Florence Travel Tips: How to Find the City Most Visitors Miss

These are the Florence travel tips that actually changed how I experienced the city – not a checklist of what to see, but the things that shape whether your trip feels effortless or slightly off from the start.

Florence is one of those cities that looks straightforward on paper. 

It’s compact, well-connected, and its famous sights are within walking distance of each other. But it has a way of quietly punishing the assumptions people bring to it – and rewarding those who understand how it actually works.

I’ve spent a lot of time there, including multiple visits across different seasons, and a full month living in the city during a summer heatwave. 

What became clear over that time is that the difference between a frustrating Florence trip and a genuinely good one usually comes down to a handful of decisions – how you time your days, what you book and when, where you focus your attention, and what you let go of.

That’s what this post is here to help with.

Time of day matters more in Florence than you expect

Florence is one of those cities that feels completely different depending on the time of day – much more so than I expected before I started visiting regularly.

In the early morning, it’s a completely different place.

Before about 8 or 8:30, it’s mostly just people going to work, a few others out early like yourself, and the city feels calm in a way that’s hard to find later in the day. You’ll see rowers out on the Arno under Ponte Vecchio, their oars breaking what starts off as completely still water. People cycling along the river. Locals popping into bakeries or cafés for coffee.

There’s very little noise – you can actually hear your feet on the cobblestones.

Midday is the opposite.

That’s when everything is open, and everything is busy. Shops are full, queues form outside major attractions, and the streets – especially around the centre – feel intense. You’re constantly sidestepping people, keeping an eye on your belongings, trying to move through crowds that aren’t really moving with any flow.

I find that time of day quite uncomfortable, to be honest.

Evenings are a bit of a reset. A lot of day-trippers have left, so it’s generally people who are actually staying in the city. It’s slower, a bit quieter, and much more enjoyable for a walk – not as calm as the morning, but noticeably less intense than midday.

One thing that did surprise me, especially in summer, is that the heat doesn’t really lift in the evening the way you might expect. The buildings and cobblestones hold onto it, so even without direct sun, it can still feel very warm. The only real sense of cool comes early in the morning.

If I were planning a trip now, I’d structure my days around that reality from the start.

Mornings are when Florence feels most like itself – calmer, more atmospheric, easier to take in. Midday is when I’d deliberately slow things down or go inside somewhere. Evenings are for a more relaxed wander once the intensity lifts.

If I only gave one Florence tip to a first-time visitor, it would be this: claim the city in the morning, and let everyone else have it at midday.

I still remember walking up to Piazzale Michelangelo early on the morning of departure on my first ever trip to Florence – coming through the Oltrarno while it was still quiet, the soft light over the rooftops, the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Santa Croce all visible without crowds.

It felt like a completely different version of the city.

Trying to see everything in Florence will make the city blur

Florence is deceptively intense.

It’s not just that there’s a lot to see, but it’s also how concentrated everything is, and how mentally engaging a lot of it becomes once you’re actually there.

Even on a day where things are going well, it can add up quickly.

I remember one day in particular where I started early to climb Giotto’s Bell Tower – queuing, climbing, taking everything in – then went to the Duomo Museum, which I ended up finding really interesting and spent longer in than expected. After that, I went into the cathedral itself, down into Santa Reparata, around the baptistery… and then on to the Bargello.

Individually, all of those were worthwhile. But by the end of it, I was exhausted.

Not just physically, but mentally too. You’re taking in so much – visually, historically, culturally – and if you’re someone who actually enjoys that, you’ll naturally spend longer than you think in each place.

That’s where the “blur” can start to happen.

It’s not that the experiences aren’t good – it’s that there are too many of them, too close together, without enough space in between to process them properly. Add in the walking, the heat, and the constant movement between places, and it becomes a lot very quickly.

That’s how you end up at the end of the day with aching feet, a thumping headache, and the vague sense that you’ve seen loads without really absorbing any of it.

I think this hits people most who feel like they should see everything while they’re there – whether that’s out of genuine interest, or a bit of FOMO.

But in practice, it’s very hard to sustain.

