Other Things to See and Do in Florence

1. Visit the baptistery

The baptistery of John the Baptist is one of Florence’s oldest buildings. The baptistery you see today was rebuilt from an earlier building dating back to the 4th or 5th century AD. The current baptistery was consecrated in 1059. Admission is €15 EUR ($16.75 USD) but includes entry to the cupola, the bell tower, baptistery, the crypt below the cathedral, and the Opera del Duomo Museum. It’s open daily from 8:30am-7pm with abbreviated hours on the weekends.

2. Enter Santa Croce

Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of Michelangelo and Dante. It’s an interesting thing to see if you have already covered the highlights and have extra time in town. Admission is €8 EUR ($9 USD) and is open daily from 9:30am-5:30pm with abbreviated hours on Sundays.

3. Visit the Piazzale Michelangelo

Head to the Piazzale Michelangelo for a great view of the city. It’s a good hike up a hill, but it’s a great way to see the stunning view of the city without paying to climb the steps of the Duomo.

4. Lounge in Liberia Café la Cité

This is a combination bookstore, café, and cultural center. Founded by intellectuals, this is a great spot for some in-depth conversation with locals and a prime atmosphere for getting some work done. They host a lot of weekly events too.

5. Visit Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo Pitti was built in 1457 for the Pitti family, and later sold to the Medici family in 1549. As major patrons of the arts, this palace serves as a beautiful ode to the Medici family’s contribution to the cultural advancement of Florence. It hosts an impressive collection of paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries. The highlights are several works by Filippo Lippi and Botticelli. It’s open daily (except Mondays) from 8:15am-6:50pm. Admission is €10-16 EUR ($11.15-17.85 USD).

6. Explore the National Museum of Bargello

Here you can see original pieces by Bandinelli, Donatello, Antonio Rossellino, and other Renaissance masters. It’s a short walk from the Piazza della Signoria. It’s open daily from 8:15am-4:50pm with abbreviated hours in the winter. It’s also closed some Sundays and Mondays.

7. Take an in-depth tour

If you’re looking for a high-quality tour, try Context Tours or Take Walks. They have specific tours in the city that focus on art, food, and history, all of which are of the best quality. They are not cheap, but if you’re into getting beneath the surface of a city than this is for you. Expect to pay around €90 EUR ($100 USD) per person.

8. Visit the Sant’Ambrogio Market

Sant’Ambrogio is one of the oldest districts in the city, and although it’s just a 10-minute walk from the Duomo, the market here is completely underrated. It’s not as famous as the Central Market, and so its atmosphere is much more laidback and local. While you’re here, try some traditional foods like lampredotto (made from cow’s stomach), cured meats like finocchiona (fennel salami), pecorino sheep’s cheese, and (of course) local wines. You’ll find some excellent Tuscan food at the Trattoria Da Rocco restaurant. The market is open 7am-2pm (Mon-Sat).

9. Hang out in Piazza Santo Spirito

Piazza Santo Spirito is a public square located in the quiet district of the Oltrarno. In the mornings, the place is bustling with street markets. Once the sun goes down, locals flock to the bars and restaurants. There’s a nice church here too at the center of it all.

10. Visit the Stibbert Museum

This is one of Florence’s most interesting and unique museums, but it doesn’t get the same attention as the city’s other museums since it’s a bit tucked away on the outskirts of town. This is the private collection of Frederick Stibbert, who also donated his villa and gardens to the city. There’s some fascinating stuff here, including armor from the Middle East and a completely reconstructed army of knights sitting on their horses in the great hall. The main attraction: Napoleon’s cloak from when he was coronated. Yes, seriously! Admission is €8 EUR ($9 USD).

11. SUP on the Arno River

If you want a unique way to see the Arno River, head out for a paddleboarding session with Toscana SUP. You will paddle your way underneath the Ponte Vecchio and then pause for a glass of Chianti. You’re in Italy, after all. Tours start from €50 EUR ($56 USD).

12. Check out the Biblioteca delle Oblate

This public library is housed in the former Convent of the Oblate and is a popular study spot for students. It’s an important cultural center too, with an entire section of Conservation and Local History on the first floor. When you’re done browsing, go to the rooftop terrace for a coffee at the Caffetteria delle Oblate. There’s a great view of the Duomo from here and it’s never crowded with tourists.

