Florence Travel Guide
Florence exudes Renaissance romance. Atmospheric Florence is a great city holiday destination for lovers of history and culture, as well as gourmets.
Incredible art treasures, shopping and lively Italian city life. Florence is called one of the most beautiful cities in Italy.
The legacy of the Medici family that once ruled the city is still visible, and for the tourist, Florence is like a large open-air museum with towering historic buildings, statues and works of art around the city.
Art and the splendor of the Renaissance
Florence is located in Tuscany in central Italy and is best known for its art. The city is especially suitable for tourists interested in history, art and architecture. Major attractions include one of the largest churches in the world, Santa Maria del Fiore, the Ponte Vecchio across the River Arno, the Uffizi Museum of Art and the Statue of David by Michelangelo.
If you want to see all the city’s main attractions, you should book several days in Florence. During your week-long stay you will have time to explore the sights in peace as well as rest in the lovely Italian cafes.
Florence gathers several million tourists every year to admire the art treasures of the Renaissance. On holiday, you should remember good shoes, a bottle of water and a patient attitude, as the most popular destinations may be congested, especially during the busiest season.
Florence is a city destination well suited for couples and groups of friends. There is something to do for families too, but the busy traffic, large crowds and narrow sidewalks can make mobility challenging.
Plan your trip for spring or fall
In mid-summer, Florence can be very hot and humid. In July and August, temperatures can rise to over 30 degrees. The city is at its best in spring and autumn, when the weather is pleasantly warm and tourists a little less.
Rainfall in the city can come all year round, but most during the winter months. In winter, temperatures in Florence drop to around 10 degrees and sometimes even close to zero.
Lovers of history and culture in particular will enjoy Florence.
Shopping, events and Italian delicacies
In addition to artistic experiences, Florence also offers many good shopping opportunities. As a shopping city, it is not quite like Milan or Rome, but the euro is guaranteed to get rid of. In terms of price level, the city corresponds to the European average. In Florence, for example, you can buy fashion clothes or high-quality handicrafts.
In addition to shoppers, Florence also pampers friends with delicious food and fine wines. Cozy restaurants, wine bars and ice cream parlors can be found around the city. The Tuscan region that stretches around Florence is especially known for its Chianti red wine.
Florence hosts interesting cultural events, such as festivals, throughout the year. Especially in June and July, the city has plenty to experience. On June 24, the city celebrates the patron saint of the city, John the Baptist, with parades and fireworks, for example.
FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN FLORENCE
If you also want to tour the surroundings of Florence, renting a car makes sense.
Destination via other cities
There are no direct flights to Florence from Finland, but there are alternative connections via several European cities, such as Munich, Frankfurt and Paris. At its cheapest, you can get flights for just under 200 euros.
Florence can also be reached by flying to nearby destinations and continuing by car or train. During the summer season, Finnair has direct flights to Bologna, from where the journey to Florence takes less than an hour by train and about 1.5 hours by car. Prices for direct flights are from 200 euros and up. During the summer season, Norwegian direct flights take you to Pisa, which also has easy access to Florence. Trains also run to Florence from the Italian capital, Rome.
Florence Airport is around 5 km from the city center. There is a bus connection from the airport to the city center.
Accommodation in Florence
Florence offers plenty of different accommodation options for budgets of different sizes. The hotel offer ranges from luxury hotels in the city center or by the river to slightly more modest mid-range hotels. You can also stay more cheaply in a hostel in the city.
As Florence is a really popular destination, especially during the summer months, it is advisable to book accommodation well in advance so that it is available at a reasonable price.
Walking sees the most
The best way to get around Florence is on foot. The downtown area is reasonably small, so you can see the sights and the hustle and bustle of the streets best by walking on your own.
Longer distances in the city can be folded by bus. Tickets can be purchased at kiosks or at the ticket office in Piazza Stazione. Tickets are also available for a flat fee directly from the driver, but it becomes more expensive than a pre-purchased ticket.
SIGHTSEEING IN FLORENCE
Florence is full of magnificent architecture and historical sites.
The pearls of Italian art in the Uffizi
The Uffizi Art Museum, despite being one of the finest and longest queues in the world, is definitely worth a visit. The museum is huge in size and in one visit you only have time to see a small part of the entire huge collection. It is worth planning in advance which works you definitely want to see. The collections include works by Michelangelo, Raffaello, Botticelli and numerous other art greats.
Admission to the museum costs twenty euros per adult. In the winter season, the price is cheaper. Tickets should be purchased online in advance to make sure you get to the museum at the time you want.
The shop is on Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio, which crosses the River Arno, is one of Florence’s attractions thanks to its special architecture. Houses have been built on the bridge, where numerous jewelers and jewelers now trade.
The bridge was built in the 14th century and has survived floods and wars, among other things. The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed by the Germans during World War II.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is muted in magnitude
In the middle of Florence rises the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, one of the largest churches in the world. From the outside, the cathedral is covered in pink-green-white marble, which in itself is silly when it appears in the field of view from around the street. The size of the church also mutes its viewers, and it is difficult to understand the greatness of the Duomo from the ground up.
The cathedral is open to visitors daily, but opening hours vary. Admission to the cathedral itself is free, but if you wish to visit the top of its dome, which offers stunning views, you must pay a fee and book in advance. A visit upstairs is not for everyone, as you have to climb more than 400 steps.
The Statue of David is the attraction of the Galleria dell’Accademia
The Galleria dell’Accademia will be seen above all for Michelangelo’s famous statue of David, which may have to be queued to see. However, the statue is impressive and definitely worth seeing. The gallery also has many other stunning works of art by Florentine artists.
The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday. To save time and nerves, you should book your tickets online in advance. Admission for an adult costs just over 10 euros.
THE BEST OF FLORENCE
Florence has many great vantage points where it is worth the pain to watch the views.
The most interesting sights
- Uffizi Art Museum
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
- Galleria dell’Accademia and the Statue of David
- Ponte Vecchio bridge
- Palazzo Vecchio
The most amazing vantage points
- Piazzale Michelangelo
- Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore
- Giotto’s bell tower
