Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is one of the most visited cities in Italy. It is a place where you can wander the narrow streets of the historic center, enjoy delicious Italian food and be enchanted by impressive buildings and works of art. Florence is not big, but the city is full of special places that you really must have seen. Are you curious what else this city has to offer? Below you can read the top 10 sights in Florence that you should not miss during your visit.
1. Florence's Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore).
The impressive Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo, also called the Duomo, is 153 meters high. This makes it one of the largest cathedrals in the world and the symbol of Florence. The inside of the cathedral is free to visit. For the other parts of the cathedral, such as the dome, baptistery (baptistery), museum and bell tower, it is necessary to book separate tickets in advance.
Since this is one of the most popular sights in Florence, I recommend visiting the cathedral in the early morning.Around 9 a.m. it is often still quiet and you can take pictures at your leisure.
The Uffizi Gallery is not only the most famous museum in Florence, but also a paradise for art lovers. Masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci hang here. Located on the Arno River, the museum has dozens of rooms full of paintings and sculptures. The most famous room is the one with Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Visit the Uffizi preferably early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. Tickets are best reserved online, as the queues can be long. The chances of still getting tickets at the box office are usually slim, especially in high season.
The Ponte Vecchio is Florence’s oldest bridge and one of the city’s most photographed sites.The bridge is known for its small stores with jewelers and goldsmiths.As you walk across the bridge, enjoy the view of the Arno River.
Early in the morning or during sunset, this is the most beautiful place for photos.The atmosphere is calm then and the light falls beautifully on the water.
4. Palazzo Vecchio
Located in Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio has been the heart of Florentine politics for centuries. Inside you can admire rooms with murals and furniture from the Renaissance. From the tower you have a great view of the city.
If you want to avoid crowds, visit the palace before 10 a.m. Online reservations are also recommended here, especially in spring and summer.
The Galleria dell’Accademia is best known for Michelangelo’s sculpture David. This statue is one of the most famous works of art in the world. Besides David, you will also find other sculptures and paintings from the Renaissance.
The best time to go is early in the morning or just after 4 p.m. Again, buy your ticket online so you can skip the queue.
Personally, I think Piazza della Signoria is the most beautiful square in the center of Florence. It is a lively open-air museum where you will find several statues and fountains, such as a replica of David and the Fountain of Neptune.
During the day it is a busy square, but in the evening the atmosphere really comes alive with buskers and cozy terraces.
You can visit this square at any time of day, but around sunset it is extra atmospheric.
7. Basilica di Santa Croce
The Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze is an impressive basilica in Florence and best known for its many tombs of famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Machiavelli. Furthermore, the basilica is known for the Pazzi Chapel, its beautiful facade and impressive frescoes.
The basilica is located slightly outside the busy center of Florence, so it is often quieter than other sights in Florence. The best time to visit the basilica is in the morning, when the sunlight falls through the windows.
8. Boboli Gardens
Behind Palazzo Pitti are the Boboli Gardens, an oasis of peace in the middle of the city. Here you walk among statues, fountains and green avenues overlooking Florence.
Visit the gardens preferably in the morning or afternoon. It can get hot in the summer, so bring water. Tickets can be purchased online, which saves waiting time at the entrance.
The Palazzo Pitti was once the home of the powerful Medici family. Inside you will find beautiful halls, paintings and royal chambers. The museum is close to the Boboli Gardens, making it easy to combine the two.
The best time to visit is late morning. Book your ticket in advance online to avoid long waits.
Want to see Florence from above? Then Piazzale Michelangelo is the perfect place. From this vantage point you have a breathtaking view of the Arno River, the surrounding mountains and, of course, Florence, with the cathedral as its centerpiece. The climb up is equally tough, but the view is worth every step.
Tip: After your visit, walk back leisurely along the path that winds through the beautiful rose garden, the Giardino delle Rose.
Can you visit all the sights in Florence in one day?