Florence Travel Costs

Hostel prices – You will pay around €16 EUR ($17.85 USD) a night for a 4-6 bed dorm room. For larger dorms (12+ beds), you’ll pay around €12 EUR ($13.40 USD). Most hostel private rooms cost between €40-50 EUR ($45-56 USD) for a room that sleeps two. Expect higher prices in the summer season. My favorites are listed in the accommodation section.

Budget hotel prices – A night in a 2-star budget hotel in a room that sleeps two starts around €40 EUR ($45 USD), but expect to pay nearly double in the high season. Included in this price are basic hotel amenities, like a private bathroom, free WiFi, and television. A 3-star hotel room isn’t much more expensive, with some places costing around €50 EUR ($56 USD).

On Airbnb, you can find shared rooms starting at €20 EUR ($22.30 USD) per night, or private rooms from €30 EUR ($33.50 USD). You can rent entire homes (usually studio apartments) starting at €45 EUR ($50 USD) per night, although you will find a lot more options starting at €75 EUR ($84 USD) and up.

Average cost of food – While eating out in the city is expensive, the good thing about Italy is that you can get pizza and pasta for reasonable prices. Florence is no exception. You can find cheap sandwich shops all over the city for around €6 EUR ($6.70 USD) for a Panini. Fast food costs around the same. Gelato will be around €1 EUR ($1.10 USD) and you can find cappuccino for less than €2 EUR ($2.25 USD). You can get two slices of pizza and bottled water for about €10 EUR ($11.15 USD) at any casual restaurant.

For a nice dinner with a glass of wine at a sit-down restaurant, expect to spend around €25 EUR ($28 USD). At most restaurants, add €3 EUR ($3.35 USD) for the coperto (sit-down fee) that covers service and the bread at the table.

If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, consider cooking your own food to lower your costs. Expect to pay €60 EUR ($67 USD) per week for groceries that will include pasta, vegetables, chicken, and other basic foods.

Backpacking Florence Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking around Florence, my suggested budget is €53 EUR ($59 USD) per day. This budget will cover a hostel dorm and cooking most of your meals at your accommodations as well as cheap eats like pizza and paninis. On this budget, you’ll need to stick to public transportation, one or two museums, and the free walking tours.

On a mid-range budget of about €125 EUR ($140 USD), you can stay in a two-star budget hotel or an Airbnb. You’ll also need to cook a lot of your meals or eat cheap but you can eat out at nicer sit-down restaurants a few times too. This budget also cover public transportation, visit to one or two museums per day and maybe a guided tour with Context Tours or Take Walks.

If you want luxury, expect to spend at least €295 EUR ($330 USD) per day. On this budget, you can stay in a beautiful 4-star hotel, eat out for all your meals, take all the tours you want, get around via Uber or taxi, and do more guided tours. For anything more, the sky is your limit and Florence is your oyster.

You can use the chart below to get an idea of how much you need per day. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day, who knows!). We just want to give you a general idea of how to budget your money. Prices are in USD.

Florence Travel Guide: Money Saving Tips

Thanks to its popularity, Florence is one of the most expensive cities in Italy. It can really set you back, especially due to all the museum tickets you need to buy as well as all the delicious food you’ll want to eat. However, there are some ways to save money in Florence and not break the bank. Here are my top tips on how to do so:

• Eat cheap – Eating at a bar near Piazza della Signoria or in the square can be very expensive. If you move further away from the busy tourist hubs, you will find cheaper places to eat.
• Travel on foot – Public transportation in Florence isn’t quite as necessary as other European cities because most things are within walking distance. It’s much better to save a couple of dollars and take in the scene as you walk through the city.
• Get the Firenze Pass – If you are going to do lots of sightseeing, this card will give you free entry to the top museums, tours, and attractions. It costs €72 EUR ($80 USD) and is good for 3 days.
• Pass on the bread – Some restaurants will charge you extra for bread or breadsticks on the table but not tell you about it until the check comes, and you’ve polished it off. So, skip the bread to save money.
• Drink the tap water – Ask for tap water or you will automatically get expensive bottled water included on your bill. Moreover, you can refill your bottles of water at any of the drinking fountains throughout Italy.
• Buy lots of wine – You can buy a great bottle of wine for €4 EUR ($4.45 USD). It’s a lot cheaper than drinking at the bar.
• Couchsurf – Accommodation is quite expensive in the city. Use Couchsurfing to stay with locals who have extra beds and couches and make a local friend. I use the service a lot and find it not only saves me money, but I meet great people too. You’ll find lots of hosts here.
• Take a free walking tour – This is a great way to learn the history of the city, see the main attractions, and fill in your day without spending a lot of money. Florence Free Tour has two tours a day. I highly recommend them.

