Florence Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to See and How to Get Around
Florence travel guide: Duomo passes, Uffizi tickets, best areas to stay, Oltrarno, Siena and Pisa day trips, and 2026 prices.
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Florence is the capital of the Renaissance packed into a centre you can cross on foot in about 30 minutes. Two to three days covers the Duomo complex, the Uffizi, Michelangelo’s David, Ponte Vecchio and the Oltrarno quarter, plus Piazzale Michelangelo. Book timed tickets for the big museums before you fly, base yourself where you can walk, and do not drive into the centre.
How many days do you need in Florence?
Two full days is enough for the essentials. Spend day one on the Duomo complex and the Uffizi, with an evening walk over Ponte Vecchio. Give day two to the Accademia and David, then Oltrarno and Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset.
A third day is worth having. Options include the Bargello sculpture museum, San Lorenzo market and the Medici chapels, or a day trip to Siena or Pisa. Florence also pairs naturally with Rome on one trip, so check our Italy itineraries if you are joining it to a longer route.
One day covers highlights only: the Duomo plus one museum.
Where should you stay in Florence?
Stay where you can walk. The historic centre sits inside a limited traffic zone and most sights cluster within about 1 km of the Duomo, so your address decides how much of each day you spend on foot versus in transit.
| Area | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Centro (Duomo, San Giovanni) | Walking everywhere, first visits | Highest prices; noisy on some streets at night |
| Oltrarno (Santo Spirito, San Frediano) | Evenings, trattorias, artisan workshops | Across the river; 15 to 20 minutes on foot to the Duomo |
| Santa Maria Novella | Station access, early trains | Busier streets; quieter evenings |
For a first visit, the Centro is the best compromise. From the Duomo you can walk to the Uffizi or Ponte Vecchio in about ten minutes. Rooms here run roughly €120 to €260 a night for a mid-range double in 2026, with spring and autumn at the top of that range.
Oltrarno suits travellers who plan their trip around evenings, with artisan workshops, wine bars and well-loved trattorias across the river. The trade is distance: 15 to 20 minutes on foot each way to the main museums. Santa Maria Novella suits short stays and early departures, with the station close by. Browse our Italy guides when you set Florence beside other stops.
How do you visit the Duomo complex?
Buy one pass for the whole complex and start with the dome if you plan to climb it. The cathedral, Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery, the museum and Santa Reparata run on one ticketing system, and only the cathedral nave itself is free.
The Brunelleschi Pass costs €30 (about $35 / £26) full price or €12 (about $14 / £10) for ages 7 to 14, and it covers every monument with one ticket valid for 3 calendar days from the selected dome date (official prices). The dome climb is the fixed part: you pick a date and time slot and climb 463 steps between the dome’s inner and outer shells with no lift. The climb is not advised for anyone with heart or breathing problems, vertigo or claustrophobia, and under-18s need an adult with them.
Giotto’s Campanile, the marble bell tower beside the cathedral, seen from above.
If you will skip the dome, buy the Giotto Pass at €20 (about $23 / £17) instead. It covers the bell tower, Baptistery, museum and Santa Reparata, everything except the dome climb. The Ghiberti Pass at €15 (about $18 / £13) covers the museum, Baptistery and Santa Reparata only. The bell tower is 414 steps with wide views back at the dome from each level, which some visitors rate above the dome climb because the dome stays in the photo (Florence complete guide).
Dome slots sell out days ahead in spring and autumn, so book online before you travel. The cathedral nave stays free with no booking, which makes it the sight to pair with a Monday, when the Uffizi is closed.
How do you get into the Uffizi without the long queue?
Book a timed slot online and go early or late. The Uffizi holds the Birth of Venus, the Primavera, and works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Titian and Caravaggio.
Standard tickets cost €25 (about $29 / £21) bought on the day or €29 (about $34 / £25) booked ahead, and the extra €4 is what guarantees your entry time (official fares). Since 1 January 2026 there is also an afternoon ticket at €16 (about $19 / £14), or €20 (about $23 / £17) booked ahead, for entry from 4pm. The gallery closes on Mondays, so put the Uffizi on any other day and keep Monday for the Duomo complex or Palazzo Vecchio.
The gilded ceiling inside the Uffizi, home to Botticelli, Michelangelo and Raphael.
Book the first or last slot of the day. Midday from 10am to 3pm is the busiest stretch, and the top-floor route takes two to three hours at a steady pace. Large bags go to the cloakroom, and the rooftop cafe over the Arno is worth the stop. Under-18s enter state museums free.
Is Michelangelo’s David worth the separate ticket?
Yes, but treat the Accademia as a short visit rather than a half day. The David, carved between 1501 and 1504, stands over 5 metres tall in its own tribune, plus more Michelangelo sculptures, early paintings and historic instruments around it. Most visitors need 60 to 90 minutes inside.
