Things to Do in Florence: 22 Top Highlights

Sights in Florence in One Day

These are the highlights you can cover if you only have one day in Florence. Maybe even a few more.

If you arrive at the main train station, you can reach all of the following must-sees on foot:

• Florence Cathedral (inside too)
• Piazza della Signoria
• Ponte Vecchio
• Palazzo Pitti
• Piazza Santa Croce
• Mercato di San Lorenzo
• Piazzale Michelangelo

On a walking tour, you can visit all of them within a single day — and you’ll already have a great feel for Florence.

Our Tip: Save Piazzale Michelangelo for last, in the late afternoon or evening. The view of the city from up there at sunset is absolutely stunning!

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the top museums in Florence and really belongs on any must-see list, but you’ll need at least two hours for a visit.

So if you only have one day in the city, your best bet is to admire the building from the outside. There’s already plenty to see in the courtyard!

Book Tickets for Florence Attractions in Advance

Florence is always busy, no matter the time of year. Especially at top spots like the Uffizi or the Cathedral, there are always long lines.

Book your tickets in advance to skip the lines — it makes a huge difference.

These Florence highlights are worth buying tickets for ahead of time:

Getting Your Bearings in Florence: Sights on a Map

Most of the attractions are in the historic center and all close to one another. Florence isn’t all that big, and you can easily explore the entire old town on foot.

For a rough overview, you can find the key points of interest marked on the map below. You can also save it on your phone for easy reference while you’re out exploring.

Famous Landmarks and Icons in Florence

The Cathedral of Florence

The Florence Cathedral is the city’s most iconic landmark and typically the first place every visitor heads to.

It’s the fourth-largest church in Europe, and its massive dome is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering.

Particularly worth seeing on the inside are the incredibly detailed frescoes covering the dome. Across a surface area of 4,000 square meters, dozens of scenes from heaven and hell were painted, completely covering the dome’s interior.

Legend has it that the artist Vasari wanted to surpass Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Sistine Chapel of the Vatican, but unfortunately didn’t live to finish the work.

Right next to the Cathedral stands the 85-meter-tall, freestanding Giotto Bell Tower, named after its architect.

The cathedral complex also includes the Cathedral Museum, the crypt beneath the Cathedral, and the Baptistery.

Tickets for the Florence Cathedral

Entry to the nave is free, but be prepared to wait in line.

With the Brunelleschi Pass, you can enter immediately through a side door — and it’s absolutely worth it.

The pass also gets you up to the dome and into all other parts of the cathedral complex:

To the Brunelleschi Pass

Climbing the Florence Cathedral Dome

You can only access the dome with the Brunelleschi Pass — individual tickets aren’t available.

The climb is no joke: 463 steps lead up to the viewing platform.

From there, you’ll have not only an impressive view of the nave, but also a close-up look at the breathtaking frescoes on the dome’s inner walls.

At the very top, more than 100 meters up, you’ll enjoy a stunning 360-degree panorama over all of Florence and the surrounding hills.

More tips for visiting the Florence Cathedral complex can be found here:

Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio — “Old Bridge” in Italian — is the oldest and most beautiful bridge over the Arno and one of the oldest segmental arch bridges in the world.

Built in the 14th century, it’s one of Florence’s most recognizable symbols. What makes it so special is that it’s almost entirely built over.

It’s lined with dozens of small jewelry shops that have been crafting and selling gold, silver, and diamond pieces here since the 16th century.

When you’re on the bridge, make sure to look up! Above the boutiques runs the Vasari Corridor — an 800-meter-long secret passageway connecting the Palazzo Vecchio to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno.

Both palaces were once government buildings, and since the streets of 16th-century Florence weren’t exactly safe, the ruling powers had this corridor built so they could move between the two in comfort.

Palazzo Pitti

The Palazzo Pitti was one of the seats of power of the Medici family. The vast palace sits on the other side of the Arno, just a few minutes’ walk from the Ponte Vecchio.

Coming out of the narrow streets of the old quarter and suddenly finding this enormous palace in front of you is genuinely impressive.

The Palazzo Pitti is vast and imposing, yet fairly plain on the outside. But looks can be deceiving — inside, you’ll find several museums and galleries.

These include the Palatine Gallery, which holds the most important Medici art collection, a gallery of modern art, and a costume gallery featuring accessories and clothing from the 18th century. You can also tour the Medici’s royal apartments inside the palace.

