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Happy Sunday eve, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend.

If you’ve been following along with my blog for the past week or two, you know that I’ve been sharing highlights from our recent trip to Italy, starting with Venice! (If you missed those posts, you can read them here.) After Venice, the next stop on our itinerary was the beautiful city of Florence. When I’d shared our travel plans with family and friends prior to leaving, so many people told me I’d fall in love with Florence, so I had high expectations. Well, I’m happy to report that I was just as enthralled with this city as everyone said I would be! From its historic architecture to its yummy Tuscan food to its plethora of Renaissance art, Florence is such a vibrant and exciting city. And its central location makes it the perfect home base if you want to do some fun day trips!

Today, I’m going to be sharing some practical tips for staying in Florence, along with my recommendations for things to see and do – both inside and outside the city. I hope this post is helpful for those of you planning a trip to Firenze – or just good escapism for anyone daydreaming about an Italy trip. (I can’t tell you how many Italy travel blogs I’ve read over the years, so finally getting to see all of these sights in person was a surreal experience!) Without further ado, I’ll get started… and as always, please feel free to email me with any questions you have!

Where We Stayed In Florence

There’s no way of getting around it: traveling to Europe is expensive! And although this wasn’t a cheap trip by any means, we also wanted to stay within a budget. That meant splurging on some things we felt were worth it (namely food, sightseeing and excursions) and saving in other areas, like accommodations. Overall, none of the five hotels we booked were anything to write home about, with one exception: our Florence hotel was absolutely amazing! We stayed at Messori Suites, which I would highly recommend to anyone. It’s located just outside of the city centre, but it’s very walkable: it only took us 20 minutes to walk from our hotel to the Piazza Del Duomo, the heart of Florence.

Messori is a small boutique hotel with only a few suites, and the owners are so friendly and welcoming. The suites are luxe, modern and incredibly spacious: ours had a combined bedroom and living area, and a large bathroom with a huge steam shower. Hotel rooms in Europe are notoriously small, so it was so nice to have all that space – I think the suite was almost as big as my last Toronto apartment! From the sleek furnishings to the hospitable touches (the complimentary taralli were such a nice surprise!) everything about our room felt luxurious. And the room rates were affordable: a win-win! Messori Suites offers a continental breakfast from 8-10am for just 8 Euros a person, which also includes made-to-order cappuccinos. We helped ourselves to the breakfast the first morning of our stay, mistakenly thinking it was included in our room rate, but the owner was very sweet and didn’t charge us for it. We didn’t end up partaking in breakfast any of the other days, as we were leaving the hotel early for sightseeing, but I think it’s a great deal considering what you get – and you can’t beat the convenience!

Getting Around Florence

Florence is a very pedestrian-friendly city. It was certainly the most walkable of all the cities we visited on this trip, with all of the major tourist attractions located relatively close together. And as mentioned above, since our hotel was just a 20-minute walk from the city centre, we walked pretty much everywhere during our stay in Florence – I think we only took one taxi! If you do need car service, it’s worth noting that Florence doesn’t have Uber (it’s only available in Rome and Milan) so you’ll need to use taxis. I recommend downloading the taxi app FREENOW – we used this throughout our trip to ensure safe, reliable taxi rides. If your Italian is non va bene, you can also specifically request an English-speaking driver through the app.

To get from city to city within Italy, we took high-speed trains, which we found to be a very time-effective and cost-effective way to travel. Florence’s main train station, Santa Maria Novella, is located within the city centre, so that was convenient too. Now for a luggage tip: we typically booked trains that left later in the evening, so we could get a full day of sightseeing in. If you’re taking an afternoon or evening train, and your hotel either doesn’t offer luggage storage or is located further away from the train station, I recommend using Stow Your Bags. They’re a fully automated locker service, with locations in several European cities, where you can store your luggage for an hourly rate. We used Stow Your Bags in both Venice and Florence, and it worked out great. The lockers were just a short walk from the train stations, and cost between 20-30 Euros for a full day of storage.