In theory, you could see all the sights in Florence in one day, but you would have to rush very fast.The city has so much beauty that it is a waste to rush through everything. It is better to take two or three days so you can see everything at your leisure.
Many famous places are fortunately close together. For example, the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio are all within walking distance in the historic center. You can easily visit them in one day. The Basilica di Santa Croce is also nearby, just a ten-minute walk from the square.
For sights like the Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and the Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint, you have to walk a little further or take a short bus ride.
When is the best time to buy tickets?
Florence is a popular destination, so many attractions sell out quickly. It’s therefore smart to book your tickets online in advance. That way you save time and avoid long queues.
My tips for sightseeing in Florence
In closing, I have a few helpful tips for anyone planning to visit some of the sights in Florence:
1. Buy your tickets online. Here’s how to avoid queues. Most attractions in Florence are very popular and often sold out quickly. So it can happen that you will not be able to get in somewhere – this has happened to me, unfortunately. So plan your trip well and buy your tickets in advance.
2. Wear comfortable shoes. Florence is best discovered on foot. Like Rome, the city has lots of cobblestones and stairs, so good shoes are really a must. Personally, I like to walk in sturdy athletic shoes during a city break to Florence or Rome, and that’s usually fine.
3. Start early. The city is most beautiful AND quietest in the morning. If you really want to see the sights in Florence at your leisure, start early in the morning. Then you will be least affected by mass tourism and you can see everything well and take beautiful pictures.
Edward
Hi, I'm Edward, crazy about city trips and everything that makes these trips so special. On Cities To travel I share my best tips and recommendations for your next city trip!
Hi, I’m Edward, and I love city breaks and everything that makes them so special. On Cities To Travel, I share my best tips and recommendations for your next city break!
Top 10 Sights in Florence: Tips and Info
Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is one of the most visited cities in Italy. It is a place where you can wander the narrow streets of the historic center, enjoy delicious Italian food and be enchanted by impressive buildings and works of art. Florence is not big, but the city is full of special places that you really must have seen. Are you curious what else this city has to offer? Below you can read the top 10 sights in Florence that you should not miss during your visit.
1. Florence's Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore).
The impressive Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo, also called the Duomo, is 153 meters high. This makes it one of the largest cathedrals in the world and the symbol of Florence. The inside of the cathedral is free to visit. For the other parts of the cathedral, such as the dome, baptistery (baptistery), museum and bell tower, it is necessary to book separate tickets in advance.
Since this is one of the most popular sights in Florence, I recommend visiting the cathedral in the early morning. Around 9 a.m. it is often still quiet and you can take pictures at your leisure.
2. Galleria degli Uffizi
The Uffizi Gallery is not only the most famous museum in Florence, but also a paradise for art lovers. Masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci hang here. Located on the Arno River, the museum has dozens of rooms full of paintings and sculptures. The most famous room is the one with Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Visit the Uffizi preferably early in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds. Tickets are best reserved online, as the queues can be long. The chances of still getting tickets at the box office are usually slim, especially in high season.
3. Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio is Florence’s oldest bridge and one of the city’s most photographed sites. The bridge is known for its small stores with jewelers and goldsmiths. As you walk across the bridge, enjoy the view of the Arno River.
Early in the morning or during sunset, this is the most beautiful place for photos. The atmosphere is calm then and the light falls beautifully on the water.
4. Palazzo Vecchio
Located in Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio has been the heart of Florentine politics for centuries. Inside you can admire rooms with murals and furniture from the Renaissance. From the tower you have a great view of the city.
If you want to avoid crowds, visit the palace before 10 a.m. Online reservations are also recommended here, especially in spring and summer.
5. Galleria dell'Accademia
The Galleria dell’Accademia is best known for Michelangelo’s sculpture David. This statue is one of the most famous works of art in the world. Besides David, you will also find other sculptures and paintings from the Renaissance.
