Deciding what to do in Florence can be overwhelming especially if you only have a few days to visit. There are so many amazing places to eat, to sleep, to see and to explore. Then there are food tours in Florence, the artisan markets, the shopping boulevards and gorgeous gardens. Long story short, enough for at least a year’s worth of travel.

But if you’re short on time or just want a little expert advice, this is our cherry picked guide on where to sleep, dine, shop and explore in Florence, Italy.

Where to stay in Florence:

Palazzo Belfiore

Once home to a 14-century noble family, Palazzo Belfiore is in the heart of Florence, near the Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery. These boutique apartments are decorated in a traditional Tuscan country style and nestled in between Palazzo Pitti and Santo Spirito. It’s quaint location is perfect for artisan souvenir seekers with plenty of great workshops, antique shops and local-loved eateries nearby.

Address: Via dei Velluti, 8, secondo piano, 13

Website: www.palazzobelfiore.it

Sopr’Arno Suites

Sopr’Arno Suites is a chic bed and breakfast with 13 individually-designed rooms tucked away in the centre of Florence's Oltrarno district. Oltrarno (or ‘over the Arno River’) is the city’s boho district known for its artists, gilders, framers, book binders, jewelers and upholsters, but also its quirky restaurants and buzzing bars. It’s also walking distance from Palazzo Pitti.

Soprarno is a ‘residenza d’Epoca’ (historic residence), but it has a retro design and affordable prices, making it a great one for single travelers or young couples who want to experience the city’s night life.

Address: Via Maggio, 35

Website: www.soprarnosuites.com

Villa Landucci

If you’re wanted to really experience Florence like a local away from the crowds and in a more humble home-like bed & breakfast, Villa Landucci might just be the answer. Located in one of the most Florentine quarters of the city tourists tend to overlook, this gem is also great for foodies. Considered a “gourmet B&B”, Villa Landucci does a most incredible breakfast with organic, locally sourced ingredients and a Tuscan charcuterie and cheese buffet. They also offer cooking classes, wine tastings, tours and winery visits.

Address: Via Luca Landucci, 7

Website: www.villalanducci.it

Best coffee in Florence

Ditta Artigianale

Owned by three-time Italian Barista Champion Francesco Sanapo, Ditta Artigianale combines the traditional espresso Italiano with a third-wave approach to specialty coffee roasting and brewing.

With industrial decor and laid-back vibe, Ditta is the place for a flat white, cold-brew tonic or cappuccino made with almond milk. It also has a simple menu of breakfast cafe classics and serves cocktails from top notch bartenders in the city.

Address: Via dei Neri, 30/32 R

Website: www.dittaartigianale.it

Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-8:30pm; Weekends: 8am-9pm

flat white al vetro at Piansa in Via Gioberti (photo by Coral Sisk)

Caffe Piansa

Opened in 1976, Piansa started life as a small family-owned coffee shop that roasts and grinds its own green beans from around the world. The production process was artisan and hands-on, the beans being roasted in batches of no more than 60 kilos at a time in old-fashioned rattling metal drums. Now available around the globe, Piansa has two locations in Florence, where you can taste fuss-free cappuccino, a rich ristretto or mellifluous macchiato made exactly the way it should be.

Address: Via Vincenzo Gioberti, 51/r

Website: www.caffepiansa.com

Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 7am- 7:30pm; Saturday: 7:30am-7:30pm

Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro is another small coffee shop that started life as a torrefazione (coffee roaster). The little butter cookies they serve alongside each coffee are a reason to visit this place alone, but you’re first and foremost here for the perfect house blend espresso. The morning pastries are also great, as is the aperitivo hour where you can get a spritz or glass of wine and enjoy the finger snack buffet for less than 10 euro.

Address: Via del Corso, 36, R

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday: 7:30am-9:30pm; Sunday: 8am-9:30pm

Learn more about Italian coffee traditions on our Gourmet Food Lover’s Tour and bookmark this guide for more intel on coffee bars and the best espresso in Florence

Where to get a cocktail in Florence

Aperitivo hour is a Florentine institution and the perfect excuse to try the city’s favorite drink, the Negroni. If you love this deliciously citrus cocktail as much as we do, take our Aperitivo Tour in Florence or check out more picks to the best places in the city.

Caffe Gilli

We can’t go ignore Gilli. Yes, you will see tourists at this iconic bar in Piazza della Repubblica, but you’ll also see plenty of sophisticated locals enjoy a perfectly made Negroni at the end of a work day or before dinner hours. After all, the bar is managed by barman Luca Picchi who has literally written a book on the subject and is one of the most classic caffes crucial to Florence’s historic culinary fabric.