What I’d do now is plan with that in mind from the start.

Be more conservative about how much you think you’ll realistically do in a day. Assume you’ll spend longer in places than expected. And leave space (not just physically, but mentally) between things that are going to be more taxing.

It’s much better to do slightly less and actually take it in, than to push through everything and come away feeling like it all blended into one.

Florence quietly punishes poor planning 

One of the quickest ways to knock the shine off a Florence trip is to assume you can just figure things out when you get there.

I learned that the hard way on my first visit.

I hadn’t realised quite how far in advance you need to book the Duomo dome climb, and I completely missed out. It wasn’t even as if I tried to book them on the day – it was a week before, I thought I was organised and then – no tickets. That was a bit of an “oh sh*t” moment, to be honest.

In fairness, it did work out in a roundabout way because I climbed Giotto’s bell tower instead, and landed with the discovery that it’s actually the aerial viewpoint of Florence that I would recommend. You get a very similar perspective over the city, but with the added bonus of seeing the dome itself right in front of you.

Still though, that was the moment it clicked for me: you do need to plan Florence a bit more deliberately than you might think.

And it’s not just about merely booking – it’s also about how those bookings shape the rest of your day.

On paper, a timed entry sounds very neat. In reality, you’ll still need to get there early, figure out where to queue, possibly go through security, and you might not get in exactly at your slot. All of that adds up.

So if I were planning again, I’d always check availability and book the key things first – the dome climb, Accademia, Uffizi – and then build the rest of my days around those. Not the other way around.

Because the mistake people make is planning their days first, and then trying to slot tickets into that structure, and by then, the times you want either don’t exist or aren’t available.

There are also a few quieter gotchas that can catch you out.

Museums often close on Mondays. Smaller places can have odd opening hours, or close for part of the day. I’ve left things until later in a trip thinking I’d “get to them”, only to turn up and find them closed (Palazzo Davanzati, I’m looking at you!).

It doesn’t feel like a big deal until it’s the one thing you’d actually really wanted to see.

So my advice would be: check opening hours properly, book your key sights early (either through official sites or reputable third-party platforms if needed), and treat those bookings as the backbone of your trip.

Monday closures and ‘free first Sundays’

And just when you think you’ve got a handle on opening hours, Florence throws in a few extra quirks.

A lot of people know about the “closed on Mondays” rule. The Uffizi, Accademia, and Palazzo Pitti are all closed every Monday.

But then you’ve got places like the Boboli Gardens and the Bargello that don’t follow that same pattern.

Boboli is only closed on the first and last Monday of the month, while the Bargello closes on the first, third, and fifth Mondays. So depending on the week you’re visiting, you might find one open and the other closed – which isn’t something you’d necessarily expect unless you’ve checked it properly in advance.

The other thing that catches people out is the first Sunday of the month.

On paper, it sounds great – many state-run museums (including the Uffizi and Accademia) offer free entry as part of a nationwide initiative.

In reality, it’s a bit of a trade-off.

You can’t pre-book tickets, so everything runs on a first-come, first-served basis. Which means queues can get very long, very quickly, especially at the headline sights.

If you do want to take advantage of it, you need to get there early and accept that you’ll likely spend more time waiting than you would on a normal day.

Otherwise, it’s often a better opportunity to visit somewhere a bit less obvious – places like the Medici Chapels or San Marco, where the crowds don’t build in quite the same way.

A flexible plan works better than a rigid Florence itinerary

If there’s one thing I’d really try to shift before visiting Florence, it’s the idea that you need a tightly structured, checklist-style plan.

Because in my experience, that’s exactly what makes people enjoy it less.

A “bad” Florence plan is one that tries to stack too many big things into the same day – especially the ones that involve queues.

Trying to do the Uffizi, the Accademia, and the Duomo climb all in one day, for example, just isn’t a good idea. Even if it looks manageable on a map, it becomes exhausting very quickly.

It’s also the kind of plan that focuses only on those big hitters – the things you’ve seen on Instagram or feel like you should do – and ignores everything else.

And I’d honestly be a bit dismayed for you if that’s how you approached it.

