There are cities that impress you and cities that change you. Florence belongs firmly in the second category. Tucked along the banks of the Arno River in the heart of Tuscany, this compact Italian city carries more artistic and cultural weight than places ten times its size. It was here that the Renaissance was born, where Michelangelo carved his greatest works, where Botticelli painted light into mythology, and where the Medici banking family turned wealth into one of the most astonishing concentrations of art the world has ever seen.
For a first-time visitor, Florence can feel simultaneously thrilling and overwhelming. The streets are narrow, the history is layered, and the list of must-see attractions seems endless. But the city is also walkable, warm, and wonderfully human in scale. You do not need weeks to fall in love with it. A few well-planned days are enough to leave a permanent mark.
This guide covers the 11 best things to do in Florence, chosen specifically for first timers who want to make every hour count. Whether you have two days or five, this list gives you a clear, confident starting point.
1. Visit the Florence Cathedral and Climb Brunelleschi’s Dome
No experience in Florence matches the moment you turn a corner and find yourself face to face with the cathedral known as the Duomo. The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore dominates the skyline with its pink, white, and green marble facade and, above all, the extraordinary terracotta dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century. It remains one of the greatest feats of engineering in architectural history.
The Duomo complex includes the cathedral itself, Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower), the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Advance booking is strongly recommended for dome access, as the climb involves 463 steps and timed entry. The reward at the top is a panoramic view of Florence that is genuinely difficult to describe in words.
2. Experience Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia
If you visit one museum in Florence, make it the Galleria dell’Accademia. The reason is simple: it is home to Michelangelo’s David, the marble statue completed in 1504 that stands over five meters tall and remains one of the most recognized works of art in human history. Photographs cannot prepare you for the physical presence of the sculpture. Its scale, its detail, and the almost uncomfortable sense that it is alive are things that must be experienced in person.
Book tickets weeks in advance if you are traveling between April and October. Same-day tickets are rarely available, and the queue without a reservation can stretch for hours.
3. Explore the Uffizi Gallery
The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and most important art museums in the Western world. Built in the 16th century as office space for the Florentine magistrates under the Medici, it was later transformed into a world-class collection of Renaissance masterpieces. Inside you will find Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation, Raphael’s portraits, Caravaggio’s Medusa, and dozens of other works you have seen in textbooks your entire life.
Plan at least two to three hours inside. The museum is large, the collections are dense, and rushing through it does a disservice to both the art and yourself.
4. Walk Across Ponte Vecchio
Ponte Vecchio, which translates literally as “old bridge,” is one of the most photographed landmarks in Italy. It stretches across the narrowest point of the Arno River and is unique in Europe for the shops and houses built directly upon it. Today those shops are almost entirely occupied by jewelers and goldsmiths, a tradition that dates back to the 16th century when Ferdinand I de’ Medici ordered butchers and tanners off the bridge in favor of more refined trades.
Walk across it in the early morning when the crowds are thin, then photograph it from the riverbanks at sunset. The view of the bridge reflected in the Arno with the warm evening light is one of the defining images of a Florence visit.
5. Climb to Piazzae Michelangelo for the Best View of the City
For a panoramic view that gives you the full sweep of Florence, nothing beats Piazzale Michelangelo. Located on a hill south of the Arno in the Oltrarno district, this wide terrace looks out over the city’s red rooftops, the Duomo, the Arno, and the surrounding Tuscan hills. It is especially spectacular at sunset, when the light turns the stone buildings golden and the dome glows against the sky.
The walk up takes about 20 minutes from Ponte Vecchio. Alternatively, bus number 13 runs from the city center. Once there, linger at one of the outdoor cafes and take your time absorbing a view that most visitors remember for years.
6. Discover Piazza della Signoria and the Loggia dei Lanzi
Piazza della Signoria is the political and social heart of Florence. Dominated by the Palazzo Vecchio, a fortified medieval town hall still used as the city’s government building, the piazza is filled with remarkable public sculptures. At its entrance stands a replica of Michelangelo’s David alongside Baccio Bandinelli’s Hercules and Cacus.
Adjacent to the piazza is the Loggia dei Lanzi, an open-air sculpture gallery that is free to visit. Here you can stand a few feet from Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabine Women and Benvenuto Cellini’s Perseus with the Head of Medusa, both originals, unguarded by velvet ropes. It is a genuinely remarkable thing that some of the finest Renaissance sculpture in the world can be admired freely on a city sidewalk.
7. Wander Through the Oltrarno Neighborhood
Across the Arno from the tourist-dense historic center lies the Oltrarno, Florence’s most authentic and artisan-rich neighborhood. Here you will find traditional leather workshops, bookbinders, picture framers, and goldsmiths who have practiced their trades for generations. The streets are quieter, the restaurants more local, and the experience of the city more genuine.
Spend a morning walking through the Oltrarno, stopping into small workshops where craftspeople still work by hand. The neighborhood also contains the Palazzo Pitti, one of Florence’s grandest palaces, and leads directly to the Boboli Gardens.
