Plan trips like this one. Open by request.Request access
Photo: Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 4.0
Destinations / Italy

Florence

Firenze

Renaissance art, a great dome and Tuscan food.

arthistoryfoodcouplesarchitecture
Plan your trip to FlorenceSee the top 10
360,930Population
1.0 millionMetro area
ItalianLanguage
EURCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$200-320Typical day

Florence is the compact birthplace of the Renaissance, packed with masterpieces, churches and palaces. It is a base for Tuscan hill towns and wine. It suits art lovers, couples and food fans.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. Florence Cathedral with Brunelleschi's huge brick dome. The marble facade is striking.

    2 hoursTime needed
    yesBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Book the dome climb in advance.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. One of the world's finest art museums, with Botticelli's Birth of Venus. It fills a grand palazzo by the river.

    3 hoursTime needed
    about $27-32Cost
    yesBook ahead

    Standard ticket about 25 EUR in 2026; online booking costs extra.

    Tip. Book timed tickets online and go first thing.
    Official siteSee on the map

  3. The original marble David stands in the Accademia Gallery. The rest of the museum is small.

    1 hourTime needed
    yesBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    See on the map

  4. A medieval bridge lined with jewellery shops. It survived the Second World War.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    2026 general admission is free; optional activities and purchases are extra.

    Tip. Come at sunrise or evening for the best light.
    See on the map

  5. A terrace above the river with a panoramic view of the city. It is busiest at sunset.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    2026 general admission is free; optional activities and purchases are extra.

    Tip. Walk up from San Niccolo; arrive early for sunset.
    See on the map

  6. A huge Medici palace with art galleries and terraced gardens. The gardens are great for strolls.

    3 hoursTime needed
    about $18-24Cost
    noBook ahead

    Combined tickets for the palace galleries and Boboli Gardens are available.

    Tip. Tour the Palatine Gallery inside the palace to see major Renaissance paintings hung in authentic historical salon layouts.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. The town hall with frescoed halls and a tower. It overlooks Piazza della Signoria.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $0-18Cost
    noBook ahead

    Square free; palace museum is paid; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Climb the tower for views if you have the time.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. A Gothic basilica with the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. Its chapels hold Giotto frescoes.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $8-12Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry fee; roughly 2026.

    Tip. Buy a combo ticket and dress modestly.
    Official siteSee on the map

  9. A street market and the covered Mercato Centrale food hall. It is good for lunch.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Entry is free; food costs extra.

    Tip. Go for lunch and haggle politely at the leather stalls.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. The Leaning Tower and cathedral square. A classic day trip.

    Half dayTime needed
    recommendedBook ahead

    Check the official site for current prices.

    Tip. Train, about 1 hour.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Make it yours

Turn Florence into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
Request access
Hodolog is open by request for now. Each request is reviewed.
Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Florence in three days

Day one core sights, day two Oltrarno and Pitti, day three markets and Piazzale Michelangelo.

  1. Duomo2 hours
  2. Michelangelo's David at the Accademia1 hour
  3. Ponte Vecchio30 minutes · Free
  4. Piazzale Michelangelo1 hour · Free
  5. Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens3 hours · about $18-24
  6. Palazzo Vecchio2 hours · about $0-18
  7. Santa Croce1 hour · about $8-12
  8. Uffizi Gallery3 hours · about $27-32
  9. San Lorenzo Market1 hour · Free
Beyond the city

Day trips

Siena

Medieval city with a shell-shaped square.

47 mi · Bus, about 1h15

Chianti

Vineyards and wine tastings.

25 mi · Car or tour, about 1 hour

San Gimignano

Medieval towers.

34 mi · Bus via Poggibonsi, about 1h30

Lucca

Walled city you can cycle around.

47 mi · Train, about 1h20

Fiesole

Explore the hill town’s archaeological remains and views above Florence.

Take bus 7 to Piazza Mino; the current journey time is unverified.

Pisa

View the world-famous Leaning Tower, cathedral, and baptistery on the Campo dei Miracoli.

53 mi · Direct regional train from Santa Maria Novella in 50 minutes.

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Mild days and fewer crowds.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.9JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

42°F
Typical daily high
Average36°F
Rain2.2 in
About7 rainy days
Sun strength1.6 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Year

Scoppio del Carro

Easter Sunday

A cart of fireworks is lit outside the cathedral.

Jun

Calcio Storico

June, final on June 24

Historic football matches in costume.

Jun

Festa di San Giovanni

June 24

Fireworks for the patron saint.

Apr

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

April to June

Classical music and opera festival.

Jun

Feast of Saint John the Baptist

June 24

The 2026 program included processions, the Calcio Storico final and evening fireworks; check the program for other years.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

The US State Department rates Italy Level 2, exercise increased caution, for terrorism; Florence is safe overall, with pickpockets near the station and big sights.

5/5
Walkability

The center is compact and best on foot.

3/5
Public transport

Buses and trams exist, but most visitors walk.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
123456

1. Duomo area

$$$$

Best for: first-timers

In the heart of the sights.

2. Oltrarno

$$$

Best for: couples, food

Artisan streets across the river.

3. Santa Croce

$$$

Best for: nightlife

Lively bars and squares.

4. Duomo and Centro Storico

$$$

Best for: first-timers, sightseeing

Close to the main sights, but busy and noisy.

5. Santa Maria Novella

$$

Best for: budget, trains

Near the station, with easy day trips.

6. San Niccolo and San Frediano

$$

Best for: local, quiet

Residential areas with good restaurants.

Getting there and around

Main airportFlorence Peretola (FLR), 3 mi from the center
To the centerThe T2 tram reaches Piazza dell'Unita near Santa Maria Novella in about 20 minutes (2026); Pisa airport is about an hour away.
Around townWalk everywhere; use trains for day trips.
Ride appsitTaxi, AppTaxi, taxiMove, Uber
Taste it

What to eat

Bistecca alla fiorentina

Thick grilled T-bone steak.

Lampredotto

Tripe sandwich from street carts.

Ribollita

Bread and vegetable soup.

Gelato

Florence claims to have invented it.

Chianti wine

Local red wine from the nearby hills.

Pappa al pomodoro

A tomato-based Tuscan soup.

Cantucci con Vin Santo

Twice-baked almond biscotti served with a small glass of sweet Tuscan dessert wine for dipping.

Good to know

PlugsType C, F and L, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingA coperto cover charge is common; extra tips are optional.
PaymentsCards are widely accepted.
EtiquetteCover shoulders and knees in churches.
  • Book the Uffizi and Accademia ahead.
  • Many state museums close on Mondays.
  • The Duomo is free but its dome climb needs a ticket.
  • Avoid driving into the ZTL limited traffic zone.
  • Book Uffizi, Accademia and the Duomo climb ahead, as slots sell out.
  • Many museums close on Mondays.
  • Beware of restaurants with photo menus near major sights.
  • Free entry days exist on the first Sunday of the month, but queues are long.

A short history

Florence was a Roman colony that grew rich through wool, banking and trade in the Middle Ages. The Medici family funded artists such as Michelangelo and Botticelli. It was briefly capital of Italy from 1865 to 1871.

Found your base? Add it to a trip with Hodolog.
Request access

Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Florence