If Florence is a part of your next travel itinerary, or if it’s on your travel wish list, you’re in the right place. Florence, or Firenze in Italian, is a magical destination in central Italy that birthed the Renaissance, modern banking, gelato, and so much more. If you have yet to visit this city, I’m jealous! Exploring Florence for the first time is one of the best experiences as a traveler and this is a city that you’ll fall in love with over and over again. Let’s get into this Florence travel guide for first time visitors. I’ll break this down into a two day itinerary, but mold these suggestions into your own timeframe for your next visit.
How to Get to Florence
No, you absolutely do not need a car to explore Florence!
Florence is extremely easy to reach from most cities in Italy. They also have a decent sized airport with flights coming in from many destinations. Catch a train to Florence from Milan, Rome, Cinque Terre, Bologna, Venice, and other major destinations. Once you arrive at the Santa Maria Novella train station, you can literally walk out of the train station, turn left, and see the roof of the iconic Duomo di Firenze.
Florence is extremely walkable and very small. I remember the first time I visited during my semester abroad in Milan, I was pretty surprised by how small the core of Florence was. You can easily reach all of the major sights on both sides of the river by foot. I never felt the urge to even try to call a car, so rest assured knowing that you likely won’t need to organize transportation while in the city.
Day 1: Start at the Duomo
After you check in to your accommodation and drop your things off, head over to the iconic Duomo of Florence.
Fun Fact: all of the major churches in Italy are called the “duomo” because this word means church in Italian. The Duomo of Florence is actually called the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
If you’re interested in getting high-up views of the city, head up to Giotto’s Bell Tower at the church. Honestly, I’ve seen the line to do this during the busy months and I have avoided it because you can get a pretty similar view from some of the nearby rooftop restaurants, but if this is something you want to see during your trip it’s probably worth it. Get your tickets online before hand and plan this into your itinerary.
However, do make sure that you go inside of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The interiors of this cathedral are some of the most stunning in all of Italy – and probably the world. You’re in the home of the Renaissance after all!
Give yourself plenty of time to explore the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and the surrounding Piazza del Duomo. There are countless incredible shops in the area that you can pop your head into. Grab lunch in this part of town before making your way back to the Arno River.
Gucci Gardens
Walk south from the Piazza del Duomo to the Gucci Gardens which is right near the Uffizi Gallery (we’re headed there next!). If you’re into fashion or if you’re interested in understanding the impact that Italy and its craftsmen have had on the world of fashion, the Gucci Gardens is an immaculate display of one of Italy’s most respected heritage brands. The Gucci brand was started by Guccio Gucci in 1921 in Florence, Italy. If you’re interested in learning more about the history, you may want to watch House of Gucci before your visit!
You can buy your ticket in-person for 8 euros. Students can show a student ID to enter for free.
I am a fashion lover, as I started my own handbag brand called Vogelle (our namesake brand) while I was studying in Milan. I’ve also been in the modeling industry since 2013 which only deepened my appreciation for the industry.
There’s a much larger conversation happening right now, which became mainstream due to the Met Gala a few years ago, about how fashion is just as much of an art form as painting or sculpture. This is a large reason why the styles or designers highlighted each year at the Met are given a section of the museum to be held on display for one year.
There’s no better way to understand this idea than to visit one of the most standout fashion displays in the world. When you look back on your visit to the Gucci Gardens, you might feel like it was a similar experience to visiting the surrounding art museums – at least it always does for me.
Okay, enough of the fashion rant! Back to the itinerary. ๐
Visit the Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is an absolutely must when visiting Florence. This museums is filled with infamous Renaissance art and is one of the most important art museums in the world. During your visit you will see some of incredibly famous paintings including:
Botticelli โ The Birth of Venus and Primavera
Leonardo da Vinci โ Annunciation
Michelangelo โ Doni Tondo
and much much more. Give yourself a few hours to explore this museum. This building was originally built as a building for offices (uffizi) in the 16th century, but was turned into a private art gallery by the Medici family which later opened to the public in 1765. The building itself is an incredible display of Renaissance architecture, so be sure to take that in as well while you enjoy the art. Also, while inside, you will get different views of the Ponte Vecchio and Duomo from the upper levels. The Uffizi Gallery is a staple of Western art history.
I recommend booking a guided tour if you want to understand the museum, the history, and the art on a deeper level. Here’s a tour that I loved a few years ago! You can scan the barcode on the left to book it or click on the link above.
A single entrance ticket without the tour is 25 euros and can be booked here.
The Vasari Corridor
Closed in 2016 for renovations, the Vasari Corridor has recently reopened to visitors. You must make a reservation for this online and I suggest booking it well in advance. Click here for the website.