To the timed online ticket for the Palazzo Pitti

The Palazzo Pitti also includes the stunning, monumental Boboli Garden. There’s a separate entrance and a separate ticket for that, though.

Because the garden is so large, we’ve included it again further down in our Florence highlights list.

Santa Croce

The Santa Croce church is about a ten-minute walk from the Cathedral. It stands on the large piazza of the same name, surrounded by medieval buildings in the heart of Florence.

The church isn’t only beautiful on the outside — it also houses the tombs of some of the Renaissance’s most famous figures inside.

Here you’ll find the graves of Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and Galileo Galilei.

Your ticket also gets you into the adjoining chapels, the church museum, and the lovely courtyard of the attached monastery.

Santa Croce is one of the less crowded churches in Florence, and the line is almost never particularly long.

To the timed online ticket for the Santa Croce church

San Miniato al Monte

A short walk up to the church of San Miniato al Monte, which sits above the Piazzale Michelangelo, is seriously worth it.

It’s one of the highest-situated urban churches in Italy, and a broad staircase leads up to it. At the top, a large terrace in front of the church offers a truly impressive vista over Florence.

Note: At the foot of the staircase there is a large gate, which is only open until 7:00 PM daily. After that, you can no longer climb up to the church.

Palazzo Vecchio

The Palazzo Vecchio was once the seat of government of the Medici; today it’s Florence’s city hall.

The massive medieval palace, with its bell tower, appears on every postcard of Florence. It’s also served as a filming location for various movies, including Inferno with Tom Hanks and Hannibal with Anthony Hopkins.

You can visit the palace’s courtyard free of charge.

Inside is the Palazzo Vecchio Museum, featuring secret passageways, the enormous Hall of the Five Hundred, and important works of art by Vasari and Michelangelo.

You can also climb the 95-meter-tall Arnolfo Tower.

To the ticket for the Arnolfo Tower

To the ticket for the Palazzo Vecchio Museum

The Most Beautiful Squares and Streets in Florence

Piazza della Signoria

The Piazza della Signoria is one of the most beautiful squares in Italy and just a few minutes’ walk from the Cathedral.

The square is framed by grand buildings and features a large Neptune Fountain, with a towering statue of the god of the sea being pulled in a chariot by horses, surrounded by mythical sea creatures.

The real standout on the Piazza, though, is the Loggia dei Lanzi. This enormous arcade structure is essentially an open-air museum, displaying copies of world-famous statues from Roman and Greek mythology.

The originals are all housed in Florentine museums, such as the Galleria dell’Accademia or the Uffizi.

The Designer Street Via de' Tornabuoni

Via de’ Tornabuoni is Florence’s premier upscale shopping street. All the big Italian designers are here: Gucci, Versace, Valentino, as well as international names like Dior and Tiffany.

Even if you’re not planning to shop for items with four-figure price tags, a stroll down the street is absolutely worth your time.

It’s a fully pedestrianized zone, and on either side, one medieval palace stands right next to the next.

Piazzale Michelangelo

The Piazzale Michelangelo is a spacious square above the city and one of the best viewpoints in Florence. From up here, you’ll have an incredible view of the Cathedral, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Arno River.

The panorama at dusk in particular is simply breathtaking — don’t miss it.

In the middle of the square stands Michelangelo’s David — even if it is only a copy.

You can get to Piazzale Michelangelo either on foot, which takes about 20 minutes from the Ponte Vecchio, or by city bus. Bus lines 12 and 13 run from the historic center to the Piazzale.

Piazza Santo Spirito

The main gathering spot for Florentine nightlife away from the tourist crowds is Piazza Santo Spirito.

During the day there’s not much going on, but in the evening it’s a must.

In summer, the church steps are packed with chattering people in the evenings. Someone always has a guitar, and the many small wine bars and restaurants are packed to the brim. Real dolce vita!

Our Tip: If you’re in the mood for pizza, there’s a very tasty — and very popular — pizzeria just around the corner called Gustapizza. You can get your pizza in a box and eat it on the steps of the Piazza.

The Best Museums in Florence

Uffizi Gallery

Originally, the Uffizi was a government building that housed the various ministries of 16th-century Florence — which is actually where the name comes from, resembling the Italian word Ufficio, meaning office.

Today, the Uffizi is one of the most important art museums in the world.

It displays paintings and sculptures by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, as well as the famous The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli.

The focus is on the Italian Renaissance, but there are also works ranging from antiquity all the way to the 18th century.

Tickets for the Uffizi

With two million visitors a year, the Uffizi is one of Florence’s biggest draws, so it’s always very crowded.