Things To See & Do In Florence

Piazza Del Duomo – I thought it’d be fitting to start this list with the square that’s home to Florence’s most iconic landmark, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore (or simply, The Duomo). This 376-foot-tall Gothic-style building was completed in 1436, and is the fourth largest church in Europe. The cathedral is famous for its meticulously detailed façade and its red brick dome, an instantly recognizable icon that towers above Florence’s skyline. The dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and is the largest brick dome ever constructed in the history of the world! Also within the Piazza are two other famous architectural landmarks: Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Baptistery of St. John. The bell tower was designed by architect and artist Giotto in 1334, and completed by Francesco Talenti in 1359. Its elaborate detail mirrors that of the gorgeous cathedral beside it. The bell tower is 84 meters tall, and view-seeking visitors can climb to the top for 12 Euros per person – it’s all stairs, so be prepared for a trek! The Baptistery – while considerably smaller and shorter than the other two buildings – is just as eye-catching, thanks to its bold geometric patterns, bronze doors and unique octagonal shape. It was built between 1059-1128 in the Florentine Romanesque style, and is one of Florence’s oldest structures.

Piazza Della Repubblica – Located just a couple of blocks away from the Piazza Del Duomo, this other famous square dates back to medieval times, when it was the site of the city’s Roman forum. It’s widely considered the heart of Florence, as its Colonna dell’Abbondanza (Column of Abundance) marks the city’s exact geographic centre. The square’s towering Arcone Triumphal Arch was built in 1895 to commemorate a revitalization project that turned the area from ancient ghetto into upscale urban centre. But my favourite landmark of the Piazza Della Repubblica has to be its charming antique carousel, which also happens to be fully operational! The square is lined by several high-end restaurants and cafés, including the historic Caffè Gilli, and is home to a bustling outdoor market where vendors sell handbags and other leather goods. (Florence is known as one of the best places to buy leather bags, and Tania – who treated herself to a new purse while there – can vouch for that!)

The Uffizi Gallery – Florence is a world-class destination for art aficionados, but even casual art fans like myself will want to see a gallery or two! The city’s most popular art galleries are the Accademia and the Uffizi, and while they’re both celebrated for many reasons, they’re each perhaps best known for housing one iconic work of art in particular. The Accademia is known for its extensive collection of Michelangelo sculptures (the largest in the world), including the legendary Statue of David. The Uffizi is known for its collection of famous Renaissance sculptures and paintings by artists from Leonardo da Vinci to Sandro Botticelli: most notably, his Birth of Venus. Because tickets to each gallery are relatively pricy, we chose just one of the two to visit. It was a tough choice, but I’d heard that the Uffizi offered more in terms of breadth and variety of artworks (whereas the Accademia is more Michelangelo-centric) so we went with the Uffizi. Now, the regular ticket prices aren’t too bad – 12 Euros for the Accademia and 16 Euros for the Uffizi – but that’s if you buy directly from their ticket office on the day of your visit, which isn’t recommended, as wait times can be up to two hours. We booked skip-the-line tickets through the Uffizi’s official ticket booking platform, B-Ticket, which cost about $42 CAD per person. A significant price hike, yes, but time is money when you’re traveling – and after we saw the staggering lines outside the gallery’s ticket office, we knew we’d made the right decision.

The Uffizi Gallery itself is absolutely gorgeous, with interiors as impressive as the works of art displayed within them. The building was commissioned by the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de’ Medici, to house Florence’s administrative and legal uffizi (offices). The top floor was originally the Medici family’s private gallery, but it officially opened to the public in 1769. Aside from Botticelli’s Venus, some must-see highlights include Botticelli’s Primavera, Caravaggio’s Medusa, and Da Vinci’s Adoration of the Magi. In addition to paintings and sculptures, the Uffizi is famous for its ornately decorated display rooms: The Tribune‘s dramatic domed ceiling is encrusted with thousands of tiny mother-of-pearl shells, and The Cabinet of Miniatures’ elaborate patterns and meticulous symmetry give it a distinctly Wes Anderson aesthetic. While strolling through the Uffizi, be sure to look up: the whimsical frescoed ceilings are as worthy of your attention as the art on the walls!