The Vasari Corridor is a secret elevated passageway that was built in 1565 by architect Giorgio Vasari for the Medici family. It connects the Uffizi Gallery to the Pitti Palace, and goes directly over the Ponte Vecchio. The Vasari Corridor is directly above me in the photo below and can also be seen where the square windows are above the Ponte Vecchio.
It was designed so the Medici family could move between their residence and government offices safely and privately, avoiding the streets. You’ll find that much of Florence’s architecture and art has ties to the Medici family. Today, itโs known for its historic architecture and purpose and once housed an impressive collection of self-portraits by famous artists from Florence and beyond. This one is often closed to the public, but is one of Florenceโs most fascinating hidden landmarks. If you can see it while you’re there, I recommend it.
Get Lost in Florence
Of course, while you’re exploring, you can stop for snacks, pizza, gelato, and coffee. I’m mentioning a few restaurants in this blog but am going to focus more on the sites. Florence is one of those places where you really can’t eat at a bad restaurant, so wander around and enjoy some of the best food and wine in the world!
Enjoy Ponte Vecchio at Sunset
Sunsets in Florence are truly in a league of their own. Something about the combination of the rich history, art, architecture, the river, and the surrounding landscape fills these sunsets with magic. If you only have one night in Florence, I recommend seeing it at Piazzale Michelangelo (which we will cover later), but if you have a few nights make sure to catch one at Ponte Vecchio. Come here both during the day and at night during your trip.
I love watching locals on canoes and kayaks float down the river as it changes color and I love watching the lights come up as the bridge gets dark. Thinking about it seriously makes me want to book another trip!
Enjoy Dinner at La Buchetta
If you love steak, wine, cheese, gnocchi, and world-class pasta, make a reservation at La Buchetta before you go.
Every time I go to Florence I always always stop here. It’s a cozy restaurant right off of the Arno River. They also recently opened up one of those infamous wine windows, so make sure to stop by and experience that unique Florence moment!
Day 2: Explore the Boboli Gardens & Pitti Palace
The Boboli Gardens are on the opposite side of the Arno River from the Duomo and Uffizi Gallery. Walk across Ponte Vecchio to get here and enjoy these expansive green gardens. Again, this is all very walkable. The Boboli Gardens sit behind the Pitti Palace, which if you remember from earlier, is the end destination of the Vasari Corridor.
The Pitti Palace is another landmark Renaissance building that houses an incredible collection of art. This palace was originally built in 1458 for a for a wealthy Florentine banker named Luca Pitti and the palace was designed to rival the Mediciโs power. It was later bought by the Medici in 1549, and became their primary residence (and a symbol of their dominance) in Florence. When the Medicis resided in this palace, the Boboli Gardens served as their private gardens which are now open to the public.
A single entry ticket to the gardens is 10 euros, and a ticket for both the Boboli Gardens and Pitti Palace is 22 euros. You can book those tickets here or purchase them in person.
Visit the Accademia Gallery – Statue of David
You can’t visit Florence without visiting Michelangelo’s David. Originally created in 1504, this masterpiece draws millions of visitors who come to admire its detail, scale, and symbolism. As an art lover, seeing it in person was something I will never forget.
This museum is relatively small and David is the main attraction by far, but there is a rich collection of Renaissance paintings and a fascinating museum of musical instruments to explore. I thought I was just coming here to see David, probably like many other travelers, but I quickly got swept away into the other exhibits and really loved this museum as a whole.
Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
After seeing Michelangelo’s David, head over the the Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. This might be the best sunset spot I’ve ever experienced and I still think about it all of the time. Come up to the plaza, grab a bottle of wine, and get a good spot on the steps to watch the sun go down over Florence and the surrounding valley.
Plan to sit up here for an hour or two before heading back down for dinner. Outside of the museums, this is my favorite thing to do in Florence and one of my favorite things to do in all of Italy. Once you experience this, you’ll understand why. This is an easy walk from the city center, but there is an uphill walk on your way to the top. Wear sneakers and bring layers as the temperature drops into the evening. Enjoy the views, sounds, and smells of Florence and you’ll likely have some live music to listen to as well.
This is the best way to end your time in Florence, Italy. I hope you enjoyed this Florence travel guide! Be sure to subscribe to our email list below to get our latest guides and travel tips directly to your inbox.
@lauravogelle How to spend 48 hours in Florence, Italy! ๐ท๐ฎ๐น Uffizi Galleries, the Duomo, Academia Galleries, Statue of David, & more. #vogelle #florence #florenceitaly #italy #traveltiktok #travelitaly โฌ original sound – Laura Vogel
