When to visit Florence: Summer is hot and dry with peak tourist crowds; early mornings are best for sightseeing before the heat and queues build
When is the best time to visit Florence?
Avg Temp
20–32°C
Rainfall
Low, ~35mm/month
Best Time
Summer is hot and dry with peak tourist crowds; early mornings are best for sightseeing before the heat and queues build
Packing Tips (4)
- Light, breathable clothing but with shoulders/knees coverable for churches
- A refillable water bottle for the city's public drinking fountains
- Comfortable shoes for cobblestones and long museum queues
- A hat and sunscreen for the intense midday sun
What does Florence cost?
Typical prices
- Budget meal€15.00
- Mid-range meal€40.00
- Cappuccino€1.50
- Domestic beer€6.00
- Taxi (per km)€1.80
- Public transport ticket€1.70
- Museum entry€20.00
- Mid-range hotel (night)€180.00
Local currency: EUR
Food & Drink
Trattoria Mario
A tiny, always-packed trattoria near the Mercato Centrale serving classic Florentine dishes like bistecca and peposo since 1953.
All'Antico Vinaio
The famous schiacciata sandwich shop on Via dei Neri, with lines around the block for its stuffed focaccia.
Osteria dell'Enoteca
An Oltrarno restaurant serving Tuscan classics with an emphasis on regional wine pairings.
Il Latini
A boisterous, communal-table trattoria famous for its bistecca alla fiorentina and hanging hams.
Enoteca Pinchiorri
One of Italy's most celebrated fine-dining restaurants, holding three Michelin stars in a Renaissance palazzo.
Mercato Centrale Firenze
A historic covered food market with a lively upper-floor food hall serving everything from lampredotto to pizza.
Le Volpi e l'Uva
A well-loved wine bar near Ponte Vecchio with an excellent by-the-glass list of small Italian producers.
La Cité
A bookshop-bar in San Frediano hosting live jazz and readings in a relaxed, bohemian setting.
Space Club Florence
One of Florence's larger nightclubs, popular with a younger and student crowd for late-night dancing.
Culture & History
Uffizi Gallery
One of the world's great art museums, home to Botticelli's Birth of Venus and works by Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
Galleria dell'Accademia
Home to Michelangelo's original David statue along with his unfinished Prisoners sculptures.
Palazzo Pitti
A vast Renaissance palace housing several museums including the Palatine Gallery's Raphael and Titian paintings.
Museo Galileo
A science museum near the Uffizi displaying historic scientific instruments including Galileo's own telescopes.
Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
Houses original sculptures and artifacts from the Florence Cathedral complex, including Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise panels.
Cinema Odeon Firenze
A historic Art Nouveau cinema in the Palazzo dello Strozzino showing original-language and independent films.
Calcio Storico Fiorentino
A fierce historic form of football played in costume in Piazza Santa Croce between the city's four quarters.
Scoppio del Carro
An Easter Sunday tradition where a firework-laden cart is exploded in front of the Duomo, dating back centuries.
Nature & Outdoors
Fiesole
A hilltop town above Florence with Etruscan and Roman ruins and sweeping views over the city.
Active & Fun
Virgin Active Firenze
A large fitness club chain location with weights, classes, and a pool near the city centre.
Piscina Le Pavoniere
An outdoor pool set among trees in the Cascine park, popular for its summer lounge-bar atmosphere.
Cities in Italy
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