The regular ticket costs €20 (about $23 / £17) in 2026 (official tickets), with opening from 8:15am to 6:50pm and last entry 30 minutes before closing. Without a booking the wait can run long, so reserve a morning slot online.
Go at opening if you can. The tribune fills by late morning, while at 8:15am you can stand in front of the statue almost alone. Pair it with the San Lorenzo market afterwards.
What should you see south of the river?
Cross Ponte Vecchio and slow down. The bridge, lined with jewellers’ shops, is the only historic Arno crossing to survive the Second World War intact, and it is free to walk at any hour. Go before 9am or after 9pm, since midday it shuffles rather than flows.
Treat Oltrarno as one half-day block. Start at the Pitti Palace, the Medici court with Raphael and Titian canvases in the Palatine Gallery, then walk up into the Boboli Gardens behind it. Garden entry runs about €10 (about $12 / £9) at the gate or €13 (about $15 / £11) booked online in 2026, and the gardens close on the first and last Monday of each month, a different rhythm from the Uffizi’s every-Monday closure (2026 planning figures). Santo Spirito square below holds the evening bar scene, and San Frediano lanes hold the artisan workshops Florence is known for: leather, marbled paper and bookbinding.
The Duomo over the rooftops at dusk, from the hill above Oltrarno.
Finish the day at Piazzale Michelangelo, the terrace above Oltrarno with the full skyline view over the dome, the tower and the river. It is free and needs no ticket. An hour before sunset gives you the light with fewer people than sunset itself. Walk up through San Niccolo in about 30 minutes from Ponte Vecchio, or take the bus up and walk down.
Find experiences for your Florence trip
If you book through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.How much do the main sights cost in 2026?
| Attraction | Entry fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brunelleschi Pass (Duomo complex) | €30 (about $35 / £26) | 3 calendar days; dome slot fixed at booking |
| Giotto Pass (no dome) | €20 (about $23 / £17) | Bell tower, Baptistery, museum, Santa Reparata |
| Uffizi Gallery | €25 day / €29 advance (about $29 / £21 and $34 / £25) | Closed Mondays; €16 afternoon entry from 4pm |
| Accademia (David) | €20 (about $23 / £17) | 8:15am to 6:50pm; book a morning slot |
| Boboli Gardens | About €10 gate / €13 online | Closed first and last Monday of the month |
| Palazzo Vecchio | From €15 (about $18 / £13) | Daily 9am to 7pm; tower combo about €17 to €22 (2026 figures) |
The Firenze Card usually lists around €85 to €95 (about $100 to $111 / £72 to £81) for 72 hours of museum entries, which pays off only on museum-heavy trips of four or more paid sights in two to three days (2026 planning figures).
Add €1.50 to €2 for a standing espresso, €12 to €18 for a trattoria pasta main, and €3 to €4 for a gelato cone. A mid-range day with one paid sight and dinner out lands near €120 to €170 per person (about $140 to $199 / £102 to £145). Our Italy budget breakdown puts Florence beside Rome and Venice for comparison.
Should you take a day trip to Siena or Pisa?
Yes if you have a third day, and pick by how much time you can spare. Both run by regional train from Santa Maria Novella with no booking needed, which keeps the plan flexible to the evening before.
Siena is the full-day trip. Regional trains take about 90 minutes each way with one-way tickets around €9 to €14 (about $10 to $16 / £8 to £12), and the medieval centre, the shell-shaped Campo and the striped cathedral repay a whole day. Count on eight hours door to door (2026 planning figures). Pisa is the half-day trip at about 50 minutes each way from around €9 (about $10 / £8) one way, enough for the tower, cathedral and a riverside walk in four to five hours round trip.
Check return times before you leave Siena, since evening services thin out early.
Should you drive in Florence?
No. The historic centre is a limited traffic zone, a ZTL, and it catches visitors because there is no barrier, only a sign and a camera. The daytime zone covers the centre and parts of Oltrarno, active on weekdays from 7:30am to 8pm and on Saturdays to 4pm, with extra night hours on summer weekends (driving and ZTL guide). Cameras photograph every plate at each entrance, and hire-car fines follow you home through the rental firm months later.
The rules that matter: do not enter on red, do not trust a satnav without its ZTL warnings on, and do not assume Sunday means every street is open. If your hotel sits inside the zone, send it your exact plate before you arrive so it can register you on the temporary white list. If you need a car for Chianti or the Val d’Orcia, collect it on the way out of Florence rather than on arrival. Our Italy tips cover arrival mistakes like this in more depth.
How do you get around Florence?
Walk first and ride second. Santa Maria Novella station to the Uffizi takes about 15 minutes on foot, and the Duomo to Piazzale Michelangelo about 30 minutes uphill.
- On foot: fastest across the centre; the north bank is mostly flat.
- Tram and bus: for the station, the outskirts and hill routes; buy tickets before boarding and validate on board.
- Taxi: honest when metered; best late at night or with luggage.
When is the best time to visit Florence?