Because what tends to happen is you spend the day queueing, moving through crowds, rushing from one place to the next – and by the end of it, you’re tired, a bit jaded, and not really taking anything in properly.

You can easily leave thinking, that was… fine, and be ready to move on.

What I do now is much simpler.

I book the main anchors – the things that genuinely need booking – and I spread them out.

I wouldn’t stack multiple heavy experiences into one day if I could avoid it. One major thing, maybe two at a push, and then I leave space around that.

Instead of filling every gap, I instead plan to spend time in a neighbourhood.

I’ll wander, go into a church if it looks interesting. Sit somewhere if I feel like it, skip something if I’m not in the mood…

That shift made the biggest difference for me.

During my month-long stay in Florence, I realised that even with that amount of time, I still wasn’t going to see everything. And once that clicked, the pressure to try completely dissipated.

I still haven’t seen everything in Florence. And I still absolutely love it.

So if you take anything from this, let it be that.

Some of the best parts of Florence happen when you don’t plan them 

In what seems like a complete contradiction to what I’ve said in the section above, however, some of my favourite moments in Florence have come from dropping whatever I thought I was supposed to be doing.

On my most recent trip, I remember feeling completely fed up with the crowds around the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. I had every intention of going to a museum, but I just couldn’t face another queue or another packed interior space.

So instead, we crossed over to the Oltrarno and ended up in Piazza Santo Spirito.

It’s not exactly an unknown place, but it felt like a different version of the city.

We sat down at one of the outdoor tables, and everything just slowed right down. There was a violinist setting up and playing, two schoolboys kicking a football against the church wall while they waited to be collected, and then two older men joined in with them. It all just unfolded in this really unforced, everyday way.

It was simple, but it’s one of the moments that has stayed with me after my trip.

That’s the kind of thing you don’t plan and I actually don’t think you should try to.

There’s a tendency to go looking for “hidden gems” or off-the-beaten-path spots in Florence, but I think that can miss the point slightly. The real joy is in stumbling across something that you find interesting or lovely – not because someone told you to go there.

What people often overlook is that Florence isn’t just its big sights.

Because of the wealth that existed here during the Renaissance, there’s a huge amount of art scattered throughout the city – in smaller churches, tucked into side streets, inside buildings you’d walk past without thinking twice. You don’t have to go far to find something interesting.

The same goes for the city itself.

The Oltrarno, for example, has a higher concentration of artisan workshops – I recently wandered into a place making the most beautiful leather dog collars and leads – but there’s also a much more modern, cosmopolitan side to Florence that people don’t always expect. 

This is the home of Gucci and Ferragamo. You’ve got places like Gucci Garden, Via Tornabuoni, and a whole other layer of the city that feels much more current.

If you over-plan Florence, you miss that.

You end up moving between the same well-known places, and you don’t leave yourself any space for the city to surprise you.

So if I were planning a trip now, I wouldn’t try to schedule those “offbeat” discoveries.

I’d leave time for them – properly, because the best parts of Florence, in my experience, were the ones that I didn’t go looking for, or take from a list. 

Queues don’t equal quality in Florence

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make in Florence now is assuming that if there’s a queue, it must be worth it.

In my experience, that’s very often not the case.

Take All’Antico Vinaio.

I’ll put my hand up -I’ve been. The first time I went (on my first visit to Florence), I queued up, got the sandwich, and I remember being impressed – but that was also my first time having a schiacciata, so I didn’t really have anything to compare it to.

Now, I see it completely differently.

It’s just gone a bit out of control.

There are multiple locations, international branches in New York, London, even one behind the Pantheon in Rome – and on my last visit, I saw they’d installed street-order kiosks like you’d see in McDonald’s.

That was the moment for me where I thought, okay… this is no longer what this was.

It’s not that the food is bad, per se – it’s just that it’s turned into something else, in a ‘super-sized, bigger-is-better-’ fast food kind of way.

And more broadly, what annoys me about viral food culture in Florence is the behaviour it creates.

