Planning a trip to Florence, Italy. Best tips for a DIY travel

If you are planning your trip to Florence, Italy, this is the right place to start! I have collected on this page all the articles that may be useful for you to plan your trip to Florence and Tuscany.

As always, I made my best to answer the most common questions I get from travelers who are about to plan a trip to Florence, and I hope you find all the information you are looking for. I am keeping this post constantly updated with new information, recommendations and links.

• I am a local licensed tour guide with 10 years of experience! Learn more about me and my job as a tour guide in Florence.

Start planning your trip to Florence

In this section you’ll find all the things to know in order to plan your travel in advance. Let’s start from the basics: flying into Florence, how many days to spend there, the best time to visit, where to stay and how to get around.

Here are all my best tips for visiting Florence and all the thing to know before traveling there: that’s a good starting point!

Flying into Florence

If you are coming to Florence by plane you have several options, whether you are coming from Europe or from overseas.

When searching for a flight to Florence you can check flights schedules and prices on Skyscanner.

Florence Airport

Florence has an airport, Firenze Peretola, dedicated to Amerigo Vespucci, which is very close to the city center. You can go from the airport to the historic center in a few minutes by public transport (tram) or by taxi. Unfortunately, however, the Florence airport is very small, and does not operate many flights.

If you are coming from outside of Europe it is very likely that you will have to stop over at another major European airport (usually Paris, Amsterdam or London) and then take a connecting flight to Florence.

The main European low cost airline, Ryanair, does not operate at the Florence airport, but there are other low cost airlines operating in Florence: Vueling and EasyJet.

Other airports near Florence: Pisa and Bologna

Since the Florence airport is so small, it is not always a convenient solution. But there are two valid alternatives: Bologna airport and Pisa airport. Both have the advantages of:

• Being large international airports
• Being less than an hour away from Florence
• Having low cost Ryanair flights

If you land at Pisa Galileo Galilei airport, you can easily reach Florence by public transport. There are both buses and trains (the airport is connected to the train station with a short monorail called Pisamover). Both buses and trains cost around 12 euros and take an hour to reach the Santa Maria Novella station in Florence.

If you land at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi airport you can go to Florence with a bus that leaves right outside the airport (Appennino Shuttle) and reaches Florence in an hour. Or you can take the Marconi Express shuttle which takes you to the Bologna train station in 7 minutes. From here you can take a high-speed train to Florence (around 25 minutes).

Getting to Florence by train

Getting to Florence by train is very easy and fast. If during your trip to Italy you will visit other cities such as Rome or Venice, the quickest and cheapest way to move from one city to another is the train.

Trains in Italy are numerous and reach all cities and towns, except for small villages in the countryside. To reach Florence from Rome, Venice or another Italian city, I recommend using high-speed trains: regional trains are cheaper but travel times are very long, and often one or more trains must be changed along the way.

There are two high-speed train companies in Italy:

• Trenitalia (this company also offers slow regional trains: avoid regionali and Intercity trains. Trenitalia’s high-speed trains are called Frecce)
• Italo (all Italo trains are high speed).

Trenitalia and Italo are both valid, and the prices and services are the same: choose the one that offers you the best time and price.

In any case, the earlier you book, the better: there are different rates and the cheapest ones are the first to run out. Exchange and cancellation rates, first-class seats, silence areas and dining cars are available.

How long does it takes to get to Florence by train

• From Rome to Florence: less than 2 hours (how to get from Rome to Florence by train)
• From Venice to Florence: approximately 2.5 hours
• From Milan to Florence: 2 hours
• From Naples to Florence: 3 hours

The main train station in Florence is called Firenze Santa Maria Novella (takes the name from the nearby church), and it’s very central, less than 5 minutes away from the Cathedral.

How many days should I spend in Florence?

This is such a big question when planning a trip to Florence. Of course, the more is the better: you could spend a whole month in Florence without having seen it all yet. But I know that most of the travelers are not visiting just Florence during their trip to Italy, but also other cities like Rome and Venice. So planning the right amount of time in each place is really important.

I think you should spend at least 2 days in Florence, 3 days would be even better. Here you can find my piece of advice to figure out how many days to spend in Florence.