Address: Via Roma, 1/R

Website: caffegilli.com

Opening hours: Every day 7:30am till midnight

Manifattura

Manifattura is another of our top picks. This retro ‘50s Italian bar is operated by Florentine cocktail legend Fabiano Buffolini. Manifattura is a homage and a reminder of Italy’s legacy with alcoholic goods and everything you sip will be from made-in Italy boozy stunners

Address: Piazza di S. Pancrazio, 1

Website: www.facebook.com/Manifattura

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 6pm-1am

Empireo rooftop bar at Hotel Plaza Lucchesi

Aside from the incredible views, From here you can catch the Duomo, Fiorentina's home stadium Artemio Franchi, the Arno River and all the way to the Tuscany Hills, the cocktails are good too. For a treat (and a few extra euros), you can enjoy drink and a buffet of finger food Tuscan-inspired delicacies.

Address: Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia, 38

Website: www.hotelplazalucchesi.it/en/empireo-rooftop-view-american-bar-and-pool.php

Opening hours: Every day: 7:30pm-12am

best meats and cheeses at Le Volpe e L’Uva

Le Volpi e L'Uva

When it comes to wine tasting or something a little more sofisticato (sophisticated), you can’t beat Volpi e L'Uva. Opened in 1992, it was a means of connecting locals with small wine producers. Their selection of wines by the glass is constantly changing, depending on what's new and available, but there’s an emphasis on native grapes, organic and biodynamic agriculture. Their food pairings are equally curated with a number of cheeses, cured meats, and breads from small, specialty purveyors.

Address: Piazza dei Rossi, 1R

Website: www.levolpieluva.com

Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 11am-9pm

Enoteca Bellini

Enoteca Bellini is another great choice if you’re keen to taste some of Italy’s best wines. This small wine bar is the sort of place where you feel like family. The tasty meat and cheese plates, a warm cheese crostini, and of course something bubbly from the Champagne fridge are all most welcome, but the anchovy toasts are some of the best in the city.

Address: Via della Spada, 52

Website: www.facebook.com/enotecabellini

Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 12:30pm-10pm; Sunday: 5pm-9pm

Angel Rooftop Bar

While if you’re looking for an incredible view to enjoy alongside that cocktail, head to Angel Rooftop Bar in the Calimala Hotel, which has signature cocktails, finger food and DJ sets on Friday and Saturday nights. You could also try the Continentale, a romantic 4 stars design hotel with views of the Arno.

Address: Via Calimala, 2

Website: www.hotelcalimala.com/angel-roofbar-dining

Opening hours: Every day: 7am-midnight

Best bakeries in Florence

Go behind the scenes to meet some of our favorite bakers on our Gourmet Market Tour in Florence!

Pasticceria Nencioni

The place to try Florentine classics like puff pastry sfoglia and budino di riso (rice pudding in shortbread crust). Wafts of buttery pastry welcome you as you entire this Florentine icon which has been baking and pulling espresso for several decades. The ambience is classic with plenty of locals coming and going for this morning caffe.

Address: Via Pietrapiana, 24/r,

Website: www.pasticcerianencioni.com

Opening Hours: Every day: 7:30am-8pm (7pm on Sunday)

Forno Pintucci

This artisanal bakery makes handmade sweet and savory products, flatbreads with a plethora of topping options, focaccia, taralli, breadsticks and all kinds of regional and seasonal breads. If you’re lucky enough to visit in August/September, you can also try the incredible schiacciata con l'uva (a sweet Tuscan focaccia topped with wine grapes)

Address: Via delle Caldaie, 12

Website: www.fornopintucci.it

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 7:30am–1:30pm, 4–7:30pm; Sunday: 7:30am-1:30pm

S.forno

Set up closer to our idea of a modern cafe rather than a traditional Italian bakery, s.forno is one of the few remaining fornos in Florence with an original oven on site, as opposed to baking outside the city centre and bringing in produce. It has daily specials, as well as seasonal favorite schiacciata de uva, sourdough bread, baguettes and Florentine schiacciata (flatbread). Fresh panini are made to order from the salami counter lined with meats to fill your panino.

Address: Via Santa Monaca, 3r

Website: www.ilsantobevitore.com

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 7:30am-7:30pm; Weekends: 8am-7:30pm

Cultural Must-Sees in Florence

For Medici lovers

Medici lovers can’t go past the San Lorenzo Church (Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9, Monday-Saturday: 10am-5pm; €14). one of the oldest churches in Florence, the façade-less church is the resting place of the Medici. Inside, the the highlight is the crypt, where you can see the tombs of two men who changed the course of history: Cosimo the Elder, the first member of the Medici dynasty, and Donatello, the illustrious sculptor. Next door, the Medici Chapels act as the family mausoleum.

Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Via Camillo Cavour, 3; Thursday-Tuesday: 8:30am-7pm; €7) is not only the first Medici palace, the home of Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent, but is also home to a gallery of art from the men who worked there - Donatello, Michelangelo, Paolo Uccello and Botticelli. Don’t miss the Magi Chapel inside, which is almost entirely covered by a famous cycle of frescoes by the Renaissance master Benozzo Gozzoli,

If you still haven’t got your Medici fix, you can’t miss the usual suspects, the Accademia and Uffizi. Check out our guide to visiting and eating around these iconic museums.