You see people queuing down streets, blocking walkways, waiting for something they could get elsewhere nearby without the queue – often without really understanding why they’re there beyond having seen it online.

There’s no cultural or local context.

It becomes about ticking off a place rather than actually experiencing the food.

What I do now is very simple.

I don’t go to those places.

If there’s somewhere popular I’m curious about, I’ll go at a completely off time. And if there’s somewhere I really want to eat – particularly for dinner – I’ll book it properly in advance.

Otherwise, I just look for alternatives because in a city like Florence, there is no shortage of good food – only a shortage of people looking beyond what they’ve already seen online.

Understanding Florentine food will shape your entire trip

One of the most useful things you can do before visiting Florence is to understand what the food actually is, and not just where to eat it.

Because Florence isn’t about one “must-visit” place. It’s about understanding the different food experiences that make it up and then making space for them across your trip.

Take schiacciata, for example.

It’s often compared to focaccia, but it’s not quite the same. It’s thinner, crispier on the outside with that slightly salty, almost oily bite, and then soft inside – and it holds fillings incredibly well. My own favourites are local ingredients like Tuscan salami (often with fennel), pecorino, and truffle cream – they all work beautifully in it.

And schiacciata introduces something I think a lot of people get wrong when it comes to eating in Florence.

They assume they need to sit down for every meal, when in reality, some of the best lunches I’ve had there have just been grabbing a schiacciata, maybe a drink, and sitting on a step or a bench somewhere nearby. It’s casual, but it’s very much part of how the city works.

Food-wise, it’s also worth knowing that Tuscan cuisine leans quite hearty.

You’ll see things like wild boar ragù with pici pasta – which I love. Pici is thick, hand-rolled, slightly uneven, and just has a really satisfying bite to it.

Then there’s bistecca alla Fiorentina.

Florence is famous for it, and it’s worth understanding how it works before you order. It’s typically served by weight, often for two people, and wait staff are often very firm on how it’s cooked – rare to medium-rare.

You might get a bit of pushback if you ask for it well done.

But honestly, I’d go with it as intended. And I say that as someone from Ireland, where we wouldn’t be short of sublime steak – the quality of Fiorentina beef really is excellent. 

You also don’t have to commit to the full bistecca every time. Some of the slightly smaller cuts are just as good. A go-to of mine is a lesser cut served simply with pecorino and a drizzle of olive oil on top.

Another food Florence takes very seriously is gelato.

There’s a big difference between proper artisanal gelato and the more touristy versions. A lot of the more touristy places will have those big, brightly coloured mounds piled high in the window – and that’s usually your cue to keep walking. That’s not really what proper gelato looks like.

The good places tend to be much more understated. Often, you won’t even see the gelato at all – it’ll be stored in covered metal containers, and the colours, when you do see them, are much more muted and natural.

One flavour I’d specifically look out for is Buontalenti.

It’s named after Bernardo Buontalenti, who’s often credited with creating gelato for the Medici, and it’s a really good example of what proper gelato is about. It’s simple, creamy, and not overly sweet.

And then something people don’t always expect – Florence actually has a really strong modern coffee scene as well.

Yes, you can absolutely do the traditional Italian thing – stand at the bar, have a quick espresso and move on. But there’s also a growing third-wave scene, and it’s genuinely worth seeking out. 

Places like Ditta Artigianale now have multiple locations across the city, and smaller spots like Coffee Mantra take that same idea – properly sourced, well-roasted coffee – and bring it into a much more local, everyday setting. You’ll see a mix of people in there too, not just tourists but locals popping in for their espresso and a chat.

So if I were planning a trip now, I wouldn’t build it around specific viral places.

I’d think in terms of experiences instead.

Schiacciata on the go. A proper trattoria meal. Good Tuscan wine. Gelato done properly, and a few genuinely good coffee spots.

Florence is one of the best places to understand Tuscan wine (even without leaving the city)

Then we come to the wine – and this is something I think people massively underplay when planning a trip to Florence.

Florence is the capital of Tuscany, so even if you never set foot in the countryside, you’re still surrounded by one of the most important wine regions in Italy.

