The Ultimate To-Do List for Florence, Italy

If you ever take a trip to Italy, Florence is a must-see since it’s practically swimming in history, art, and amazing food! Here’s a quick guide to the dos and don’ts of this amazing city!

What to See in Florence

Ponte Vecchio

Arguably one of the most famous landmarks in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio can’t be missed. It’s an extremely old bridge that joins the two halves of the city together, and it also functions as a jewelry market and tourist hotspot. Most of the jewelry is very expensive, but it’s still pretty to look at; besides that, there isn’t too much to do on the bridge.

Il Duomo – The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

No matter how often I got to see it, il Duomo (which means cathedral in Italian), was breathtaking every time. It’s absolutely massive and has painstaking detail in each tile, and every day, its bells ring out in the square. I didn’t personally go inside, since the line wound around the entire cathedral, but my tour guide said it was relatively plain and wasn’t a must-see. If you still want to go, though, I would hit the cathedral early to beat the line.

What to Do in Florence

Museums

Museums are a must; you can’t go to Florence and not see The Statue of David. Here are the top two museums you have to go to on your visit:

Galleria dell’Accademia

If you go anywhere in Florence to see the history, you should definitely take a look at this gallery. It has some of the most iconic artwork in history, like The Statue of David and The Rape of the Sabine Woman, as well as countless sculptures and priceless instruments from the Rennaissance. Like most of the museums in Italy, it’s best to get a tour guide for the full experience; that way, all the symbolism and history of each artwork can be fully appreciated.

And if you think The Statue of David is overrated, I promise you, it’s not. The statue is huge, and the level of detail in his hands and muscles is mind-blowing.

Uffizi Gallery

The most famous piece of artwork in the Uffizi Gallery is The Birth of Venus, but it boasts several paintings that range from Michelangelo to Leonardo da Vinci. Compared to the Galleria dell’Accademia, this one falls a little bit shorter, in my opinion. I think this gallery should definitely be visited (with a tour guide), but it will be most appreciated by those who enjoy learning about art composition.

Boboli Gardens

The Boboli Gardens are a Medici park and a beautiful example of the Italian garden. We didn’t go here on our trip, but I would recommend it if you enjoy the outdoors and landscape design. Keep in mind that admission is not free!

Activities

1. Shop

Florence is loaded with great places to shop; here are some of my top favorites!

Mercato Centrale

This is undoubtedly one of the best spots to visit in Florence; it’s a market teeming with stalls of every kind, selling pretty much anything you could want—olive oil, pasta, pistachio paste, sandwiches, cheese, cuts of meat—you name it, it’s got it! It’s open every morning except Sunday until 2 p.m. When you go, be sure to check out Prodotti Bio Le Lame—the employees are so kind, and the products are amazing!

Todo Modo

This bookshop is a complete hidden gem. When you first walk it, it looks like an ordinary, small bookstore. However, if you go to the back of the shop and go down the hallway, you’ll find a beautiful nook with bookshelves, study spots, and a cafe that sells you pastries, coffee, and wine while you read!

Giuliano Ricchi Jewelry

You may have seen this place somewhere on TikTok, since it’s gone fairly viral lately! This quaint jewelry shop is located on the ground floor of an apartment building. Compared to the Ponte Vecchio, the jewelry at Giuliano Ricchi is much more affordable; the shop owners will make a bracelet for you if nothing is in your size, and you’re welcome to look around at the workshop and newspaper clippings while you wait! I will warn you—the owners don’t speak very much English, so it would be wise to know some lingo before you go.

Farmaceutica di Sanra Maria Novella

This shop is stunning; it’s a perfume place with every scent imaginable and workers that are so kind and willing to help. It’s more expensive, but even if you’re not interested in buying perfume, they have an immersive experience that was so beautiful to see!

Scuola Del Cuoio

Florence is extremely well known for it’s quality of leather, so be sure to get some while you’re there! If you plan on buying any leather products, do not get them from the stalls in the streets—they’re extremely cheap and inauthentic. If you want good quality leather, stop by Scuola del Cuoio—it has an enchanting history and some of the best leather in all of Florence!

