Things To Do in Florence
Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens are a nice walking area south of the Arno with plenty to see. They are attached to the Palazzo Pitti, where you will need to enter for access.
Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Wine Tasting
While in Tuscany you need to enjoy the local wine – Chianti. There are several places inside the city to do this, and here are a few recommendations (you will have to schedule your visit in advance):
i. Antica Bottega, Via Santa Margherita, 13R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
ii. Pozzo Divino (owned by Pino, fantastic), Via Ghibellina, 144/R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Palazzo Vecchio is where the city’s governance takes place. It sits in the Piazza della Signoria. For a fee, you can enter the museum, and you can climb to the top of the Torre di Arnolfo (Arnolfo Tower) for more views of the city.
P.za della Signoria, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Piazzele Michelangelo is a hilltop terrace south of the Arno and a short walk west of the city. You can hike up there (it is very steep, and a roughly 20 minute walk from the river). There is a pricey restaurant but more importantly there is an amazing view of the city to take pictures.
Piazzale Michelangelo, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
If possible, take a trip up to the hillside town of Fiesole. There are plenty of restaurants, walking spaces, museums, and an ancient Roman theater. It is a nice opportunity to get some fresh air outside of the city. To get there you can take a bus for only a few euros (Bus #7 leaving from Liberta Porta San Gallo), or just uber.
Churches:
Santa Croce is a Franciscan church on the opposite side of town as the Santa Maria Novella, and admission is also fairly cheap. As with the other churches, there are amazing frescos to see and also the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo!
Piazza di Santa Croce, 16, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
The Santa Maria Novella is a Dominican church with many frescos and interesting history. It is also a museum, and admission is fairly cheap.
P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
The Duomo (Italian – “main church of the city”) is the heart of the city and is featured in nearly every picture of Florence. It is primarily a church, where entry is free. For a fee you can climb to the top of Brunalleschi’s dome and see the entire city.
Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Wine Windows
Wine windows, or buchette del vino, are tiny arched openings found in the walls of historical buildings throughout Florence. They can be found throughout the city!
Restaurants
Ristorante Cafaggi
(Via Guelfa, 35 rosso, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy)
La Giostra
(Borgo Pinti, 16R, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy)
Pino’s Sandwiches
(Via Giuseppe Verdi, 36R, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy)
I Fratellini
(Via dei Cimatori, 38/r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy, featured on Conan)
Lion’s Fountain
(Borgo degli Albizi, 34r, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy, write your name on the ceiling!)
Caffetteria della Oblate
(Via dell' Oriuolo, 26, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy, library attached to the cafe!)
If you’re missing home:
McDonald’s
(Via Camillo Cavour, 61r, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy)
Hard Rock Cafe
(Via dei Brunelleschi, 1, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy)
