In a nutshell
- Florence is so well-known that there couldn’t possibly be any Florence hidden gems beyond the famous sights, right? Wrong! Our Florence insider Rebecca has quite a few secret places up her sleeve — here are ten of them.
- One of the newest finds in the city: Giunti Odeon — a 1920s cinema and bookstore all in one. Quiet, air-conditioned, and seriously cool. You have to see it!
- While in Florence, you absolutely have to check out a rooftop bar. Most are super upscale and pricey — but the rooftop at The Social Hub, just outside the old town, is hip, affordable, and comes with a pool and views of the Duomo.
Giunti Odeon: Bookstore and Movie Theater in One
Historic movie theaters are dying out worldwide, and the Odeon in Florence was no exception.
When the pandemic finally dealt the final blow to this 1922 cinema, Italian publishing house Giunti bought it up — with a brilliant idea: preserve the historic theater and integrate a bookstore inside it.
Movies in English play on the screen all day long, and you can kick back in the cozy cinema seats. Or set up your laptop at one of the tables. Or browse for books (there’s a selection in English too). All with reliable Wi-Fi and air conditioning.
The hall is genuinely quiet and there are always very few people around. This place is still one of the best-kept Florence hidden gems. Definitely worth a visit!
Serre Torrigiani: Cocktails in an Enchanted Garden
The Torrigiani Garden is a private park in the historic center of Florence, and it’s only rarely open to the public.
The high walls surrounding the entire garden give it an almost enchanted feel, and there’s no way to peek inside from the street.
A few years ago, however, one corner of the garden was opened up and a beautiful bar and restaurant called Serre Torrigiani appeared there. You slip through a narrow gap in the wall into a hidden world of plants, string lights, ancient trees, and the sounds of jazz.
Here and there you’ll find a wrought-iron table and chairs, and on a lawn there are sofas with small bedside lamps. A dream spot!
The prices are steep and you should definitely reserve in advance. But Serre Torrigiani is something everyone should experience at least once!
Note: Be sure to apply mosquito repellent in summer. All those plants are a paradise for mosquitoes!
The Social Hub Rooftop Bar
The super stylish hotel The Social Hub sits right on the edge of the old quarter.
Its standout feature is the seriously cool rooftop bar, which non-hotel guests can visit too. From up here you have a direct view of the Florence Cathedral.
All you need is a table reservation, which you’ll be asked about downstairs at the elevator.
Up on the 6th floor, you can sink into sofas, sip delicious cocktails, and have dinner as well. The stunning view does affect the prices though: a cocktail costs 12 euros, a glass of wine around 8 euros. Still totally worth it!
Still looking for the right place to stay for your trip to Florence? Check out these two articles:
Our personal hotel recommendations for Florence:
Le Murate: Culture in a Former Prison
Le Murate is a building complex in the historic district that was once a monastery and then served as a prison from the 19th to the 20th century.
Today the prison cells have been converted into apartments, cafés, and cultural spaces, and it’s absolutely worth stopping by.
In the two courtyards you can sit down for a coffee at the Caffè Letterario or visit a rotating exhibition at the art center Murate Art District.
In the evenings, the courtyards of Le Murate are beautifully lit up and host live music or other cultural events.
Our tip: Every evening at 7:30 PM, the Caffé Letterario sets up an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring delicious Florentine cuisine.
Orti del Parnaso: The City Park with a View
Orti del Parnaso roughly translates to “Gardens of Parnassus,” a mountain range in Greece.
According to Greek mythology, that mountain was the setting for the slaying of a giant serpent — and that’s exactly what you’ll find in this little-known park, one of the most rewarding off the beaten path Florence spots.
The many-meters-long sculpture winds through the park, down the hillside, and from the top you have a great view of Florence.
You can reach the Orti del Parnaso from another beautiful park at the foot of the hill, the Giardini dell’Orticoltura. Or you can approach from above via Via Trento, which is even better — that way you enter immediately with that stunning panorama over the city.
The park is also a great option if you’re vacationing in Florence with kids.
Clet: Traffic Signs Like You've Never Seen
As you walk through Florence, you might notice some traffic signs that look a little odd. The culprit is French street artist Abraham Clet, who has made Florence his adopted home.
Clet has made it his mission to bring art into public view, and practically overnight he transforms the city’s street signs so that they take on a completely new meaning.
A dead-end sign becomes a crucified Jesus, or a no-entry sign becomes a guillotine.
The artist has his studio in the San Niccolò neighborhood, and if you’re lucky you might catch him there working on his next project.
Il Pizzaiuolo: The Best Neapolitan Pizza in Florence
Florence has countless pizzerias, but not all of them are good. One top address for authentic Neapolitan pizza is Il Pizzaiuolo, on Via de Macci.
The restaurant is run by a Neapolitan couple, and the pizzas are made in a real wood-fired oven. The atmosphere is loud and lively, and despite the outstanding quality, the prices are genuinely affordable: a pizza Margherita costs just 6 euros.
You absolutely must make a reservation, though, because Il Pizzaiuolo is always packed.
Wine Windows: A Glass of Wine To Go
A tradition forgotten for centuries was revived during the COVID pandemic: the Buche del Vino, the wine windows.
These are around 180 small windows with little wooden doors that you can find all over the old town’s buildings at hip height.
Back in the 16th century, wine merchants traveling with large barrels were frequently robbed, so these little windows were created to guarantee safe wine sales.
Hardly anyone remembered what these holes in the walls were for, and most had been bricked up or repurposed as mailboxes. When COVID social distancing rules became an issue, some local business owners rediscovered them.
So, for example, you can order a glass of wine through a wine window on the exterior wall of the Osteria delle Belle Donne on Via delle Belle Donne, as well as on Via di Santo Spirito at Babae.
Giardino Bardini: The Most Beautiful Renaissance Garden
Among Florentines it’s no secret, but for tourists it still is: the stunning Giardino Bardini. It sits on a hillside on the other bank of the river and offers a beautiful view of the city.
If you’re in Florence in spring, a visit to the garden is a must. The steeply terraced park is laid out in the Renaissance style, with fountains, walking paths, statues, and above all gorgeous flower beds.
One top highlight is a wisteria-draped walkway that reaches peak bloom in April. And of course, the breathtaking vista over Florence.
Admission to the park costs 10 euros, and with that ticket you can also visit the Boboli Garden, which is one of the most important sights in Florence.
Our insider tip: The garden has two entrances — one at the top of the hill on Costa San Giorgio and one at the foot of the garden on Via de Bardi. Be sure to take the upper entrance so you can explore the steeply terraced garden from top to bottom.
La Strozzina: Digital Art and Contemporary Art
If you need a break from the Renaissance while in Florence, you should definitely check out the program at Palazzo Strozzi.
The magnificent palace in the heart of the historic center hosts exclusively rotating exhibitions.
In particular, the basement level — the Strozzina — regularly features exhibitions of contemporary art and digital art. Past exhibits have included works by Ai Weiwei, Jeff Koons, and Andy Warhol.
The palace courtyard is also frequently the setting for a compelling art installation. You can see it for free, since the courtyard is open to the public.
