Things to Do in Florence: Itineraries, Costs and Food

Most people underestimate how far the collection runs past Botticelli's Birth of Venus. Give yourself real time in the later Renaissance rooms instead of rushing to the two famous paintings and leaving.

People treat this as a five-minute photo stop and miss that David is the payoff at the end of a long corridor of unfinished Michelangelo sculptures, worth slowing down for on the walk in.

People assume the free cathedral entry covers the dome. It doesn't. The dome climb is 463 narrow steps with no lift and no way down but back through the same stairwell, not for anyone with knee issues or claustrophobia.

The gold shops built onto the bridge date to the 16th century, but the real reason to come is early morning or after 9pm, when the crowd thins and you can actually see the Arno instead of the backs of other tourists' heads.

Most visitors skip Boboli entirely to save time, which is a mistake on a hot day. It's the shadiest, quietest green space in the center and the views back over the city from the upper paths beat several paid viewpoints.

Everyone goes for sunset, which means everyone is there at sunset. The same view at sunrise or midday is nearly empty and just as good without a crowd between you and the railing.

One of the world's great Renaissance art collections, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera among the holdings, entry now sold exclusively as timed slots. Book weeks ahead in high season, walk-up tickets mean hours in line or no entry at all. Overtourism here is real, an early morning or last-entry slot is the difference between a good visit and a miserable one.

A 463-step climb up the narrow stairway inside the Duomo's dome, passing close to the interior frescoes before opening onto a rooftop view over the whole city. Physically demanding and not for anyone with claustrophobia, the stairwell narrows badly near the top. The view at the summit is one of the best in Florence and worth booking well ahead.

The quieter side of the Arno, artisan workshops doing leatherwork, gilding and restoration in the same buildings for generations, centered around Santo Spirito. This is the honest antidote to Florence's overtourism problem, real working ateliers rather than souvenir shops. Go on a weekday afternoon when the workshops are open and the crowds are all across the river.

The medieval bridge lined with jewelry shops that survived World War II bombing, the only Florence bridge the retreating Germans didn't destroy. Worth the five minutes it takes to cross, don't plan more time than that. It's one of the most photographed and most crowded spots in the city, especially at sunset.

The formal Renaissance gardens behind the Pitti Palace, terraced lawns, fountains, grottoes and a long amphitheater climbing the hill behind the Arno. A genuine escape from the packed old-town streets, large enough to actually find quiet corners. Combine with the Pitti Palace ticket rather than visiting separately.

A hilltop square across the Arno with a wide panoramic view over the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the whole historic center, a bronze replica of David at its center. Free and the view earns its reputation, but everyone knows it, sunset means shoulder to shoulder. Go at sunrise or midday if you actually want space to enjoy it.

A thick T-bone from Chianina beef, sold by weight and served rare, meant for two people to share. Skip anywhere with a five-language photo menu out front.

Slow-cooked tripe in a bread roll dipped in its own broth, Florence's real street food and cheaper and more local than anything sold near the Duomo.

A thick bread-and-vegetable soup built from leftovers, layered with cavolo nero and beans, heartiest and cheapest in the colder months when it's actually in season.

Wide ribbon pasta with a wild boar ragu, richer and gamier than a standard bolognese and worth ordering specifically rather than settling for it.

Chicken liver pate spread warm on toasted bread, a classic Tuscan opener that's richer and less precious than it sounds.

Another bread-based soup, this one tomato-forward and served closer to room temperature in warm weather. Simple food, done right it's better than it sounds.

Buy by weight and eat on the spot. The ground floor of Mercato Centrale is the working market; the food hall upstairs is priced for tourists.

A glass or flight of Chianti Classico is the standard pairing with bistecca. Small wine bars pour better and cheaper than restaurant lists.

a schiacciata sandwich shop off Via dei Neri that turned into an internationally viral queue on food TikTok and Instagram. The sandwiches are actually good and the line moves fast for its size, but there are several branches now, and quieter alternatives nearby taste nearly identical.

TasteAtlas's 2026 world gelato rankings put Florence gelaterias among the best on earth, alongside Rome and Venice. A ranking isn't a guarantee any single shop is worth the line, but it says something that Florence keeps showing up.

Pitti Taste, Florence's biannual food fair, ran its 2026 edition under a 'True Food' theme spotlighting small Italian food producers and new ideas. This is trade show energy more than a tourist meal, but it's where a lot of what shows up on Florence menus gets tried first.

Street stalls serving lampredotto, a boiled tripe sandwich, remain a daily fixture near Sant'Ambrogio market and Porta Romana, sold from carts that have operated for decades. This is Florence's actual working-class food, not a menu item invented for tourists.

Gambero Rosso's 2026 guide to Florence highlights a growing set of restaurants serving Japanese, Middle Eastern, and Latin American food alongside the usual Tuscan menus. Worth knowing if you want a break from ribollita and bistecca, though the classics still dominate the city.

Slow Food's 2026 Osterie d'Italia guide gave Tuscany its Chiocciola snail rating for a strong regional showing, flagging osterie that source ingredients locally. A useful filter if you want a real neighborhood osteria over a tourist-trap trattoria.