Piazza Della Signoria – This bustling square has served as Florence’s political centre ever since the 14th century. Its architectural beauty and high concentration of famous attractions have made it one of the city’s most popular spots for tourists to explore. In addition to the Uffizi Gallery, the Piazza Della Signoria is home to the Palazzo Vecchio, the Loggia dei Lanzi, and the Fountain of Neptune.

The Palazzo Vecchio (“Old Palace”) is Florence’s city hall. The stately stone building was completed in 1314 by Arnolfo di Cambio (the same architect behind the Duomo). Tania and I popped inside and were marveling at the stunning frescoed courtyard, before realizing that we weren’t actually supposed to be inside without a paid tour ticket (oops!) If you’re interested in touring the Palazzo, you can purchase tickets through Viator or Get Your Guide. Either way, be sure to stop by the building to admire its beautiful clock tower and the replica of Michelangelo’s David out front.

Adjacent to the Palazzo Vecchio (and adjoining the Uffizi Gallery) is the Loggia dei Lanzi, an outdoor art gallery that contains some of Florence’s most famous Renaissance sculptures. Best of all, it’s completely free to the public!

Don’t leave the Piazza Della Signoria without stopping to see the Fountain of Neptune. This awe-inspiring fountain was sculpted by artists Bartolomeo Ammannati and Giambolona from 1563-65, and depicts the Roman sea god Neptune along with other mythological figures.

Giardino Delle Rose – If you’re looking for a spot where you can get amazing views of Florence away from the crowds – and take in some beautiful flowers while you’re at it – then you have to head to this stunning rose garden! Located on the south side of the River Arno, this charming public garden (which is completely free to visit) has over 350 varieties of roses, along with lemon trees and a Japanese garden. The garden was designed by architect Giuseppe Poggi in 1865, and provides a peaceful respite away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Walk up further past the garden to reach the Piazzale Michelangelo, which provides sweeping panoramic views of the Florence skyline. If, like us, you didn’t make it to the Accademia Gallery, fear not: you’ll find a bronze replica of the Statue of David right here.

Ponte Vecchio – This stunning medieval bridge on the River Arno is one of Florence’s most famous and instantly recognizable landmarks. The literal translation of Ponte Vecchio is “old bridge”, and it’s certainly earned that moniker: it’s the oldest bridge in Florence still standing today. The Ponte Vecchio was designed by Taddeo Gaddi, a student of Giotto, and completed in 1345. What makes the Ponte Vecchio so unique is the several shops located directly on the bridge. Originally occupied by blacksmiths, butchers and fishmongers, they’re now decidedly more upscale. The bridge became a hotspot for jewelers in the 16th century and remains so today, with occupants ranging from independent local jewelry designers to global luxury brands like Rolex.

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella – Located just opposite Florence’s central train station of the same name, this 15th century gothic church is one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. If you’re traveling to Florence by train, it’s worth stopping to see this church. And even if it’s not on your way, I still think it’s worth a visit! The church was built by Dominican monks between 1279-1357, and the façade was completed by Leon Battista Alberti in 1470. The elaborate detail on the façade is mesmerizing; this church is truly one of the most incredible works of art I’ve ever seen in person. We just stopped by to see the outside, but you can also tour the interior for 7.50 Euros.

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella – This is (in my humble opinion) one of Florence’s coolest hidden gems. This gorgeous perfumery and herbalist shop is believed to be the world’s oldest apothecary: it was founded in 1221 by Dominican monks! Today, visitors can browse their exclusive collection of luxury soaps, lotions and fragrances (the bottles are just as beautiful as the scents within) and view ancient artifacts – from soapmaking machines to distillation equipment to ornate porcelain vases once used to store cosmetics – at the free museum located within the shop.