Most people will have heard of Chianti, which is the closest wine region to Florence – but there’s so much more to it than that.

If you’re a white wine drinker, you’ve got Vermentino and the wonderfully niche (but very good) Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

Then you’ve got the more complex reds like Brunello di Montalcino and the lesser-known Vino Nobile di Montepulciano – and I always think the hint is in the name with that one. This is a very prestigious wine, and one that I don’t come across too often outside of Italy. Its name is a nod to the fact that it was a favoured wine amongst aristocratic classes, and even popes. 

It’s also worth not confusing it with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which is a completely different wine from a completely different part of Italy. It’s one of those easy mix-ups if you’re just scanning a menu, but they’re not related in the way people sometimes assume.

Beyond that, you’ll come across plenty of Tuscan IGT wines – these are a bit more flexible and experimental, where producers step outside stricter regional rules and often blend international grape varieties.

That’s where areas like Bolgheri come in, producing what are often referred to as “Super Tuscans”. They tend to be bolder, sometimes more polished in style, and quite different to the more traditional wines you’ll find elsewhere in the region.

And once you understand that all of this is coming from the region around you, it changes how you approach wine in Florence. It stops being something you just order alongside dinner, and starts to feel like part of the place itself.

If you want a really easy way to get your bearings with it all, I’d actually recommend doing a food and wine tour early in your trip. Something like this Florence evening food and wine experience with Devour is a good example – it gives you context, introduces you to proper local spots, and helps you understand what you’re drinking rather than just picking blindly.

And if you’d prefer to go deeper and see where it all comes from, I’ve put together a guide to the best wine tours from Florence into Tuscany – including options that take care of all the logistics for you.

A little context changes Florence completely (and most people skip it)

Florence made a lot more sense to me after my first trip.

Before I went, I had that kind of high-level understanding: birthplace of the Renaissance, important city, lots of art. But it all felt quite abstract.

It was only once I’d actually been there – and started to notice things – that it began to click.

I remember seeing the Medici symbol everywhere – the balls and shield – on buildings across Florence, and then again when I travelled out into Tuscany. Places like Arezzo, the Medici fortress there… it started to become clear just how far their influence reached.

And that was the turning point.

Because once you realise that so much of what you’re looking at – the architecture, the art, the layout of the city – ties back to a relatively small number of people and a very specific moment in time, it changes how you see everything.

It stops being “nice buildings” and starts feeling like a stage where something genuinely huge played out.

That’s what led me down the rabbit hole a bit.

I got really interested in the Medici – the politics, the scheming, the rivalries – and I actually found the easiest way into it wasn’t academic at all. It was things like historical fiction, and even Medici: Masters of Florence on Netflix.

From there, you can go deeper, fact-check things, follow the threads that interest you.

But even that initial layer of context makes a massive difference.

Because on later trips – especially when I spent a month there – I wasn’t just moving willy-nilly through the city. I understood what had happened in the places I was sitting in, walking past, having coffee in.

And that makes Florence feel completely different.

If I were to recommend one place that really brings that side of the city to life, it would be Palazzo Vecchio – particularly the secret passages tour.

It’s one of those experiences that gives you a much clearer sense of the politics and intrigue behind everything. You’re moving through hidden rooms, private spaces, places where decisions were made – and you start to understand the weight of it all.

So no, you don’t need to do a huge amount of research before you go.

But even a small amount – even just enough to recognise names, symbols, or stories – turns Florence from somewhere you look at into somewhere you actually understand.

A guided tour in Florence is highly worthwhile

I used to be very much of the mindset that I could figure everything out myself.

And to a certain extent, you can.

But Florence is one of those cities where there’s so much context sitting underneath what you’re looking at that you don’t always realise what you’re missing.

The thing that changed my mind on this completely was actually a Walks of Italy tour I did years ago in the Vatican. I remember coming away from it thinking – I didn’t even realise tours could be this good.

Not just in terms of what you learn, but how much easier it makes everything.

And Florence is arguably an even better place for that.

