What to do in Florence when it rains
Rainy days in Florence aren’t that common anymore. Due to climate change, every year is hotter and drier then the past one. Summers are particularly dry, but sometimes it rains even in Florence, especially between November and February. So, what to do in Florence when it rains? Here are my tips to get the best out of a rainy day.
Hi! I’m Claudia, a licensed local tour guide of Florence with more than 10 years of experience. Learn more about me and my private Florence guided tours.
What to do in Florence when it rains
First of all, know that when it rains in Florence, it is usually intense but short term rains. There are often violent thunderstorms with lightnings, but they never last long. So don’t be discouraged if this happens during your trip, it will most likely only stop you for a few hours.
If, on the other hand, it rains moderately, open your umbrella, put on a raincoat and enjoy the cradle of the Renaissance!
- Thing to know: in case of rain, the climbs to the Dome of the Cathedral and to the tower of Palazzo Vecchio are suspended for safety reasons.
Visit a museum
It may seem trivial advice, but Florence is literally chock full of museums, there are over 70 to visit. And a rainy day is the perfect opportunity to discover some you hadn’t planned on.
You had probably already planned to visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, regardless of rain. But if the rain prevents you from doing other outdoor activities, you can decide to visit another museum among the many in the city.
To find inspiration to choose which one to visit read:
In the case of the Uffizi and the Accademia gallery, it’s very important to book the tickets in advance. I recommend you not to do it at the last minute, especially because tickets for the Accademia Gallery can be sold out several weeks before.
To find out how to book tickets and learn about all my tricks for visiting these two museums, read:
The best way to optimize your time in museums is taking a guided tour with a licensed tour guide. In this way you can be sure that you fully understand the most important artworks of the Italian Renaissance, without wasting time.
If you want to take a private tour, check:
If you instead want to share your visit with a small group, check the best small group tours on Viator:
Have lunch at Central Market
Mercato Centrale (the central market, also known as San Lorenzo market) is a great place to dive into the yummy world of Italian cuisine. The market is covered, in an iron, cast iron and glass structure from the second half of the 19th century.
On the ground floor there is a traditional Italian market, open only in the morning, where fruit, vegetables, meats and other everyday products are sold. But on the first floor there is a large food court with over 20 different restaurants, street food carts, wine tasting spots and much more. You can really enjoy any kind of Italian food here, from pasta to Florentine steak, and you can make cheese, wine and truffle tasting experiences. If you are a foodie you could spend the whole day at Mercato Centrale, and you actually can. It’s open every day from 9.00 am to midnight. But don’t go there too early or too late, or you won’t find all the food options available.
Take a cooking class
One of the best things you can do when it rains in Florence is taking a cooking class. It’s a perfect chance to learn how to make pasta from scratch, gnocchi , tiramisù or your favorite Italian dish. You can even learn how to make gelato!
Some cooking classes are also including a visit to a local market to buy fresh, seasonal ingredients before cooking. There are also gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian cooking classes. I have collected all the best ones in a single post:
What to do on a rainy day in Florence: books and coffee
One of my favorite things to do when it rains is lingering on a cup of coffee or tea, with a good book and a nice view from the window. In Florence you can do that in a couple of lovely places. My favorite ones are:
Biblioteca delle Oblate
This public library in the historic center is housed in a former XIV century convent, has tons of books (also in English) and even a small museum of prehistory. But the coolest thing is the top floor terrace, with a magnificent view of Brunelleschi’s dome, and a café. The terrace is covered so you can enjoy a coffee with a view even during a bad weather day. For the Caffetteria delle Oblate enter the building, find the stairs (or ask… it’s a labyrinthine building) and reach the top floor.
Address: via dell’Oriuolo 26
La Cité Firenze
La Cité is a delightful independent bookstore where you can read a book while having a cappuccino or a glass of wine. But it is also a cafeteria and a bistro where you can eat something for lunch, and attend live music and small cultural events (address: Borgo San Frediano 20/r).
If you love quality coffee you can also relax in one of the Ditta Artigianale cafes, there are several in the city. Their coffee is outstanding, and I have a soft spot for their gin and tonics.
If you are looking for English books on Florence (but not only!) check the Paperback Exchange bookshop, it is right behind the Duomo (via dell’Oche 4/r)
Florence, what to do when it rains? Art class!
If you are an art lover, this is your chance to get your hands dirty, make your own masterpiece and bring it back home. In Florence you can take any kind of art class, from sculpting to different kind of paintings: watercolor, oil painting and you can even paint a fresco!
I have personally done some of those art classes and I loved them. Even if I’m not a very talented artist, I truly enjoyed the act of making art and learning what’s behind the most famous masterpieces, and understanding firsthand how they were made.
Some of the best art classes in Florence are:
- Sculpt like Michelangelo! Sculpting class
- painting experience (oil, acrylic or watercolor)
- Fresco painting class
Take a workshop
Florence is rich in craft traditions, often dating back to the Middle Ages, such as leather making. Some artisans have decided to share their knowledge, and teach travelers their ancient arts. Do you like the idea of creating something with your own hands and then taking it home? Some of the most interesting workshops in Florence are:
- Cheese making class (I personally know chef Vary, she’s the biggest cheese lover I’ve ever met)
- Perfume making class
- Leather making class make your own leather accessory)
Attend an opera concert
Did you know that opera was born in Florence? This ancient tradition is still alive, and if you love opera and classical music, this is the perfect opportunity. In Florence you will be able to attend an opera concert in a unique setting like that of an ancient church.
To make this experience you have three options:
- Opera concert in Santa Monaca church
- Three tenors in Santo Stefano al Ponte church
- Opera and Puccini arias at St. Mark Anglican church
What to do in Florence with kids when it rains
A rainy day won’t stop your kids from having a fun day and learning something new!
The Leonardo da Vinci Museum is a must-see for kids under 12 (and sometimes also for grown up kids like me). It’s an interactive museum: there are no original works by Leonardo da Vinci, but reproductions of his famous machines. Children can touch the machines, make them work, play with them and discover all aspects of Leonardo’s life and career: artist, scientist, inventor, engineer, traveler and dreamer.
Also read:
Did you know that Florence is the birthplace of Pinocchio? In case of rain you can spend a very pleasant hour with your children at the Pinocchio and Toys Museum. It is located just behind the Duomo (address is via dell’Oriuolo 47), and has an immense collection of antique toys and Pinocchio memorabilia, some 100 years old.
Read about Pinocchio in Florence (all the places related to him).
There are also museum tours specifically designed for kids:
Take a day trip somewhere else!
If you really don’t feel like spending a day in the rain in Florence, you can always escape somewhere else! Maybe first check the weather forecast to make sure it doesn’t rain even in the destination of the trip, Italy is quite small.
The most popular day trips are those in Chianti and the countryside of Tuscany, often including Siena and San Gimignano. But being areas very close to Florence, there is likely to be bad weather there too. Alternatively you can take a day trip to Cinque Terre, another super popular destination.
I suggest you also consider Bologna: it’s only 30 minutes by high speed train from Florence. It’s way less touristy, it’s a wonderful city rich in art and history, and the food is simply fantastic. Bologna also has the advantage of being on the other side of the mountains, so the weather could be different.
For a comprehensive guide read:
That’s all! I hope this post on what to do in Florence when it rains will help you get the most out of your trip to Italy and not waste any precious time. Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips to add to mine!