The best things to do in Florence, the famous and artistic capital of Tuscany.

Florence remains high on many travelers’ bucket lists, as it should.

It is the birthplace of the Renaissance, so it is home to legendary architecture and world-famous artwork.

As the capital of Italy’s region of Tuscany, Florence is full of amazing food and wine.

And as a hub for backpackers and study abroad students, this touristy city is crawling with fun nightclubs and entertainment.

When visiting Florence, or Firenze as the Italians call it, here are some of the best things to do.

Some of these things to do in Florence are touristy, but they’re worth it!

Keep in mind, lots of outdoor activities are more enjoyable in spring or summer because of the sunny weather. But the crowds get worse as peak tourist season approaches.

Florence is still gorgeous in the winter if you dress warmly! The Christmas decorations are magical as well.

But no matter what time of year you visit, here are the 13 best things to do in Florence, Italy.

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Visit Bookaway to compare cheap transport options around Italy!

13 Best Things To Do In Florence, Italy

Here are some of the best things to do in Florence! This list only scratches the surface, but it’s a great introduction to this famous city.

I’ll include links to some skip-the-line tickets that you can book online. These are 100% worth it, especially if you’re visiting Florence in peak travel season.

The lines for the best Florence attractions can be long, and you can waste hours standing in line. These online tickets are usually about the same price, but you can skip the massive lines and have more time for exploring Florence!

Read next: The Ultimate Florence Budget Travel Guide

1. Check Out The Uffizi Gallery

The two-story Uffizi Gallery is packed with paintings, portraits, sculptures, and statues.

Here you can find iconic masterpieces by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Giotto, and Leonardo Da Vinci.

If you visit on the first Sunday of the month you can visit the art gallery for free! But the line gets incredibly long so be prepared to wait.

• Cost: 20 Euros
• Hours: 8:15 am to 6:50 pm, closed on Mondays
• Visit the Uffizi Gallery website for more info

2. See Michaelangelo’s David At Galleria dell’Accademia

The Galleria dell’Accademia art museum is home to one of the world’s most magnificent marble statues: Michaelangelo’s David.

Unless you’re an avid art fan, David is the most worthwhile artwork to see here. I personally had my fill of art at the Uffizi Gallery, so I just came here to wander for a bit and admire the David.

• Cost: 12 Euros
• Hours: 8:15 am to 6:50 pm
• Visit the gallery website for more info

3. Visit The Gucci Museum 

This fashion museum is one of the coolest Florence attractions. I’m not even a fashion fan but I still loved the Gucci Museum.

Stop by and browse through all the crazy patterned clothes and accessories. There’s also lots of cool art on the walls, so it’s like an art gallery and fashion museum all in one.

If you have a student ID card you can enter the Gucci Museum for free!

• Cost: 6 Euros (Free with student card)
• Hours: 10 am to 8 pm
• Click here for the Gucci website

4. Watch The Sunset From Piazza Michelangelo

The best panoramic view of the city is from Piazza Michelangelo.

The hike up to the plaza is only about 15 minutes.

Once you reach Piazza Michelangelo, you can chill on the giant stone staircase and watch the sunset.

Most people like to bring some drinks to add to the atmosphere, since there are no public drinking laws in Italy.

Buy a bottle of wine from the grocery store for a couple of euros! Or you can order prosecco from the cafe next to the stairs if you’re feeling fancy.

Read next: 15 Amazing Places To Visit in Italy

5. Experience The Nightlife

After enjoying Piazza Michelangelo, continue the festivities at one of Florence’s many bars or clubs.

Study abroad students and travelers alike tend to congregate at Green Street Bar and Lion’s Fountain. These two lively, casual bars are within a five-minute walk of each other.

Popular nightclubs include Space and Babylon, both of which play different types of amazing dance music.

Jazz Club is a more hole-in-the-wall type of place. Here you can pay 7 euros to hang with locals and listen to funky live music.

The best part about Florence is how small the city center is! So you can walk everywhere without having to pay for cabs or Ubers.

6. Eat Gelato

Eating gelato is one of the best things to do in Florence! Or any Italian town.

Take every opportunity to enjoy this creamy, delicious, heavenly version of ice cream. Because the second you leave Italy you will miss it terribly.

Florence has no shortage of gelato shops, but try to avoid the ones in crowded, touristy areas. This gelato is piled up into a mountain and is a little too vibrantly colored.

The best-tasting gelato looks the least impressive. Sometimes it’s even hidden from view in the deep, refrigerated compartments.

Edoardo’s next to the Duomo has amazing gelato with interesting artisan flavors like mango or red wine sorbet. They even have vegan flavors.

7. Browse The Shops

Florence is full of classic souvenir shops, but you can also find many gems selling unique crafts and other goods.

Signum is an aesthetically pleasing craft store near Ponte Vecchio that sells, maps, stationery, postcards, and other artsy trinkets.