Because once you’re there, you realise how layered it is. You’re not just looking at buildings or paintings – you’re looking at the result of centuries of power, politics, patronage, and rivalry. You can read about that in advance, but having someone bring it to life while you’re standing in it is a completely different experience.

If I were planning a trip now, I’d probably include one well-chosen tour early on,  just to get that grounding.

Something like a Walks tour works well for that, particularly because they tend to keep groups small and often have access you wouldn’t otherwise get. Things like going into the Accademia before it opens, or getting into the Duomo outside of regular opening hours – once you’ve seen the queues in person, you realise how valuable that actually is.

The same idea applies to food.

If you’re not especially into history, but you do want to understand Florence properly, a food tour is a very easy way into it. I’ve found Devour’s food tours particularly good for that – not in a “tick off a list of places” way, but in the sense that you come away actually understanding what you’ve been eating and how it fits into the city.

And more often than not, you pick up a few places you’ll want to go back to later in your trip.

The only thing I’d say is this – I’d always go for small group tours.

That’s the difference between something that feels genuinely insightful, and something that just feels like you’re being shepherded around in a crowd.

The small logistical details can quietly wear you down

Florence is compact on a map and that can be a bit misleading.

Because yes, distances are short. But in practice, they don’t always feel that way.

One thing people tend to underestimate is what it’s actually like navigating through the city with luggage.

I’ve definitely had moments dragging a suitcase through Florence where what looked like a quick walk turned into a bit of a slog – stopping, starting, lifting it over cobbles, trying not to clip someone in a crowd – and by the time you arrive, you’re far more worn out than you expected.

It’s not that you can’t do it – I do it myself whenever I visit – but it’s worth being aware of what it actually involves.

The same applies more generally to getting around.

Florence has a fairly protracted one-way system for cars, and it can make short journeys surprisingly slow. Taxis can take far longer than expected just because they have to loop around to reach somewhere that’s actually quite close.

Which is why, in most cases, walking is still the most straightforward option – even if it doesn’t look like it on paper.

Driving is another thing to be aware of.

If you’re combining Florence with a wider Tuscany trip, then having a car makes sense. But while you’re actually in Florence, it tends to create more friction than it solves, between ZTL restrictions, parking, and the general layout of the city.

So if I were structuring a trip, I’d either delay picking up a car until after Florence, or return it before arriving if Florence is at the start or end of your trip.

Because otherwise, you’re adding a layer of logistics and parking worries that you just don’t really need.

That being said, none of these things are major on their own. But together – the walking, the crowds, the layout, the little bits of friction – they can quietly wear you down over the course of a few days if you’re not expecting them.

Once you are expecting them, however, they’re much easier to work around.

What you wear in Florence matters more than you think

This is one of those things you don’t really think about properly until you’re actually there.

I’ve seen it happen so many times – especially in summer – girls queueing up outside the Duomo in thin-strapped dresses or crop tops and flowy trousers, and just thinking… uh oh. You’re not going to get in like that.

It’s not about dressing super conservatively or anything like that, but you do need to be aware of church dress codes. Shoulders need to be covered, and if your chest, midriff, or legs are very exposed, there’s a chance you’ll be turned away.

So wear what you want – just have something with you. I always make sure I have a light layer now, like a linen shirt, pashmina or something easy to throw on or tie around my bag. It’s one of those small things that just saves you hassle.

Outside of that, Florence is actually a place where I find I do tend to make a bit more of an effort with what I pack.

It’s a very popular city break destination – especially for Europeans – and people are generally quite well dressed. Not in an overly formal way, but you’ll notice that people change for dinner, or just look a bit more put together than your typical “tourist comfy” vibe.

And then the Florentines themselves – they’re very stylish, but not in an overtly flashy way. It’s more about quality. Good leather shoes, well-cut clothes, that slightly understated, almost old-school elegance.

You feel it walking places like Via Tornabuoni, with all the designer stores like Gucci and Ferragamo, but also in the smaller artisan shops heaving with leather belts, bags, and more. There’s a real appreciation for craftsmanship.

That doesn’t mean you need to overhaul your wardrobe,  but I do think if you lean into it slightly, you’ll enjoy it more.

