What are the top things to do in Florence?

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi's Dome, Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dell'Accademia, Ponte Vecchio and Vasari Corridor, and more. Paste your own list into Tripsapien and it checks each place's hours, closures, and booking pressure for your exact dates.

Which neighborhoods should I explore in Florence?

San Giovanni and Piazza del Duomo, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, San Lorenzo and San Marco. Tripsapien groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging.

When is the best time to visit Florence?

May, September, October balance comfortable temperatures with fewer rainy days. Pick your month below to see that month's events, public holidays, and seasonal timing.

Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Florence?

Tripsapien checks each place against the exact dates you're in Florence and flags closures, limited hours, and sell-outs before the trip.

Florence Italy

Things to do in Florence

By Tripsapien Research / Updated May 20, 2026

Florence is a compact Arno River city where the medieval street grid, Medici palaces, Brunelleschi dome, and Oltrarno workshops put Renaissance art within short walks. Santa Maria Novella handles arrivals, San Giovanni and Santa Croce hold the museum core, and Santo Spirito or San Niccolo show the working south-bank layer.

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About Florence

City overview

Food & drink

Florence food is Tuscan and offal-friendly: bistecca alla fiorentina is a thick T-bone grilled rare, ribollita reheats bread, beans, and cavolo nero into soup, pappa al pomodoro softens tomato and bread, and lampredotto fills street sandwiches with simmered tripe. Mercato Centrale, Sant'Ambrogio Market, Nerbone, Via de' Neri sandwich shops, and Oltrarno trattorie add crostini neri, pappardelle al cinghiale, cantucci, Chianti, and Brunello.

Top sights

Ranked for suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.

Map of Florence with pinned top attractions (1 through 10)

1
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi's Dome
4.8★ · 108,694
Florence began the cathedral in the 13th century and finished the massive brick dome under Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century. The complex includes the cathedral, Giotto's Campanile, the Baptistery, and the Opera del Duomo museum.
Dome climbs require a reserved time slot and 464 steps; the cathedral floor is free but separate from monument tickets.
2
Uffizi Gallery
4.7★ · 92,055
Giorgio Vasari designed the late 16th-century offices that became the Medici art collection. Botticelli's Birth of Venus, Leonardo's Annunciation, Titian, Caravaggio, Raphael, and corridor portraits make three hours realistic.
Wikipedia
Reserve timed entry for spring, summer, and holiday weeks; same-day lines are longest after 10:00.
3
Galleria dell'Accademia
4.6★ · 55,502
The Accademia holds Michelangelo's original David plus the unfinished Prisoners, musical instruments, and Florentine painting. The university art academy next door is a separate institution.
Wikipedia

Show 7 more sights

4Ponte Vecchio and Vasari Corridor
5Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria
6Bargello Museum
7Santa Croce
8Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens
9Santa Maria Novella
10Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato al Monte

Neighborhoods

1
San Giovanni and Piazza del Duomo
San Giovanni is cathedral Florence, with the Duomo, Baptistery, Campanile, Via Calzaiuoli, Piazza della Repubblica, and the densest day-trip crowds.
2
Santa Maria Novella
Santa Maria Novella is arrival-and-hotel Florence, with Firenze SMN, the basilica, Via della Scala, tram stops, and practical restaurants near the station.
3
Santa Croce
Santa Croce mixes basilica courtyards, leather shops, bars, Sant'Ambrogio market, and evening squares east of the Uffizi core.
4
San Lorenzo and San Marco
San Lorenzo and San Marco carry market stalls, the Medici Chapels, Mercato Centrale, Accademia, university blocks, and cheaper food around Via Faenza.
5
Oltrarno, Santo Spirito, and San Frediano
Oltrarno feels craft-heavy and residential, with Santo Spirito, San Frediano workshops, Palazzo Pitti, Boboli, wine bars, and fewer bus groups.
6
San Niccolo and the hills
San Niccolo climbs toward Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato, with gates, studios, aperitivo bars, stair lanes, and the best skyline angle.

Day trips

8km / 20-30min by ATAF bus 7 from Piazza San Marco
Fiesole
The hill town has Etruscan and Roman ruins, a small cathedral, cypress views, and sunset terraces over Florence. It is the easiest half-day escape.
75km / about 1h 20min by bus from Florence bus station near SMN
Siena
Piazza del Campo, the striped cathedral, contrade streets, and Palio history make Siena the strongest Tuscan city day trip. Bus usually beats train for the historic center.
85km / 1h by train from Firenze SMN to Pisa Centrale, plus 25min to Lucca
Pisa and Lucca
Pisa gives the Leaning Tower and cathedral field, while Lucca adds Renaissance walls and a flatter old town. Pairing both works if you start early.

Getting around

Florence's historic center is fastest on foot, with ZTL rules making rental cars a liability inside the core. Tram T2 links the airport with Santa Maria Novella, T1 reaches Villa Costanza park-and-ride and Scandicci, and regional buses or trains from SMN handle Fiesole, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, and Chianti transfers.