will be delicious. My personal favorite is La Paradiso, a sandwich with mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio cream, and pistachio. So delicious!
The shop had great success in Florence, so they have expanded in multiple cities in Italy, and then also to the US. They have locations in NYC, LA, and Las Vegas.
Even though they have locations in other cities nowadays, everyone wants to get a sandwich from the original location in Florence. Thus, you need to be prepared for long lines here. If you’re not a fan of waiting in line for a long time for a sandwich you can go to other sandwich shops in Florence, such as Pino’s Sandwiches which I talk about below.
Pino’s Sandwiches
When in Florence, schiacciata sandwiches are a must. Besides All’antico Vinaio there are other sandwich shops that are also delicious. One of them is Pino’s Sandwiches.
Pino still works in the shop, so the vibe is super cozy and friendly. The lines tend to be smaller here compared to All’antico Vinaio. Seating is limited at Pino’s Sandwiches, but you can go to the Basilica of Santa Croce Plaza and sit on one of the benches there. The best way to enjoy that delicious panino. That’s what I did. I got a classic sandwich with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato and pesto. A prosciutto sandwich and people watching in Italy, what else can one wish for?
Florence is the city of art
Uffizi Gallery
This museum is a paradise for art lovers. Uffizi Gallery is one of the largest and most well-known museums in Italy and it has an impressive Italian Renaissance art collection. The art collection of the Medici family was given to the city of Florence and you can find a lot of those works of art here. Spending a few hours here would be a good idea.
Accademia Gallery
One thing you must do while visiting Florence is to go the Galleria dell’Accademia to see the famous David sculpture by Michelangelo. There are always long lines and large crowds here. The museum tries to create a smooth process for visiting, but in reality, it’s a bit complicated and it involves a lot of waiting in lines with a lot of people. But don’t worry, I’ll give you all the details.
What you need to know about visiting Accademia Gallery
First, I encourage you to buy entry tickets online in advance. Otherwise, your waiting time increases by a few hours in Florence.
Once you get to the Accademia Gallery the day of your visit, you have to pass by the people waiting in line and go to a ticket booth where they exchange your online voucher for a paper ticket. It’s located on the left-hand side if you come to the Gallery from the Duomo. Make sure to give yourself enough time to get the actual ticket before your entry time slot.
After you get the paper ticket, come back and wait in line. The staff will let you know what time slot they are letting in. They are strict about it, so if you have a ticket for 10:30am, but they are letting in the 10:15am ticket holders, they will ask you to wait in line until they switch to the 10:30am group.
Once you’re in the Gallery you have to pass by security, similar to what you do at the airport. I highly recommend to not bring large bags when you visit. Then you’re finally in. The Accademia Gallery is a relatively small museum and the most famous work of art there is David’s statue. You can probably visit the entire museum in an hour.
There are always a lot of people in front of David’s statue and everyone is waiting to take a picture, so you’ll have to be patient.
Florence offers amazing views
Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is the square with the most beautiful panoramic view of Florence and it’s one of the best places to catch the sunset. Giuseppe Poggi designed the Piazza, which has bronze replicas of Michelangelo’s statues. On the way to the Piazza you will pass by the Rose Garden, which, as the name suggests, is a beautiful park full of roses.
You will have to do a bit of hiking to get to the Piazzale Michelangelo, but it’s not too bad. It usually takes about 15 min to reach the top of hill and you can stop as many times as you want to take in the views. If you’re visiting on a hot day, make sure to bring a water bottle with you.
Coffee break with Duomo views
This cafe is such a hidden gem in Florence! If you don’t know about it you won’t be able to find it, which means that it has local vibes and very few tourists. It’s called Cafe Oblate.
The cafe is on the top floor of a fourteenth-century convent turned into a public library. You’ll have to go through the public library and take the elevator to the top floor.
It has spectacular views of the Duomo. You can sip on coffee, a drink or a freshly squeezed juice (what I opted for) and take in the views. Such a great way to relax!