Day Trips From Florence

As I mentioned earlier, Florence is located close to several popular tourist destinations – Siena, Pisa, Chianti, and the Cinque Terre, to name a few – which makes it an ideal home base for day trips. We did two day trips while in Florence: a half-day trip to Chianti, and a full day trip to the Cinque Terre.

Chianti Wine Tour – Ever since I saw the film Under The Tuscan Sun as a kid, I’ve dreamed of visiting the gorgeous Tuscan countryside. And now that I’m an adult – and a wine-loving one at that – I thought, what better way to get a true Tuscan experience than with a wine tour into the rolling hills of Chianti!? You can find lots of Tuscan wine tours from Florence on websites like Get Your Guide and Viator. After researching several different options, we decided to go with a half-day tour operated by Ciaoflorence, which we booked through Get Your Guide. Our tour departed from the Piazzale Montelungo bus stop, which is located right by Florence’s central train station, Santa Maria Novella. After boarding the comfy, air-conditioned tour bus, we enjoyed the scenic ride to Chianti while our tour guide, Shiva, told us some interesting facts about Florence’s history. After about an hour, we arrived at our first stop, Fattoria Sant’Appiano. This family-run winery is one of the region’s oldest, with a history dating back to the 14th century. After taking some time to admire the vineyard views (Shiva was kind enough to take photos of everyone!) we headed inside, where we got a tour of Sant’Appiano’s incredible ancient wine cellar, built out of an Etruscan tomb. We then went upstairs to the tasting room, where we got to sample four different wines, along with some yummy cheese, balsamic vinegar, bread and cured meats. We had so much fun learning about the different wines, and chatting with the other members of our tour group – we met people visiting from Australia, the U.K., Turkey, and yes, even some fellow Canadians. The nice thing about doing a tour like this is you get to meet so many interesting people!

After indulging in the food and wine at Fattoria Sant’Appiano, we got back onto the bus and headed to the second winery, Tenuta Torciano. While Sant’Appiano was a smaller and more traditional winery, Tenuta Torciano is a larger, more modern operation (though both are still family-run.) Each has their own charms, and it was neat to see the differences between them both! We didn’t get a winery tour at Tenuta Torciano, but headed directly into their indoor-outdoor tasting room, where we enjoyed some more delicious wine samples and local snacks. The owner walked us through all the different wines, and even gave us a demonstration of the correct way to taste wine (you have to hold it in your mouth for almost a minute!) After the tasting, we had a few free minutes to explore the lush, flower-filled vineyards before getting on the bus to head back to Florence. This wine tour cost $73 CAD a person and included everything. I felt it was great value, and would highly recommend Ciaoflorence’s tours to anyone!

Cinque Terre Day Trip – The Cinque Terre (“five towns” in Italian) consists of five old fishing villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – built into the cliffs overlooking the gorgeous Ligurian Sea. The villages’ unique hillside architecture and brightly coloured houses, along with their proximity to the stunning natural beauty of the Italian Riviera, have earned them their rightful place among Italy’s top tourist destinations. You need a full day (at least) for the Cinque Terre, and our day trip there was such an adventure that it really deserves its own blog post. Soon, I’ll be sharing a post that details all the ins and outs of our Cinque Terre excursion: the good, the bad and the ugly (and believe it or not, there was some “ugly” – even in one of the world’s most beautiful places!) I’ll share more details on that in the post, but overall, I’m so glad we got the chance to visit the Cinque Terre. It was so picturesque that it felt surreal!

Well, I hope you all enjoyed this recap of my favourite things we saw and did in Florence – and beyond! We had such an amazing time here, and if you’re planning your own Italy itinerary, I highly recommend adding a stop in Florence. I promise you won’t be disappointed! In the coming week, I’ll be sharing that post about the Cinque Terre I promised, along with a guide to some of the best places to eat in Florence.

Until then, I hope you all have a great week ahead!