Where it really matters though is your shoes.

Florence is cobbled, uneven, and you’ll be on your feet a lot. On my first trip, I wore thin-soled pumps during the day and they just didn’t cut it at all – my feet were absolutely aching.

Now I always bring a solid pair of walking shoes, a second pair to rotate, and something lighter for the evening.

Even if your shoes are comfortable, your feet will still feel it after a full day. Changing them – even just to shift the pressure points – makes a big difference.

And heels… I mean, I just wouldn’t bother with anything too high. If you want to dress up a bit, keep it to a kitten heel or a block heel. Cobblestones and stilettos are not a good combination!

It’s not the most glamorous tip, but it’s one of those things that could genuinely affect how much you (and your feet) enjoy your time there!

The mindset shift that changes everything in Florence

The biggest shift for me with Florence wasn’t about planning better or fitting more in.

It was realising that it’s not just somewhere you go to look at things.

Because on a first visit especially, it’s very easy to experience Florence almost like a backdrop. You move between the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, a museum or two, and it can all feel quite surface-level, even though what you’re looking at is objectively incredible.

What changed that for me was spending longer there and starting to notice everything happening around those big sights.

Not just the buildings themselves, but the fact that people are living their everyday lives in and around them.

You’ll see it in small ways – people opening up their shops in the morning, closing shutters in the evening, heading to work, stopping for coffee, completely unfazed by the fact that they’re walking past places that everyone else has come to see.

Even things like the rowers out on the Arno in the morning, or just sitting somewhere and watching how a piazza actually fills and empties over the course of a couple of hours.

That was the point where it really clicked for me.

Florence isn’t frozen in the Renaissance, even though it can feel like that at first. It’s a functioning city layered on top of all of that history.

And once you see it like that, you start to value slightly different things.

You notice the smaller details more. You’re less focused on what you haven’t seen yet, and more aware of what’s actually in front of you.

It also makes you approach the whole trip a bit differently.

You naturally slow down a bit. You’re less inclined to rush from one place to the next. You start paying attention to things you might otherwise have walked straight past.

And I think that’s where Florence becomes much more interesting.

Florence tips: FAQs

Is Florence worth visiting for the first time?

 Yes – but it’s a city where how you approach it makes a big difference. If you only stick to the main sights at peak times, it can feel crowded and a bit overwhelming. If you structure your days well and move beyond the busiest areas, it becomes a much more enjoyable experience.

What should I know before visiting Florence?

The main thing is that Florence is more intense than it looks on paper. It’s compact, but very dense – visually, culturally, and logistically. Booking key sights in advance, planning your days around timing, and leaving space between major activities will make a noticeable difference.

How many days do you need in Florence?

For most people, 3–4 days is a good balance. That gives you time to see the main sights without rushing, while also leaving space to enjoy the city more slowly. Anything less can feel quite packed; anything more allows for a deeper, more relaxed experience.

Do you need to book attractions in Florence in advance?

For major sights like the Duomo dome climb, the Accademia, and the Uffizi – yes, ideally. Tickets can sell out days in advance, and even with timed entry, you’ll still need to factor in queues and arrival time.

What is the best time of day to explore Florence?

Early morning is by far the best time. The city is noticeably quieter, cooler, and easier to move around. Midday is the busiest and most intense, while evenings are a good time for a more relaxed wander once day-trippers have left.

Continue Planning Your Florence Trip

The tips here are most useful alongside two other decisions that shape how a Florence trip actually feels – where you’re based and where you eat.

For choosing the right neighbourhood, which affects everything from how crowded your mornings feel to how easy it is to find a decent coffee:
➙ Where to stay in Florence: best areas for first-timers and beyond

For where to eat well – from the trattorias I returned to most often to the wine bars and gelaterias that became part of my daily routine:
➙ Best restaurants in Florence: personal picks from months of eating there

And if you’re thinking about Tuscany beyond the city during your stay:
➙ Best day trips from Florence

For a more complete overview, head to my Florence travel guide, or explore the full Florence hub to plan each part of your trip in more detail.