Next to the Duomo, you can also find Move On Record Store, where you can browse through records of every genre.

The Leather Market is an outdoor street full of stalls so it isn’t a store. But this is a great place to find some authentic Italian leather for decent prices if that interests you.

8. Climb To The Best View Of The Duomo

Florence’s largest, most famous, and arguably most impressive landmark is the Duomo, also known as The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.

You can pay to climb the Dome of the Cathedral, and pay to climb Campanile di Giotto, the tower next to the Duomo.

But for all you budget travelers out there, the best view of the Duomo is free and slightly hidden.

On Via Roma at the front of the Piazza Del Duomo, there is a brown door with a small plaque inscribed “Las Terrazas Del Duomo”.

You can walk in for free and take the stairs or elevator to the 5th floor.

Then follow the stone staircase to the rooftop and enjoy an amazing view of the entire Duomo and the surrounding landscape.

This is easily one of the best things to do in Florence, as you get the most unique view of the city’s most famous building.

9. Eat At Gusta Pizza

Every study abroad student in Florence has posted a picture of a Gusta Pizza on Instagram. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s overrated and not authentic.

The pizza here is absolutely incredible, and a classic Margherita costs six euros.

You can watch the chefs mold the dough, spread the sauce, toss on the toppings and throw them in the giant oven at incredible speed. Every pizza is cooked to perfection.

10. Tour The Boboli Gardens & Pitti Palace

For a taste of nature in Florence, stroll through the greenery of the Boboli Gardens.

This beautiful park has lots of statues and sculptures from the 16th-18th centuries.

The Boboli Gardens are also free on the first Sunday of the Month. However, the line is always super long.

The 7 euros entry fee is worth it, and it’s even better to reserve a skip-the-line ticket. But if you don’t feel like paying and still want somewhere to relax in the sun, the slanted concrete right in front of the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens is a popular spot to chill out and picnic.

Pitti Palace is another one of the best Florence attractions. This Renaissance Palace near the River Arno is home to art galleries, museums, and luxurious architecture.

You can tour the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens together since they’re right next to each other.

A skip-the-line entrance ticket to Pitti Palace costs 17 Euros on Get Your Guide.

11. Sample Food At Mercato Centrale

For the biggest conglomeration of amazing food, visit the Mercato Centrale, or Central Market.

On the first floor, you will find fresh produce, dried fruit and nuts, and little shops selling olive oil, balsamic vinegar, truffle spreads, packaged pasta, and desserts.

La Pasta Fresca is an incredible takeaway pasta stand on the first floor of the Central Market.

Order a plate of homemade pasta with your choice of sauce for only five euros. The lemon ricotta ravioli is to die for, and the walnut sauce is a delicious change from the usual red sauce or pesto.

The second floor of the Central Market has more ready-to-eat food. Order a fancy sit-down meal or a quick pasta or panini to take away.

This is definitely the best thing to do in Florence for food lovers. Check out the Mercato Centrale website for more info!

12. Walk Along Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is a bridge that arches over the Arno River. It has been standing since Roman times and is known for its shops that run along the sides.

Though the stores mainly sell sparkling jewelry worth more than most people can afford, it’s fun to window shop and imagine what the stores on this bridge were like hundreds of years ago.

The best views of Ponte Vecchio are from the perpendicular streets that line the river, and from the neighboring bridge, Ponte Santa Trinita.

13. Take A Day Trip to the Tuscan Countryside or Cinque Terre

A couple of days is definitely enough time to cover all these wonderful Florence activities.

So if you find yourself with extra time and want to embark on a day trip from Florence, here are two options:

13a. Wine Tasting in Tuscany

Tuscany is one of the most famous wine-producing regions in the world.

With lush green countryside and endless hills of vineyards and olive trees, venturing outside Florence means you will see stunning natural scenery.

Wine tastings make an easy day trip where you can sample traditional Tuscan wines, and the tour companies are endless.

Chianti makes one of the best wine tasting day trips from Florence!

If you want to do an affordable, wine tasting in Florence so you don’t have to leave the city, you can book this sunset sightseeing/wine tasting tour here.

13b. Cinque Terre

For some of the most breathtaking views of the Italian coastline, visit Cinque Terre.

Take a bus or train to La Spezia, then take trains in between the five cities of Cinque Terre, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.

The trains between these beautiful towns are super straightforward and quick, so you can visit some or all of the destinations in one day before heading back to Florence.

If you prefer to book a tour so all your transportation is taken care of, this Florence to Cinque Terre tour from Get Your Guide has over 300 positive reviews and is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Click here to read my article, 6 Reasons to Visit Cinque Terre!

Thanks for reading about the best things to do in Florence!

This city may be touristy, but it’s popular for a reason. The history, architecture, food, and overall atmosphere is incredible. It’s a must on any visit to Italy!

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