The best time to go is early in the morning or just after 4 p.m. Again, buy your ticket online so you can skip the queue.
6. Piazza della Signoria
Personally, I think Piazza della Signoria is the most beautiful square in the center of Florence. It is a lively open-air museum where you will find several statues and fountains, such as a replica of David and the Fountain of Neptune.
During the day it is a busy square, but in the evening the atmosphere really comes alive with buskers and cozy terraces.
You can visit this square at any time of day, but around sunset it is extra atmospheric.
7. Basilica di Santa Croce
The Basilica di Santa Croce di Firenze is an impressive basilica in Florence and best known for its many tombs of famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Machiavelli. Furthermore, the basilica is known for the Pazzi Chapel, its beautiful facade and impressive frescoes.
The basilica is located slightly outside the busy center of Florence, so it is often quieter than other sights in Florence. The best time to visit the basilica is in the morning, when the sunlight falls through the windows.
8. Boboli Gardens
Behind Palazzo Pitti are the Boboli Gardens, an oasis of peace in the middle of the city. Here you walk among statues, fountains and green avenues overlooking Florence.
Visit the gardens preferably in the morning or afternoon. It can get hot in the summer, so bring water. Tickets can be purchased online, which saves waiting time at the entrance.
9. Palazzo Pitti
The Palazzo Pitti was once the home of the powerful Medici family. Inside you will find beautiful halls, paintings and royal chambers. The museum is close to the Boboli Gardens, making it easy to combine the two.
The best time to visit is late morning. Book your ticket in advance online to avoid long waits.
10. Piazzale Michelangelo
Want to see Florence from above? Then Piazzale Michelangelo is the perfect place. From this vantage point you have a breathtaking view of the Arno River, the surrounding mountains and, of course, Florence, with the cathedral as its centerpiece. The climb up is equally tough, but the view is worth every step.
Tip: After your visit, walk back leisurely along the path that winds through the beautiful rose garden, the Giardino delle Rose.
Can you visit all the sights in Florence in one day?
In theory, you could see all the sights in Florence in one day, but you would have to rush very fast. The city has so much beauty that it is a waste to rush through everything. It is better to take two or three days so you can see everything at your leisure.
Many famous places are fortunately close together. For example, the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio are all within walking distance in the historic center. You can easily visit them in one day. The Basilica di Santa Croce is also nearby, just a ten-minute walk from the square.
For sights like the Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens and the Piazzale Michelangelo viewpoint, you have to walk a little further or take a short bus ride.
When is the best time to buy tickets?
Florence is a popular destination, so many attractions sell out quickly. It’s therefore smart to book your tickets online in advance. That way you save time and avoid long queues.
My tips for sightseeing in Florence
In closing, I have a few helpful tips for anyone planning to visit some of the sights in Florence:
1. Buy your tickets online. Here’s how to avoid queues. Most attractions in Florence are very popular and often sold out quickly. So it can happen that you will not be able to get in somewhere – this has happened to me, unfortunately. So plan your trip well and buy your tickets in advance.
2. Wear comfortable shoes. Florence is best discovered on foot. Like Rome, the city has lots of cobblestones and stairs, so good shoes are really a must. Personally, I like to walk in sturdy athletic shoes during a city break to Florence or Rome, and that’s usually fine.
3. Start early. The city is most beautiful AND quietest in the morning. If you really want to see the sights in Florence at your leisure, start early in the morning. Then you will be least affected by mass tourism and you can see everything well and take beautiful pictures.
Edward
Hi, I'm Edward, crazy about city trips and everything that makes these trips so special. On Cities To travel I share my best tips and recommendations for your next city trip!
Special offers for a city break to Florence
If you are planning a city break to Florence and would like to visit some of the sights, take advantage of the offers below!
Hi, I’m Edward, and I love city breaks and everything that makes them so special. On Cities To Travel, I share my best tips and recommendations for your next city break!
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