Where To Stay in Florence

There are plenty of great hostels and hotels in Florence. You are going to find a ton of options here. My favourite places to stay in the city are the following:

• Plus Florence
• Archi Rossi Hostel
• Hostel Gallo d’Oro
• New Hostel Florence

How to Get Around Florence

Florence, especially the city center, is very walkable. You can get between all the top sights (like the Duomo and the Uffizi) in just a 5-10 minute walk. The furthest you will walk to see just about any attraction is 30 minutes.

Bus – If you need public transportation to get around, Florence’s ATAF bus system is efficient and reliable. A bus ticket that’s valid for 90 minutes costs €1.20 EUR/$1.35 USD (or €2 EUR/$2.25 USD if purchased on the bus). You can get tickets at just about any newsstand or tobacconist. A 24-hour pass costs €5 EUR ($5.60 USD), a 3-day pass costs €12 EUR ($13.40 USD), and a 7-day pass is €18 EUR ($20 USD).

If you want to visit some places outside the city center, you can take the #7 to Fiesole and #12 and #13 to Piazzale Michelangiolo.

Bicycle – Florence is mostly flat and really ideal for bicycling around. Rentals start around €2.50 EUR ($2.80 USD) per hour or €12 EUR ($13.40 USD) per day. Here are some great bicycle shops:

• Alinari
• Florence by Bike

Taxi – Taxis aren’t cheap here, so I don’t recommend taking them. If you have luggage, there is a surcharge of €1 EUR ($1.10 USD) per bag. Uber, the taxi alternative, is available in Florence and often cheaper too. You can save $15 off your first Uber ride with this code: jlx6v.

When to Go to Florence

Florence is a year-round destination. The warmest months are July and August, which is also peak season. The average high throughout July and August is 88°F (31°C). Temperatures are slightly cooler in June and September, but these months are also very busy.

December and January are the coolest months, with an average high of 50°F (10°C) and an average low of 34°F (1°C). Make sure you have a few layers with you. There are fewer tourist during this time too, which means lower prices and less congestion in general.

The rest of the year has pleasant temperatures, although you should expect rain, especially in November.

My favourite months to visit are during the spring and fall when the weather is still nice and the crowds fewer.

How to Stay Safe in Florence

Florence is a very safe place to backpack and travel – even if you’re traveling solo or even as a solo female traveler. In Florence, scams and pick-pocketing are common dangers you’ll face, especially at the major tourist sites. Be vigilant around Piazza del Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.

Don’t buy “skip-the-line” tickets from people on the street as they are usually scamming you and selling you fake tickets. (To learn more about scams, you can read my post on the 14 travel scams to avoid right here.)

It’s also a good idea to avoid wandering around the city alone at night, especially in Santa Maria Novella. Stick to the main roads.

Always trust your gut instinct. If a taxi driver seems shady, stop the cab and get out. If your hotel is seedier than you thought, get out of there. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

Remember, if you don’t do it at home, don’t do it in Florence!

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Florence Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel to Florence. They are included here because they consistently find deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the ones I use the most and are always the starting points in my search for travel deals.