April to June and September to October bring the best balance. Days sit in the high teens to mid 20s Celsius and every site runs full hours. These are also the busiest months, so book the dome, Uffizi and Accademia as soon as your dates are fixed.
July and August turn hot, often past 35C, and the stone lanes hold the heat into the evening. Sightsee before 11am and after 4pm and carry water. November to March is the quiet alternative: short queues and the lowest room rates of the year, against shorter daylight and occasional heavy rain.
What should you eat in Florence?
Eat Tuscan and keep it simple. Ribollita stew or pappa al pomodoro to start, wild boar ragu pasta or the bistecca alla fiorentina steak for two after, cantucci biscuits and Vin Santo to finish. Mercato Centrale near San Lorenzo works for lunch grazing, and the Sant’Ambrogio market suits a quieter morning. For more on regional cooking, see our Italian food guide.
A small per-person cover charge, the coperto, appears as its own line on sit-down bills and it is normal, not a scam. Restaurants with a tout outside and photo boards by the door charge double for half the quality, especially near the Duomo and the station.
Florence works best when you stop crossing it. One Duomo morning, one museum morning, and unhurried evenings south of the river will show you more than any checklist sprint. For what comes next, our city guides and Italy hub cover the rest of the country in the same format.
At a glance
Florence Cathedral
Gothic cathedral in central Florence crowned by Brunelleschi's dome, visited with the Baptistery, bell tower and museum on combined passes.
- Address
- Florence, IT
Florence Cathedral
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Italy at a glance
Best time to visit
April to June, September to October
- January: cool, some showers
- February: mild, some showers
- March: mild, some showers
- April: mild, some showers
- May: warm, some showers
- June: warm, some showers
- July: hot, mostly dry
- August: hot, some showers
- September: warm, rainy
- October: warm, rainy
- November: mild, rainy
- December: cool, rainy
Mostly dry Some showers Rainy
- Capital
- Rome
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Italian
- Time zone
- CET, UTC+1
- Plugs
- Type C / F / L, 230 V
- Driving
- On the right
Emergency112
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Florence?
Two full days covers the Duomo complex, the Uffizi, the Accademia with Michelangelo's David, Ponte Vecchio and Piazzale Michelangelo at a normal pace. Add a third day for the Oltrarno quarter, the Pitti Palace or a day trip to Siena or Pisa. One day works for highlights only if Florence is one stop on a wider Italy trip.
Where should I stay in Florence for the first time?
The historic Centro around the Duomo suits most first visits because you can walk to almost everything. Oltrarno suits evenings in trattorias and artisan streets across the river. Santa Maria Novella suits short stays with early trains, since the station is a short walk from the centre.
Which Duomo ticket should I buy in 2026?
Buy the €30 Brunelleschi Pass if you want to climb the dome: it covers the dome (463 steps, no lift), Giotto's bell tower, the Baptistery, the museum and Santa Reparata, valid for 3 calendar days. If you will skip the dome, the €20 Giotto Pass covers everything except the dome climb. The cathedral nave itself is free with no booking.
Do I need to book the Uffizi in advance?
Yes. Standard tickets cost €25 bought on the day or €29 booked ahead, and the €4 difference buys a timed slot that skips the walk-up queue. From 1 January 2026 there is also an afternoon ticket at €16 (€20 booked ahead) for entry from 4pm. The gallery closes on Mondays, so plan around that.
Can I drive in the centre of Florence?
Practically no. The historic centre is a limited traffic zone (ZTL) covering the centre and parts of Oltrarno, active on weekdays from 7:30am to 8pm and on Saturdays to 4pm, with extra night hours in summer. Cameras photograph every plate and fines follow hire cars home months later. Walk, use the tram and buses, or park outside the zone.
Is Siena or Pisa the better day trip from Florence?
Siena rewards a full day: about 90 minutes each way by regional train with one-way tickets around €9 to €14, and a medieval centre worth the hours. Pisa is the quicker half-day option at about 50 minutes each way from around €9 one way, enough for the tower, cathedral and a riverside walk. Pick Siena if you have the day, Pisa if you have the morning.
Useful links (6)
- Uffizi Galleries official ticket fares— uffizi.it
- Duomo Florence official ticket prices— tickets.duomo.firenze.it
- Galleria dell'Accademia official tickets— galleriaaccademiafirenze.it
- Florence travel guides hub 2026, Euro Landmarks— eurolandmarks.com
- Driving in Florence and the ZTL zone, VisitFlorence— visitflorence.com
- Florence complete travel guide 2026, Through Eternity— througheternity.com
Photo credits
Thank you to Petar Milošević, Thermos, Diego Delso and Dllu for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.
Editorial byline
Olivia Parker Italy and Spain editor
Olivia covers Italy and Spain for Epic Trip Ideas: art cities, coastal towns, itineraries, local food and markets, and what a trip really costs. Olivia Parker is a pen name the Epic Trip Ideas editors use for Italy and Spain; every guide is checked against official sources before it goes live.
