After a weekend in Cinque Terre, we called Florence home for the next 6 days. We wanted to root ourselves in one city to really appreciate everything it had to offer. We had planned a one day trip to the Tuscan countryside, but the rest of our time was going to be exploring every nook and cranny of beautiful Florence. Check out our favorite things to do and places to eat in Florence!
Where to Stay
Florence has tons of accommodation options from budget friendly to luxury. We booked a sunny loft apartment with large windows and a surprisingly extensive art collection. The building used to be a music hall and you can see parts of the walls with a glass protecting the historical frescos behind them. The apartment was just steps from the famous Duomo and piazzas and made getting around really easy. Florence has a lot of converted accommodations with so much history. It’s fun to wonder what it was like living here hundred years ago.
Best Places to Eat
In no particular order, some our favorite food places:
(1) Trattoria Le Mossacce: A true Tuscan restaurant where you can get a hearty Florentine meal. Veal rolls, pork chop (amazing!), and fava beans drenched in olive oil. Loved being surrounded by the rapid Italian and gesturing from a group of elderly locals that obviously frequent the eatery often. They all had their house wine served in their personal bottle reserved for them every time they come in.
(2) Eataly: Yes, it is a franchise that exists in the U.S., but this was a perfect place for a morning espresso and fresh juice or evening night cap. The food also looked amazing and everything was very reasonably priced for a gourmet food market / restaurant. Frequented by both tourists and locals alike.
(3) Ristorante Boccadama: A great spot for sitting outside with a view of the Santa Croce Church and piazza. Love their tomato bruschetta and pastas.
(4) Il Latini: Pretty touristy, but the food is good. We liked the appetizers, pastas and fresh side dishes. The meat is popular here, but not as good as Trattoria Le Mossacce.
(5) Mercato Centrale: A trendy and modern market with a variety of gourmet dishes. I noshed on a prosciutto arancini (essentially breaded and fried risotto) and Phil had a pork sandwich on ciabatta with pickled veggies that was so flavorful. There was pizza, pasta, gelato, and everything else Italiano in different food stalls. Fresh fruit, cheeses, salami, etc. are sold downstairs.
(6) Gusta Pizza: A popular spot with plenty of American study abroad college kids in the Oltrano district. Pizza is cheap and very good. I would recommend the classic Margherita and the spicy sausage pizza.
BEST GELATO IN FLORENCE:
La Strega Nocciolo: by far the best gelato I’ve had here. It was so good that during our time in Florence, we stopped by this artisanal gelato shop almost every day, sometimes twice a day. It was also a block away from where we stayed.
Gelateria La Carraia: Creamy and flavorful gelato near the Arno River. Great as a post-dinner treat with views of the Ponte Vecchio.
Best Things to Do in Florence
(1) Walk along the Ponte Vecchio. This bridge is the oldest across the Arno river dating back to 1218. Check out the jewelry shops along the bridge and notice the old decorated wooden doors that cover the shops when closed. Get the best view of this medieval bridge from Ponte Santa Trinita, preferably at sunset.
(2) Check out Florence city views from the Piazzale Michelangelo. Hike or drive up to the top. If you choose to walk, go through the heart of the Oltrano neighborhood and check out the artisans at work. Discover hidden gems, including rose gardens and secret alleyways.
(3) Get the Firenze Card. Seriously. Get it. It may seem pricey at first but so worth it for the convenience and avoiding lines (especially if you plan to hit many of the big Florence attractions). We did the math and the card is really cost effective. Plus, it felt so good walking pass the line of visitors to the front for every site we visited, saving tons of time. Some sites not to miss are the Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell’ Academia (to see Michelangelo’s David), the Bargello (sculpture museum), and Basilica di San Lorenzo. Some other must sees are the Boboli Gardens and Palazzo Pitti.
(4) See Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’ Academia. A must see when visiting Florence, and as mentioned above, covered by the Firenze card. If you want a more meaningful experience and have the time, we highly recommend hiring a tour guide or doing a group tour to learn more about the building and the art pieces.
(5) Experience the Florence Duomo or Cattedrale di Santa Maria dei Fiori. One of the most architecturally beautiful churches that I have ever visited and an ultimate bucket list attraction in Florence. Definitely take the time to explore and highly recommend a tour experience when visiting.
(6) Stroll through the different piazzas in Florence. Preferably in the evening when the crowds die down but the piazzas come alive with music and color. There’s always music, laughter and amazing energy!
(7) Enjoy a post dinner grappa and gelato. Do like the Italians do and enjoy an evening digestif, ideally with an awesome view.
(8) Take an urban hike through the city. There are plenty of walking paths that you can find to explore Florence by foot. Check out here and here for some fun itineraries. I feel like you can really see a city if you take your time and walk through it. Phil and I accumulated over 20,000 steps per day trekking through narrow alleys, climbing cobblestone stairways, and crossing medieval bridges.
(9) Stop by the National Museum of Bargello. We happened upon this museum on the way to dinner and since we had the Firenze card, decided to pop in to check it out. We wished we had more time because the sculpture collection was incredible. The museum building itself is also one of the oldest in Florence with so much history. Now, it’s always on my recommendations list to friends who are looking to visit Florence.
Everyone should add Florence to their bucket list! It was the perfect city to end our Europe trip. Check out our tips and itineraries in Milan, Cinque Terre and Tuscany! Ciao for now!