Book your tickets in advance to skip the lines at the entrance — this one really can’t be left to chance:

To the ticket for the Uffizi

Galleria dell'Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia is another top pick among Florence’s museums. This is where you’ll find one of the most famous statues in the world — Michelangelo’s David.

The sculpture stands nearly 16 feet tall and weighs 6 tons, carved by Michelangelo from a single block of marble.

Given its significance and size, it has an entire hall to itself and is undoubtedly the museum’s main attraction. The museum also houses five more sculptures by Michelangelo.

Beyond Michelangelo’s works, the gallery features other artworks, including some by Sandro Botticelli. There’s also a hall displaying antique musical instruments.

Visitor numbers are very high here too, so make sure to order your tickets online in advance.

To the online ticket for the Galleria dell’Accademia
Our Tip: The Galleria dell’Accademia is definitely worth visiting with an experienced guide who can walk you through the museum in about an hour. Get Your Guide offers a ticket with priority entry and a guide included.

To the Galleria dell’Accademia ticket with priority entry and guide

Galileo Museum

Most museums in Florence are art museums — which makes this one a welcome change of pace. It’s all about the history of science.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Florence was not only the center of European art, but also of mathematics, physics, and alchemy.

That’s why the Galileo Museum displays instruments, ancient books, maps, and experimental methods from that era across three floors.

On show are telescopes, planetary models, and all manner of instruments used not only by Galileo Galilei, but also by other scientists to understand the world and the universe.

A wonderful museum housed in a grand medieval palace on the banks of the Arno — and honestly one of our favorites in Florence!

To the skip-the-line ticket for the Galileo Museum

If you’re traveling in a small group, the guided small group tour is really worth it.

Museo Stibbert

This museum is a bit off the tourist trail, but no less worth a visit — especially if you’re exploring Florence with kids!

The Stibbert Museum was once the residence of antiques collector Frederick Stibbert.

His villa is now a museum where you can browse the treasures he gathered over 50 years of traveling the world.

There’s Islamic, European, and Asian weaponry from the Middle Ages through the 19th century, as well as costumes, porcelain, and paintings from every corner of the globe.

The museum also has a lovely park with small temples, grottos, and a turtle pond — which you can visit even without a museum ticket.

Getting Out into Nature in Florence

Boboli Garden

The Boboli Garden is without a doubt the most beautiful park in Florence and a great option when you want a more relaxed afternoon. You’ll also enjoy a wonderful view of the city, since the garden sits on a hill.

The garden belongs to the Palazzo Pitti but has a separate entrance and requires a separate admission fee. At 32,000 square meters, it’s one of the largest Italian gardens in existence.

The design is characteristic of the 16th and 17th centuries, with wide gravel paths, shady avenues, numerous statues and fountains, a large amphitheater, and several grottos.

The park also includes two museums — the Porcelain Museum and the Silver Museum — both included in the ticket.

To the reserved ticket for the Boboli Garden

The Rose Garden

One of the most beautiful gardens in Florence is the Giardino delle Rose, located below the Piazzale Michelangelo.

So if you’re heading up to the square with the best view of Florence, stop for a breather in the Rose Garden on your way back down.

The garden isn’t particularly large, but it’s beautifully maintained and full of rose bushes. You’ll also find scattered sculptures that are part of the permanent collection of the artist Jean Michel Folon.

The Rose Garden is very popular with locals, and few tourists make it here. You can enjoy the view of Florence in a really relaxed atmosphere.

The Best Markets in Florence

Mercato di San Lorenzo

Just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral, you’ll find the San Lorenzo Market.

It’s a tourist magnet and always packed, but ideal for shopping — with a huge selection of leather goods, clothing, jewelry, and of course tasty treats.

Our Tip: Make sure to bargain at the San Lorenzo Market! If you’re persistent, you can score some leather handbags at a really great price.

The outdoor market also includes the San Lorenzo Market Hall, where two floors are all about Italian food and drink.

The ground floor is great for buying regional produce, while the upper floor has stylish restaurants, small wine bars, and open-air kitchens where food is prepared fresh right in front of you.

You can not only sample the typical cuisine of Tuscany, but also enjoy dishes from all over Italy. Totally worth a visit!

Mercato delle Pulci and Mercato Sant'Ambrogio

On the Largo Annigoni square in the central Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood, a small, covered vintage market takes place every day.

27 small antique shops offer jewelry, clothing, furniture, and paintings at very fair prices.