What is the best time to travel to Florence?

Summer is crowded, expensive and hot: it’s definitely my least favorite time of the year in Florence. Spring and fall have a lovely weather and are a bit less pricey and crowded. Except for Christmas holidays, winter is the cheapest time of the year for visiting Florence, and the less crowded.

I have wrote a whole about this subject: best time to go to Florence. There you’ll find all the pros and cons of every season of the year!

In case you’re visiting Florence in summer, here’s a useful list of things: what to pack for summer in Florence.

• A useful post: What to do in Florence when it rains

Where to stay

Florence is packed with any kind of accommodation: fancy hotel and cozy bed and breakfasts, cheap hostel and opulent ancient palaces with frescoed ceilings.

The best area to stay in Florence is definitely the historic center: finding an accommodation there, you’ll be close to all the places, monuments and museums that you will visit. If you want to save some money you can choose a hotel outside of the historic center, and then getting there by public transport (or even on foot, the city is really small and distances are short).

Also the Oltrarno district (beyond the Arno river) is a good area, and conveniently close to the center.

For finding the best place to stay read my complete guide to accommodation in Florence: hotels, bed and breakfasts, agriturismo, fancy places and budget stays.

How to get around

Florence is a very walkable city, all the main tourist attractions are concentrated in the historic center. Also the Oltrarno district can be reached on foot in a few minutes. You won’t really need public transportation unless you are planning to get out of the center.

But, in case you need it… here are all the things to know about public transportation in Florence, shared bikes and scooters, taxis and more, all explained in this post about how to get around Florence.

Planning what to see and do during a DIY travel to Florence

There are way too many things to see and do in town to be listed here. But there are a few unmissable museums and places that you should add to your travel plans in Florence.

Here are some helpful posts to get an idea about outdoor places to visit in Florence:

• What to see and do in Florence in 3 days
• Best views of Florence (and where to see them)
• the 10 best gardens of Florence
• The most beautiful squares in Florence
• Fun Vespa tours in Florence and surroundings

Museums and art galleries in Florence

Museums, art and history are the main reasons why so many people are visiting Florence every year. There are some of the most important art museums in the world, literally packed with masterpieces of Renaissance art.

The two most important and unmissable museums are the Uffizi (with paintings by Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raffaello, Botticelli and much more) and the Accademia Gallery (where David by Michelangelo is housed).

• my tips for visiting the Accademia Gallery
• 10 tips for visiting the Uffizi
• What to see at the Uffizi Gallery

Museums in Florence are very popular and they are always crowded, especially Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery (they are the two most visited museums in the whole Italy!). So book your tickets in advance, earlier is the better.

For more information about museums in Florence read:

• Top museums not to miss in Florence
• All Botticelli’s artworks in Florence

Churches to visit in Florence

Some of the most important churches of Florence are so ancient and packed with masterpieces of art, that they are full-fledged museums. The most beautiful and important churches not to miss are:

• The church of Santa Croce (with the graves of Michelangelo, Niccolò Machiavelli and Galileo Galilei)
• The church and museum of Santa Maria Novella (with artworks by Giotto, Brunelleschi, Ghirlandaio, Paolo Uccello, Filippino Lippi and much more).
• The Cathedral (Duomo) of Santa Maria del Fiore. Here is my guide for visiting the Duomo of Florence (and climbing the dome).

One of the most exciting experiences in Florence is the climb to the dome of the Cathedral. This one must be booked as early as you can, as there are only a few spots available every day, and tickets are often sold out several days in advance. Also keep in mind that there are 463 steps and no elevator. For the climb to the dome you must buy the Brunelleschi Pass that costs 30 euro.

Private guided tours

Taking a guided tour is the best way to fully understand the artworks in museums, the most important buildings and places, and the history of city. It’s also a smart way to optimize your time while traveling: you’ll be able to see more things in less time.

I am a local licensed tour guide in Florence with more than 10 years of experience, living and enjoying my city as much as I can. Please take a look to the list of the private guided tours in Florence that I give as a licensed tour guide! I give both walking tours in the historic center, and guided tours of most of the museums of Florence.

