Part of Italy’s Big 3 along with Rome and Venice, the city of Florence is a compulsory stop on almost any first visit to the country. Florence was arguably the world’s most important city during the Renaissance period and it’s still a big deal today for anyone interested in history or culture.
Florence is the heart of Tuscany and on every itinerary of those touring around Italy. This is the best and easiest place to sample Italy’s famous food and wine scenes, especially if you avoid places with mostly English-language signage.
The city center is rather compact so it’s easy to get around and see all the main sights in just 2 or 3 days if you are rushed. This is also the best city to use as a hub, so you can consider the cheap day trips from Florence as well.
| Population | 370,000 |
| Area | 1,500,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+1 |
| Currency | Euro |
| Airports | Peretola Airport (FLR), Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) |
Florence’s top attraction is its famous cathedral, which is in the heart of the city center.
The Pont Vecchio bridge is unlike anything you’ve seen before with its famous jewelry shops incorporated into the structure itself.
The main attractions are reasonably priced, though especially for the Uffizi it’s advised to book online in advance for an extra fee to be sure you’ll actually get in.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 32.26 - 64.52 |
| 43.01 - 88.17 |
| 48.39 - 134.41 |
| 49.46 - 294.62 |
| 241.94 - 323.66 |
Hotel Golf Doubles from €96/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central 3-star hotel in Florence |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 19.35 - 45.16 |
Hostel Santa Monaca Beds from €20/night | |
Our pick: The best cheap and central hostel in Florence |
Food and drinks run the gamut in prices, with quite a few budget options available, though most of the classic Tuscan cooking does get expensive in the touristy places. Florence is also a great base for a visit to Cinque Terre, which doesn’t have to be expensive. See our article on when to visit Italy for information on seasons and crowds.
| Budget breakfast | Most hotels will include breakfast, usually a small one. If not you can find bakeries and cafes to order budget meals. | $4.30 - $8.60 |
| Budget lunch | Assuming you have your large meal for dinner, you can always find good budget and casual restaurant options for lunch. | $6.45 - $12.37 |
| Budget dinner | If you want to sit down at a restaurant for dinner the price range is wide, largely depending on neighborhood. | $9.14 - $18.28 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | Local lagers like Peroni can be found all over. Prices at clubs and fancy restaurants will be higher. | $3.23 - $5.91 |
| House wine (.5l jug) | Most restaurants will offer a simple local wine at a very affordable price. | $4.57 - $6.99 |
The free (tips-based) walking tours of Florence are a great way to get oriented and to see most of the key sights in a short time since this city is very pedestrian friendly.
The hop-on, hop-off bus tours are also worth a look, especially for those who don’t like walking much, but they do miss some things because they can’t traverse many of the smaller downtown streets.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50 | 35 | 2.9 |
| February | 54 | 37 | 3.7 |
| March | 59 | 41 | 3.2 |
| April | 66 | 46 | 3.1 |
| May | 74 | 52 | 2.9 |
| June | 81 | 59 | 2.2 |
| July | 88 | 63 | 1.6 |
| August | 87 | 63 | 3.0 |
| September | 80 | 58 | 3.1 |
| October | 70 | 50 | 3.5 |
| November | 59 | 42 | 4.4 |
| December | 51 | 36 | 3.6 |
Florence has a relatively mild climate, with hot and humid summers that are mitigated by relatively cool evenings. Winters do get cold, but rarely long periods of freezing temperatures. Rainfall is moderate through the year except for summer, though most agree that spring and autumn are the ideal times to visit.
| 21 Mar | 6:17am | 6:28pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:33am | 9:01pm |
| 21 Sep | 7:01am | 7:15pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:46am | 4:40pm |
Fortunately, Florence isn’t quite as expensive as Rome or Venice, though hotels with central locations can be pricey here as well, especially during summer. There are quite a few hostels in Florence as well, and private rooms in some of those are good alternatives for budget travelers.
Hotels in Florence tend to be busy all year long, though the official high season is from April through September, and things peak out in July and August. The better located and popular places do book up early in summer, so book ahead. During the off season you can get some good bargains at some of the fancy places, unless there is something special going on in the city.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 32.26 - 64.52 |
| 43.01 - 88.17 |
| 48.39 - 134.41 |
| 49.46 - 294.62 |
| 241.94 - 323.66 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 19.35 - 45.16 |
Florence’s main airport is Aeroporto di Firenze, but it’s not a major hub and it’s hard to find good fares. The Pisa Airport is only a bit further away and it’s a better option for low-cost flights from within Europe. Most visitors to Italy will fly into Rome, Milan, or perhaps Venice and then get around by train.
Speaking of the train, Florence is right between Rome and Venice on the high-speed train line, which helps make it an extremely popular stop. It’s two hours or less from both cities.
Florence is a very walkable city, especially if you are staying in or near the city center itself.
There are a few trams and some buses in Florence, but the tourist area is small enough that few visitors use them. Taxis are available at a fairly reasonable price.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 24.73 |
| Airport express bus to city center | 7.53 |
| Train from Pisa airport to Florence | 8.92 |
| 3km taxi ride in Florence | 5.38 - 11.83 |
| Bus ride in Florence | 1.29 |