8. Stroll the Boboli Gardens
Stretching behind the Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens are one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance garden design in existence. Laid out in the 16th century for the Medici family, the gardens cover nearly 45,000 square meters and rise up the hillside in formal terraces, grottos, fountains, and sculptures. The elevated pathways offer beautiful views of the city and the surrounding Tuscany countryside.
The gardens are a welcome break from indoor museums and crowded piazzas. A combined ticket that includes the Palazzo Pitti and several other nearby attractions makes this an economical choice as well.
9. Visit the Basilica di Santa Croce
The Basilica di Santa Croce is the largest Franciscan church in the world and one of the most significant religious buildings in all of Italy. What makes it especially compelling for visitors is its function as the burial place of some of the greatest minds in Italian history. Michelangelo is entombed here, as are Galileo Galilei, Niccolo Machiavelli, and composer Gioachino Rossini.
Beyond its role as a place of burial, Santa Croce is also beautiful in its own right, with frescoes by Giotto in the Peruzzi and Bardi Chapels and a serene cloister that offers a peaceful contrast to the busy streets outside.
10. Eat and Shop at Mercato Centrale
The Mercato Centrale in the San Lorenzo neighborhood is the beating culinary heart of Florence. The ground floor operates as a traditional covered market where local vendors sell fresh produce, meats, cheese, and fish. The upper floor has been transformed into a vibrant food hall with stalls offering everything from fresh pasta and Florentine tripe sandwiches to craft beer and artisan pastries.
For the most authentic street food experience, try a panino con lampredotto, a Florentine specialty made from slow-cooked cow’s stomach served in a soft roll. It sounds intimidating, but it is one of those dishes that locals take genuine pride in, and trying it is a meaningful way of engaging with the city’s food culture.
11. Take a Cooking Class or Food Tour
Florence is one of the best cities in Italy to learn to cook. Tuscan cuisine is built on simple, exceptional ingredients, and a hands-on cooking class teaches you not just recipes but philosophy. Most classes are held in private kitchens or culinary schools and cover dishes like fresh pasta, ribollita, and tiramisu. Many include a visit to a local market as part of the experience.
Alternatively, a guided food tour through the streets of the historic center introduces you to the best bakeries, wine bars, and hidden trattorias in the city. For first timers, a food tour is also an excellent way to understand the layout of Florence and get genuine local recommendations.
Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors to Florence
Book Major Attractions in Advance
The Uffizi, Accademia, and Duomo dome all require advance booking during peak season. Many visitors arrive and discover that tickets for their must-see attractions are sold out for days. Booking online several weeks in advance is not optional in spring and summer, it is essential.
Best Time to Visit Florence
Spring, specifically April through early June, and autumn from September through October offer the best combination of pleasant weather, manageable crowds, and full museum operating hours. Summer is hot, crowded, and expensive. Winter is quieter and more affordable, though some outdoor attractions lose some of their appeal in cold, grey weather.
Getting Around the City
Florence’s historic center is compact and best explored on foot. Most of the major attractions are within a 20-minute walk of each other. Taxis and buses are available for reaching hillside destinations like Piazzale Michelangelo or the nearby town of Fiesole, but within the center itself, walking is always the better choice.
Conclusion
Florence rewards the traveler who arrives with curiosity and leaves with humility. It is a city that has already given the world so much beauty that any first visit feels like a long overdue meeting with something you have always known from a distance. The Duomo, the David, the Uffizi, the Arno at dusk, the smell of fresh leather from an Oltrarno workshop, the first taste of a proper bistecca alla Fiorentina, these are not tourist experiences. They are encounters with things that matter.
Use this guide as your foundation. Let the city surprise you beyond it. Florence has a way of offering something unexpected around every corner, and that, more than any single landmark, is what brings people back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do I need in Florence?
Two to three days is enough to visit the main attractions comfortably. If you want to include day trips to Siena, Pisa, or the Tuscan countryside, plan for at least four to five days.
Is Florence expensive to visit?
Florence is moderately priced by Western European standards. Museum entry fees range from 12 to 25 euros, meals at local trattorias are affordable, and gelato is inexpensive. Accommodation in the historic center tends to be pricey, so booking early or staying just outside the center can save money.
Do I need to speak Italian in Florence?
No. Most people working in tourism, hotels, and restaurants in Florence speak English. Learning a few basic phrases such as greetings and thank you is always appreciated and adds warmth to interactions.
What is the best area to stay in Florence for first timers?
The Santa Croce and San Giovanni neighborhoods, both within the historic center, place you within walking distance of all the major attractions. The Oltrarno is a quieter alternative with a more local atmosphere and easy access to the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens.
Can I visit Florence on a day trip from Rome?
Yes. High-speed trains connect Rome and Florence in approximately 1.5 hours, making a day trip feasible. However, a day trip forces you to choose between the Uffizi and the Accademia rather than visiting both, and you will miss the city’s quieter, more personal side that reveals itself in the early morning and evening hours.