Remember that all of my tours are customizable according to your plans and taste.

• Here you can find more info about me as tour guide in Florence, my job and my background.

Food and restaurants

Where to eat in Florence? And what to eat? Those are huge questions about such an important subject! Florence is world famous for its cuisine made of local ingredients and traditional recipes such as ribollita soup or Florentine steak. But Florence is also the birthplace of gelato (and we have some of the best gelato places in the whole Italy!), a great place to have a pizza and a vegetarian and vegan heaven.

I wrote several posts about food and where to eat in Florence, and here’s a good start:

• Where to eat on Florence on a budget
• Where to eat Florentine steak
• Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Florence
• Best gelato in Florence
• Florence best pizza and pizzerias

If you have food intolerances (gluten or lactose for example) do not worry. In Italy the law is very strict regarding food allergies and intolerances: allergens must be reported by law on restaurant menus. Restaurants often have gluten-free options, and if they do, it means they are equipped to avoid contamination in the kitchen. Therefore gluten-free dishes in Italy are safe and truly gluten-free.

Also check my favorite rooftop bars in Florence!

Cooking classes in Florence, Tuscany

Food is a very important part of the Italian culture and lifestyle. And Italian cuisine is as good to eat as it’s easy to make. If you want to learn how to make fresh pasta, pizza, gelato, tiramisu and many other traditional dishes of Italian and Florentine cuisine, take a cooking class and bring home the secrets of a professional Italian chef!

Some cooking classes also include a market tour to choose fresh and seasonal ingredients. Others take place in farmhouses in the Tuscan countryside and include transport to and from Florence. There are also gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian cooking classes, and gelato and pizza making experiences.

You can find them all selected and listed in my blogpost about the best cooking classes in Florence and Tuscany.

Florence travel planner: day trips and excursions outside of town

If you have enough time, I recommend that you take a few days to explore the rest of Tuscany with some day trips. Florence is perfect as a base for discovering the surroundings: the rolling hills of Chianti, the cities of Pisa and Siena and the villages of the countryside.

Planning a day trip from Florence

I wrote a blogpost about the best day trips from Florence! You’ll find all the information you’ll need to plan each one of them, even without a car. Anyway, the most popular day trips from Florence are:

• Chianti and Siena
• Wine tasting tours in Tuscany
• Pisa and Lucca
• Cinque Terre day trip

• What about a Truffle Hunting experience?
• Take a Vespa tour from Florence to the countryside!

You can decide to visit those places with an organized tour or on your own, renting a car and driving around on a road trip in Tuscany.

You can also reach the major cities by train (Pisa, Siena, Lucca and La Spezia, that serves as a base for visiting the Cinque Terre). But you will need a car to reach the small villages of the countryside, like the ones in Chianti or San Gimignano, as most of them don’t have a train station.

• How to get from Florence to Pisa
• Getting from Lucca to Florence
• How to get from Florence to Rome by train
• From Venice to Florence (and vice versa)

For more information about organized tours, click the links in this post! For more information about hiring a car in Florence, read below.

Car rental in Florence

Hiring a car is the best way to explore the countryside around Florence and the region of Tuscany, in a totally independent way. You can follow your own itinerary at your own pace, driving along the rolling hills of Tuscany, and then stopping to visit charming villages and spending the nights in country villas, wine estates or agriturismo (farm stay).

Florence is perfect as a base for exploring the surroundings, but you won’t really need to rent a car if you’re only visiting the city. Florence is really small and packed with traffic, so driving around isn’t really a good idea.

Here are all my best tips for renting a car in Florence, how to decide if you really need it and how to save money on it.

Here is a helpful guide to where to park in Florence.

Road trips from Florence

Here are some tips and ideas for a planning a road trip in the surroundings of Florence. Take the chance to explore the Tuscan countryside, the rolling hills of Chianti and the many picture-perfect villages.

• Tuscany in a week. A road trip itinerary that hits all the most beautiful towns and villages of Tuscany, starting and ending in Florence.
• 10 Tuscan Villages you should visit (perfect for a road trip)
• What to see between Florence and Rome