You can genuinely find some treasures here, as many items come from old Florentine townhouses.

Our Tip: If you happen to be in the area on a Saturday, the weekly market takes place right next door. At the Sant’Ambrogio market hall, you can not only eat well but also browse clothing stalls around the hall.

The market is actually a bit of an under-the-radar pick in Florence, as you’ll find plenty of high-quality outlet clothing in merino wool or cashmere at relatively low prices.

Special Places in Florence

Gelateria La Carraia

Gelateria La Carraia is known among Florentines as the best ice cream shop in the city. It’s located right at the Carraia bridge, just two bridges from the Ponte Vecchio.

The gelato here is simply incredible: super creamy and intensely flavorful. The prices are also reasonable by Florentine standards, at €2.50 for a cone.
Note: In Italy, prices are based on the size of the cone, not the number of scoops. At Gelateria La Carraia, a €2.50 cone comfortably fits two scoops.

Our Tip: Try the house-made flavor Delizia Carraia, with white chocolate chips and a creamy pistachio sauce on top.

Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Many Italians prefer herbal remedies for minor ailments rather than visiting a regular pharmacy.

That’s why you’ll find these herbal shops all over Italy, where you can buy plant-based creams, medicines, and soaps. One of the oldest still in existence today is the Officina Santa Maria Novella in Florence.

This pharmacy has been around since 1221 and still uses some of the ancient recipes of the monks who founded it.

From the street, the shop looks very unassuming, but once you step inside, you’re in a different world.

Even if you don’t need anything, a visit to the Officina is absolutely worth it — if only to see the history-laden rooms.

Rooftop Bar B-Roof

Florence has several rooftop bars, most of which belong to hotels. B-Roof is one of them, and in our opinion the most beautiful rooftop bar in Florence.

B-Roof is located on the roof of the 4-star Hotel Baglioni, right in the heart of the historic district, and offers a spectacular view of Florence’s landmarks.

The terrace is divided into several sections: an indoor area open year-round and an outdoor area split into multiple parts that’s only open in summer.

One of these is a section with a green pergola called B-Green. And it’s gorgeous: you feel like you’re sitting in a garden while gazing out at Florence’s highlights.

The cocktail bar at B-Roof is open from May through September until 1:00 AM. A cocktail with table service runs around €20 here.

Fiesole

Perched in the hills above Florence is the small town of Fiesole, which you can reach easily in 20 minutes by taking bus line 7.

The ride up to Fiesole alone is worth the trip: the bus follows a beautiful panoramic route through Florence’s villa neighborhoods, with some fantastic views along the way.

Once you arrive, you can take a leisurely stroll through Fiesole. Among the highlights is an archaeological excavation site with a museum and a Roman amphitheater.

The top attraction in Fiesole, however, is the highest point of the town, where you’ll find the San Francesco Panorama viewing terrace. From here, you have a sweeping view stretching for miles over Florence and the surrounding mountains.

Our Tip: The view is even more spectacular at sunset!

General Tips for Sightseeing in Florence

Before you head out, here are a few pointers for making the most of your time in Florence.

Book a Hotel in Florence's Old Town

Florence isn’t very large and almost all the sights are in the historic center. Exploring on foot is absolutely doable.

The key, of course, is to stay in the old town itself. We’ve put together our recommendations on where to stay in Florence and 11 exceptional boutique hotels in two separate articles:

Get a City Card

Depending on what you want to do in Florence, there are some interesting passes that can save you real money:

Florence Turbopass: Includes Uffizi, Accademia, and guided tours, including day trips to Siena or the Chianti region. This pass is worth it if you also want to explore the surrounding area.

Firenze Card: A pure museum pass covering 58 museums in total, valid for 72 hours. This pass is worth it if you want to visit as many museums as possible within three days.

Florence Digital Pass: For the Uffizi, Accademia, and Cathedral dome, including a city audio guide app. This pass is worth it if you want to conveniently book all three highlights together with fast-track entry. It’s also the only city pass that includes the Cathedral dome.

Book a Guided Tour of Florence

A guided tour is especially worthwhile if you don’t have much time and want to see as much as possible. With an experienced guide, you’ll also pick up lots of interesting background information that you’d otherwise miss.

We can recommend the following tour in Florence:

To the walking tour of the old town

You can find some more unique city tours of Florence here:

2-hour Dan Brown Inferno Tour
Walking tour for families
Vintage bicycle tour with gelato tasting

Also read our detailed article on tours in Florence:

11 interesting tours in Florence