Occupying the Piazza del Duomo in the heart of the city, this massive Gothic cathedral was erected during the 14th century on the former site of the Roman church, Santa Reparata. You'll know you're in the right place when you find yourself straining your neck to see the church's massive, iconic dome. For many, the main reason to visit is to climb to the top of the dome (the cupola) where you'll find spectacular views of the city. (Be aware that there is no elevator and some of the narrow walkways require you to stand to the side while people pass in the opposite direction. Some visitors report this is not for the claustrophobic.) However, if you are interested in looking around inside, guided tours are available.
Overlooking the city from its perch in the Oltrarno district, the Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the most popular viewpoints in the city, and it's definitely worthwhile if you're a first-time visitor. This ornate square is known for its spectacular views and its towering replica of Michelangelo's David. Getting to the piazza can be quite the trek on foot (there is an intimidating flight of stairs leading from the Piazza Poggi), but recent visitors said the panoramic city views are well worth the workout and shouldn't be missed. Plus, there are vendors at the top selling drinks and souvenirs should you need a refreshment. If you want to avoid the crowds, plan to come early in the morning or at night. Piazzale Michelangelo is free to access 24/7.
Once dominated by butchers and bakers, the original bridge was washed away during a flood in the early 14th century. When the new Ponte Vecchio was completed, it too was home to local food stores until grand Duke Ferdinand I of the Medici family decided to designate this unadorned bridge the epicenter of the city's gold and jewel trade. It has maintained this identity ever since. If you don't want to overpay for souvenirs, heed the advice of past travelers and avoid shopping along the bridge.
The Uffizi Gallery was Europe's first modern museum, created by the Medici family at the end of the 16th century. Today, the museum is any art lover's dream: it still displays the family's prominent art collection, which includes such masterpieces as Botticelli's "Birth of Venus," Raphael's "Madonna of the Goldfinch" and Titian's "Venus of Urbino." This is one thing in Florence that we absolutely recommend purchasing tickets in advance for: lines are extremely long and can eat into your precious time in the gallery or the rest of Florence.
Florence’s famous Duomo has two options for climbing if you’re looking for an incredible view over Florence, and the less-touristed option is our personal preference. Climbing Giotto’s Bell Tower ensures that not only you get an amazing view of Florence itself, you also get a close-up view of the famous cupola–it’s hard to admire the iconic structure when you’re standing on it! As a bonus, you don’t need to book tickets for the bell tower days in advance the way you do for the cupola.
Unlike the large Uffizi Gallery, the Galleria dell’Accademia is much smaller and essentially exists to show off one piece of artwork: Michelangelo’s magnificent David in all his glory, housed in a room built especially for the statue! There is not much else to see in the gallery, so you won’t need a terribly long time here, but be sure to check out some of Michelangelo’s unfinished statues that are in the museum.
Have an interest in high fashion? Consider adding the Gucci Museum to your list of fun things to do. This museum traces the history of the Gucci label and is complete with vintage Gucci clothes from throughout the decades. Located right next to the Piazza Signoria, if you’ve ever visited Florence before, you’ve probably walked right by this tiny museum.
For those of us from outside of Italy, it’s easy to fall in the habit of talking about “Italian food”… but truly, the regional differences in food in Italy are just as substantial as, say, the regional differences between the food in Southern California and Maine, or Minnesota and Georgia: there are some similarities, sure, but there are also large differences. That’s one of the best reasons to take a food tour in Florence (other than, you know, the joy of eating all the food): you’ll learn so much about Tuscan cuisine specifically, and probably learn about some delicious new foods while you’re at it! We recommend taking a food tour as early in your Florence trip as possible so that you can use your newfound knowledge to sniff out tasty meals for the rest of your trip!
Fun fact: while gelato is popular in all of Italy and beyond, it was invented right in Florence! However, if you’re looking for the most authentic gelato, here’s what to know: the beautiful mounds of gelato that look great in store windows are for the tourists, not the foodies. Those gelatos were not created in-house. For an in-house created gelato, your best bet is to find shops that store the gelato in silver containers, out of sight. The display is less impactful that way, but the gelato is more authentic and more likely to be made on-site. We linked an authentic shop but other great gelato shops include: Perche No!, Gelateria della Passera, and Gelateria dei Neri.
Florence’s most popular market is a gem for exploring: the displays are colorful and beautiful, the people friendly, and the food delicious. Though there are plenty of tourists who go in and out of the market each day, plenty of locals do as well.