Enjoy the lush gardens in Florence

While if you feel like something outdoors, hit up the Medici’s favorite personal giardini (gardens), Boboli (Piazza de' Pitti, 1; Every day: 8:15am-6:30pm; €6). Directly behind Pitti Palace, these Italian gardens influenced the tone for many European courts and is populated by ancient and Renaissance statues.

While not as famous as Boboli, the Torrigiani garden (Via dei Serragli, 144; guided tours upon request) is nearly 17 acres hidden in the heart of Florence, making it the largest privately owned garden in Europe situated within city boundaries. Designed in the 16th century, it’s an English style garden with a neo-gothic tower that housed a collection of astronomical instruments.

Finally there’s Giardino dell'Iris (Viale Michelangiolo, 82; Weekdays: 3pm-7:30pm, Weekends: 10am-7:30pm), a garden specializing in the cultivation of iris flowers, symbol of Florence since 1251. It is located on the corner of Viale dei Colli and Piazzale Michelangelo. The Giardino delle Rose (Viale Giuseppe Poggi, 2; Every day: 9am-5pm ) in the Oltrarno district is similar, but it’s free and has an incredible collection of roses, as well as sweeping views of the city.

If you’re near the Iris garden, a great spot to enjoy breathtaking views of Florence for free is San Miniato al Monte, a basilica that stands atop one of the highest points in the city.

Where to Eat Traditional Tuscan Cuisine

To eat around town at our favorite restaurants in Florence, sign-up for our Progressive Dining Crawl and bookmark this link to a curated guide to the best budget eats in Florence

Da Nerbone

Taste the hallmarks of Tuscan cookery at this historic stand inside the San Lorenzo Market. Every day, they serve up huge portions of lampredotto (tripe sandwich with spicy salsa verde), panini con bollito (a hefty boiled-beef bun, dunked in the meat's juices before serving) or a bowl of ribollita (vegetable soup) to hungry workers, curious visitors and students. Eat standing up or fight for a table.

Address: Piazza del Mercato Centrale

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 8am-3pm

Trattoria da Rocco inside Sant'Ambrogio Market

A noisy, bustling trattoria in the middle of Sant'Ambrogio Market, this is the place to go for simple seasonal plates of Tuscan cuisine in a casual setting. Choose from meat dishes like rustic meatballs swimming in red sauce or vegetarian options like classic pasta e fagioli (pasta and beans) and pappa al pomodoro (tomato/bread stew) with plenty of pastas and sides. Get comfy in one of the little dining booths and be prepared for a full-immersive cultural experience

After eating your fill, don’t forget to peruse each market to experience a slice of local life and seasonal bounty!

Address: Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti

Website: www.trattoriadaroccodimanginogiampaoloec.it

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11am-2:30pm

Independent Artisans & Shops in Florence

Il Torchio

Shop local artisans to get your hands on Florence's legendary crafts. One of our favorite spots is Il Torchio, a traditional bottega (workshop) where you can pick up beautiful handmade paper, hand-bound leather notebooks and more.

Address: Via de' Bardi, 17

Website: www.legatoriailtorchio.com

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 10am–1:30pm, 2:30–7pm; Saturday: 10am-1pm

Giulio Gianni e Figlio

Another great bookbinder and paper maker is Gianni e Figlio smack dab in the same square as the Pitti Palace. Founded in 1856, the 6th generation family-owned workshop is known globally for its handmade, traditional Florentine marbled paper.

Address: Piazza de' Pitti, 37

Website: www.giuliogiannini.it

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10am-7pm; Sunday: 11am-6:30pm

Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Head to Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella for old school perfumes and ancient apothecary. This Florentine apothecary is the world’s oldest pharmacy. Dominican monks began concocting herbal remedies here in the 9th century, in the time of Giotto and Dante. Today, it makes award-winning, botanically inspired beauty products like special skincare, perfumes, soaps, body care. The pharmacy is famous for Acqua di S.M.Novella - the citrus and bergamot perfume Caterina de’ Medici commissioned the Dominican monks to create in 1533, so she could wear it at her wedding to Enrico di Valois in France. The apothecary is also known for the bright ruby liquor alchermes, which comes from the Arabic qìrmiz, which means ‘of scarlet color’. The recipe dates back to 1743 and its warm, spicy taste pops up in many Italian desserts, including the famous cookies, Pesche all'Alchermes. Both are still available for purchase today!

Address: Via della Scala, 16

Website: www.smnovella.com

Opening Hours: Every day: 9am-8pm

Officine Nora

While if you’re seeking something a little more contemporary, check out Officine Nora. Not only can you buy bespoke pieces from jewelry makers hailing from all over the globe, you can also sign up for one of their workshops and make your own treasures in a fully equipped workshop surrounded by expert goldsmiths.

Address: Via dei Preti, 4

Website: www.officinenora.it

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday: 2:30pm-7:30pm; Weekends: 11am-6pm

Curious for full-immersion experiences in Florence led by an expert local guide? Join one of our tours or cooking lessons! Want something bespoke? Contact us for a custom themed culinary walk!

What to do in Florence: eats, drinks, sights and more