Florence is a great base for day trips
Take a day trip to Milan
One of greatest things about Italy is that it’s very easy to take day trips so you can visit more than one city per trip. Milan is a great choice for a day trip. You can take the train from Florence to Milan. The trip takes only about 2.5 hours. You can book the train tickets in advance on Trenitalia.
Milan is a very vibrant city that combines a lot of history with modern architecture. The city has a lot of energy as it’s one of Italy’s business centers and there’s lots of people running around during the day and lots of people partying at night. It’s also a paradise for everyone who loves fashion as so many designer brands are headquartered there: Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada, Valentino, just to name a few. There’s so many great things to do in Milan!
FAQ about solo travel to Florence
Is Florence safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes, I found Florence safe as a solo female traveler. As with any other popular destination, always be aware of your surroundings, especially when you’re visiting attractions with large crowds.
Where should I stay in Florence?
Budget hotels
Florence has some budget friendly hotel options located in the city center. The price range is between $60-100 per night. Some good options include Hotel Burchianti and Hotel Caravaggio.
Mid-budget hotels
If you’re like me and want more comfort than hostels and cheap hotels, but don’t want to waste money on luxury hotels either, then mid-budget hotels are a perfect choice. Some good options in Florence include Hotel Monna Lisa, Hotel Calimala, and Hotel Brunelleschi.
Luxury hotels
If you are looking for high-end facilities and top service, then pick a five-star luxury hotel. Some amazing options are Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, The St. Regis Florence, and Villa Cora.
Hostels
Unfortunately, I am not the right person to recommend you any hostels. I am in my 30s and I value comfort, so I will always choose to stay at a hotel vs a hostel. I can see how a hostel is a great option for younger people, but I’m at a different stage in life, so I prefer hotels.
Airbnb
I also tend to pick hotels over Airbnbs because I feel like it’s less of a risk and it’s a more reliable option. One time when I visited Miami with my friends we booked an Airbnb that looked great in pictures but looked really bad in reality. We ended up going to a hotel instead. After that experience I tend to avoid Airbnbs altogether.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
What is the best time to travel to Florence?
I visited in late September and there were still too many tourists to properly enjoy the city. October and November might be the best timing for a trip.
I tend to avoid Europe’s peak season, the summer, because it gets so hot and there are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me. I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting. I thought that September would already be a less crowded month, but I was wrong.
How can I get around Florence?
Florence is a walkable city, and all attractions are within walking distance. You can also walk to the train station from the city center area if you want to take a day trip.
How can I get to the Florence city center from the airport?
The cheapest option is to take the tram (1.7 euros). However, if you have a lot of luggage and want to go directly to the hotel, you can take a taxi, which will cost around 25 euros. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.
Do I need cash?
I did not use any cash while visiting Italy. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops who don’t accept credit cards.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I need to tip in Florence?
Tipping is not required, but I usually leave 1-2 euros when I eat out or go to a cafe. They highly appreciate it when you do this.
Do people speak English in Florence?
Yes, people speak English everywhere in Florence. I always try to speak in the local language when I travel. I usually learn a few words ahead of my trip. Every time Italians would figure out from my accent that I’m not a local they would immediately switch to English.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Florence is a very popular destination so it’s very likely that tickets will sell out. Especially if you visit during the summer months. Booking in advance will give you peace of mind.
What Italian words should I learn before my solo trip to Florence?
This list is not comprehensive by any means, but it has some useful words for a trip to Italy.
- Ciao = hi / bye (informal greeting)
- Buongiorno = hello (only used during the day)
- Buona sera = good evening
- Buona notte = good night
- Grazie = thank you
- Prego = you’re welcome
- Si = yes
- No = no
- Per favore = please
- Parla Inglese? = Do you speak English?
- Mi dispiace = I don’t understand
- Posso pagare con la carta? = Can I pay by card?
- Il conto, per favore = The check (bill) please
- Dov’è il bagno? = Where’s the bathroom?
Do you recommend Florence as a solo destination?
Yes, I recommend Florence as a destination for solo female travelers. Just make sure to avoid going in the summer.
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