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Florence

The capital of Tuscany (and, more importantly, Lainey’s favorite city in the world), Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance and is known for its stunning architecture, world-class museums, and artistic masterpieces.

Quick Hits

Vibe:

Mid-sized city, historic, art-centric, walkable

Known for:

The Duomo, Michelangelo’s David, Florentine steaks, the Ponte Vecchio bridge, leather goods, Renaissance art

Things to do:

Visit the Uffizi Gallery, see Michelangelo’s David, climb the dome, shop for jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio, watch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo

Getting to Florence

By Plane:

Florence is easy to reach by air, by flying into Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci (FLR) which is about 15 minutes from the city center by taxi or tram.

By Train:

Florence’s main train station, Santa Maria Novella, is a major hub with frequent high-speed trains from Rome, Milan, Venice, and other Italian cities. In fact, if you're planning on traveling to the villa from Rome, most of the train routes to Pisa have a transfer in Florence, so adding time here would be simple!

By Car:

Not recommended. You can easily drive to Florence, but know that the city center is mostly ZTL, a restricted area for residents only. If you cross into the ZTL, you will receive a fine by mail about 3-36 months after the fact, so plan accordingly if you come by car.

Getting Around Florence

Walking is the easiest way to get around Florence. Your longest lengths of walking would be a maximum of 30-40 minutes if you’re fully traversing the city. If you need to travel farther, taxis are your next best option using the mobile app named 'appTaxi'. Additionally, Florence has a reliable public transportation system operated by ATAF, which includes buses and trams connecting the city center with surrounding neighborhoods. Uber isn't really an option unless you’re booking a private black car transfer, which is generally very expensive.

Where to Stay in Florence

Centro Storico:

Recommended if you're taking a short trip and want to focus on seeing the main sights. This puts you in the heart of the city, and most major points of interest will be a short walk away.

Oltrarno:

This is where we stayed on our previous visit. It's the neighborhood across the river, which is known for being a bit more artisanal. Slightly less touristy and still not far from most things. We really enjoyed this area.
Fun fact: Oltrarno means "beyond the Arno", which is the river running through Florence and Pisa

Santa Croce:

On the Eastern side of Florence, this area is a bit more removed from the main city and can provide a more local feel.

Below is our personal list of places we've been and want to go in Florence!

Expand the sidebar in the top-left for a map legend.

Lainey ♥ Jacob