• Momondo – This is my favorite booking site. I never book a flight without checking here first.
• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is another great flight search engline which searches a lot of different airlines, including many of the budget carriers that larger sites miss. While I always start with Momondo, I use this site too as a way to compare prices.
• Airbnb – Airbnb is a great accommodation alternative for connecting with homeowners who rent out their homes or apartments. (If you’re new to Airbnb, get $35 off your first stay!)
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Couchsurfing – This website allows you to stay on people’s couches or spare rooms for free. It’s a great way to save money while meeting locals who can tell you the ins and outs of their city. The site also lists events you can attend to meet people (even if you’re not staying with someone).
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have a no money down policy, great interface, and the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all bookers.
• ItaliaRail – A great resource to use when planning your trip via train around Italy is ItaliaRail. You can compare prices, routes, and schedules and save up to 60% on your tickets.
• Intrepid Travel – If you want to do a group tour around Europe, go with Intrepid Travel. They offer good small group tours that use local operators and leave a small environmental footprint. If you go on a tour with anyone, go with them. And, as a reader of this site, you’ll get exclusive discounts when you click the link!
• STA Travel – A good company for those under 30 or for students, STA Travel offers discounted airfare as well as travel passes that help you save on attractions.
• Vayable – I enjoy this site because it allows you to experience niche, offbeat, and interesting tours that bigger tour companies might not run (like a street art tour in Berlin). Plus, the groups tend to be very small, making for a more intimate experience.
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome 2 Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – German based Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low €5 EUR ($6 USD)! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, and up to three 3 free bags.
• Bla Bla Car – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way travel than by bus or train!
• Context Tours – One of my favorite walking tour companies, Context offers in-depth history, food, and cultural tours through cities in the world, with a speciality in Europe. This company gets experts to lead tours (i.e. a chef to lead a food tour).
• Take Walks – A day tour company in Italy (as well as other destinations). What makes them so good is they get you inside access to attractions and places you can’t get elsewhere. Their guides rock too!
• EatWith – This website allows you to eat home cooked meal with locals. Locals post listings for dinner parties and specialty meals that you can sign up for. There is a fee (everyone sets their own price) but this is a great way to do something different, pick a local’s brain, and make a new friend.
• World Nomads – I buy all my travel insurance from World Nomads. They have great customer service, competitive prices, and in-depth coverage. I’ve been using them since I started traveling in 2003. Don’t leave home without it!

Florence Gear and Packing Guide

In this section, I’ll give you my suggestion for the best travel backpack and tips on what to pack when you visit Florence.

What to Pack for Florence

Clothes

• 1 pair of jeans (heavy and not easily dried, but I like them; a good alternative is khaki pants)
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 bathing suit
• 6 T-shirts
• 1 long-sleeved T-shirt
• 1 pair of flip-flops
• 1 pair of sneakers
• 8 pairs of socks (I always end up losing half)
• 5 pairs of boxer shorts (I’m not a briefs guy!)
• 1 toothbrush
• 1 tube of toothpaste
• 1 razor
• 1 package of dental floss
• 1 small bottle of shampoo
• 1 small bottle of shower gel
• 1 towel
• Deodorant

Small Medical Kit (safety is important!!!)

• Band-Aids
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Antibacterial cream
• Earplugs
• Tylenol
• Hand sanitizer (germs = sick = bad holiday)

Miscellaneous

• A key or combination lock (safety first)
• Zip-lock bags (keeps things from leaking or exploding)
• Plastic bags (great for laundry)
• Universal charger/adaptor (this applies to everyone)
• LifeStraw (A water bottle with a purifier.)

Female Travel Packing List
I’m not a woman, so I don’t know what a woman wears, but Kristin Addis, our solo female travel guru, wrote this list as an addition to the basics above:

Clothing

• 1 swimsuit
• 1 sarong
• 1 pair of stretchy jeans (they wash and dry easily)
• 1 pair of leggings (if it’s cold, they can go under your jeans, otherwise with a dress or shirt)
• 2-3 long-sleeve tops
• 2-3 T-shirts
• 3-4 spaghetti tops
• 1 light cardigan

Toiletries

• 1 dry shampoo spray & talc powder (keeps long hair grease-free in between washes)
• 1 hairbrush
• Makeup you use
• Hair bands & hair clips
• Feminine hygiene products (you can opt to buy there too, but I prefer not to count on it, and most people have their preferred products)

For more on packing, check out these posts:

• What I Pack For My Travels
• The Ultimate List For Female Travelers
• How to Choose and Buy the Right Backpack

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