2. Take a Cooking Class

The best way to get acquainted with Italy than through food, and what better way to do that than with a cooking class in the Tuscan countryside? In the class we took, you take a stroll through the Mercato Centrale to get your ingredients, then you take a bus to a farm outside of the city. Here, you’ll whip up a luxurious, four-course meal, complete with bruschetta, bolognese alla ragù, roast pork and potatoes, and tiramisù for dessert! Check out the class here, and be sure to check out their other offers (they also have Vespa tours, gelato courses, and pizza-cooking classes)!

3. Take a day trip to Siena and Explore the Tuscan Countryside

Though there’s much to see in Florence, I can’t tell you how many people recommended us to go to Siena! It’s a beautiful and historic city where you can experience such amazing food. If you want to explore more of the Tuscan countryside, I would definitely staying here; it’s the farm of Poggio alle Lame (the market stall in Mercato Centrale I talked about earlier), located in Chianti. Here, you can stay in their apartments and see how they make products like olive oil!

What to Eat

Here’s a rundown of the regional foods you have to try:

Bistecca alla Fiorentina. This is a thick cut of steak that’s measured about 3-4 fingers wide and grilled over hot coals to the perfect rare temperature. One steak is probably big enough to feed two to three people, but it’s delicious and is particularly famous in Florence!
Pappa al pomodoro. The Italians never cease to amaze me with their resourceful cooking—this dish is a tomato soup thickened with day-old bread, which is unsalted (as traditional Tuscan loaves are).
Ribollita. Another comforting vegetable stew made with white beans and day-old bread.
Lampredotto. Lampredotto is a cow stomach that is cooked, sliced, and often served in a delicious sandwich (panino) form, which you can find in markets like Mercato Centrale! I didn’t personally try it, but don’t let the thought of cow stomach scare you off—it looked delicious and was highly recommended!
Gelato. Gelato was invented in Florence, so you have to get some while you’re there! There are gelaterias on pretty much every street, though, so you need to keep your eyes peeled for the authentic ones; check out my other post here to learn more!

Where to Eat

There are countless places to eat in Florence, but here are my favorites!

Buca Lapi. You’ll probably need a reservation to get into this one, but it’s worth it! The food is authentic, and the atmosphere is so unique. A little bonus—my parents sat next to Stanley Tucci the first time they ate there, so that alone should tell you it’s a great place!
Mamma Gina. This is a really low-key kind of restaurant, but everything we ordered was great! Most of the customers were Italian, which also indicated it was a good place to eat—my suggestion: order the stuffed zucchini flowers (they’re amazing)!
Caffè Gilli. This cafe is the oldest in all of Florence, so I’d recommend stopping by sometime if you’re able. It’s a beautiful shop and a good place to grab a coffee or sweet treat.
Panini Toscani. If you’re looking for a panini place, Panini Toscani has got you covered. It vaguely reminded me of Subway (though a whole lot better), and there’s a variety of toppings, breads, and meats to choose from. It’s also right outside of the Duomo, so you don’t have to walk very far for a lunch break after sightseeing!
Caffe Pasticceria La Loggia Degli Albizi. This cafe is a complete hidden gem—we stumbled across it one day while we were shopping, and I swear, I’m still thinking about the sfogliatella I ordered.
La Sorbettiera and Sbrino. In my personal opinion, these two gelaterias are some of the best Florence has to offer.

Tips and Tricks:

Here are some of my final words on Florence:

Beware scammers. There are street vendors and scammers in the big squares; they’ll try to sell you toys, ask for money, or give you flowers, but just be smart and ignore them.
Be prepared to walk. Unlike Rome, Florence is a very walkable city, and you’ll most likely go everywhere on foot. A word of the wise, leave your heels at home; the cobblestones will take your ankles out and you’ll be wishing you had some comfortable tennis shoes.
A quick note on water. When you go to restaurants, you’ll most likely be asked to specify if you want natural or sparkling water. If you want still water, it will be labeled acqua naturale. If you accidentally get acqua frizzante, you’re actually buying sparkling water. It’s a small mistake, but it happens a lot!

That’s all for this post on Florence! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments—otherwise, have a great trip!