View from Piazzale Michelangelo Florence Italy things to do two day itinerary
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55 Things to Do in Florence Italy, Bucket List Experiences

Sherianne Higgins·
Italy
·5 mins read
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Top Things to Do in Florence Italy

If you are planning a trip to Florence Italy and looking for the best things to do, see and eat while visiting, you are in the right place. Florence has it all. Cobblestone streets, shutters adorn worn buildings, insanely beautiful doors, frescoes galore, the Duomo, beautiful gardens, old city walls, Chianti wine, leather markets, famous public art, and, of course, David. Browse the list of must-see attractions, off-the-beaten-path experiences, outdoor activities, and museums to create your personal Florence Italy bucket list. Then, plan the itinerary for your Florence Italy trip with these top things to do, see, and eat. Enjoy your time out of the office!

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Santa Maria del Fiore Florence Italy things to do
Santa Maria del Fiore

Things to Do in and Around Florence Italy

Visit San Miniato al Monte for panoramic views

View the frescoes of San Miniato al Monte

Grab a bottle of wine and watch the sunset over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo

Take a photo with the bronze statue of David guarding the city at Piazzale Michelangelo

Climb San Niccolo tower for views

Stop in Caffe Cibreo for an espresso

Head to the neighborhood of Santa Croce for an authentic Italian meal

Visit La Basilica di Santa Croce to see the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo

Enjoy aperitivo (happy hour)

Shop the famous San Lorenzo leather markets

Explore the old city walls and Porta San Giorgio gate

Ponte Vecchio Bridge Florence Italy travel guide
Ponte Vecchio Bridge

Explore the English garden at Boboli Garden

Walk through the history of Italian fashion at the Pitti Palace Costume Gallery

Check out Grotto di Buontalenti

Grab a slice and read the pizza love letters at Gusta Pizza

Window shop along Via Maggio

Hang out in the Bohemian Piazza Santo Spirito

See the wooden cross made by Michelangelo at Santo Spirito Church

Stroll the Oltrarno artist neighborhood and wander the workshops

Shop for jewelry along the Ponte Vecchio

Photograph the Ponte Vecchio at sunset

Grab a gelato and take a walk along the Arno River and watch street performers

Eat Italian chocolate and drink cappuccino

Uffizi Gallery Florence Italy things to do
Uffizi Gallery

Walk along the Vasari Corridor

View the Birth of Venus painting at the Uffizi

Get your science fix at the Galileo Museum

See Michelangelo’s David at the Academia Gallery

Explore Loggia del Lanzi open-air museum

Check out the frescoes at San Marco Museum

Explore Florence’s ornate door knockers

Eat a famous Bistecca ala Florentina (steak)

Climb the Arnolfo Tower for views of both the Duomo and Giotto’s Tower

Tour the Palazzo Vecchio (old town hall) secret passages

Refill your water bottle at the Fountain of Neptune

Visit the site of the Bonfire of the vanities at Piazza Della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria Florence Italy must see
Piazza della Signoria

Rub the nose of the bull at Piazza del Mercato Nuovo to ensure a return trip to Florence

See the Columna de la Justicia al Fondo de la via Delle Terme

Do some high-end shopping in Piazza Santa Trinita

Wander the designer shops on Via Tornabuoni

Tour Corsi Palace

Take a cooking class

Check out the Carousel Antica Giostra Toscana

Stop at Piazza della Republica for a cocktail or relax at a café

Explore the ornate Basilica di Santa Maria Novella

Have lunch at Mercato Centrale

Explore the Laurentian Library designed by Michelangelo

Stop in Grande Museo del Duomo to see Giberti’s original Gates to Paradise doors

Tour the Duomo’s terraces

Climb the 500 steps to the top of the Duomo for amazing city views

Climb 414 stairs of the Giotto’s Bell Tower for an up-close view of the Duomo

Stop at the Biblioteca delle Obiata (library) for rooftop city views and the Duomo

View Donatello’s sculptures at the Bargello National Museum

Sample the cheese and meat at the Sant’Ambrogio Market

Take a drive through the Chianti and stop for some famous Italian red wine

Be sure to spend a day in Pisa Italy while in the area

Be sure to check the Florence Italy Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

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16 Responses

  1. This brought back great memories of my trip to Firenze ten years ago. I bought the most beautiful pair of earrings on the bridge and lost one last year, still bummed about that.

  2. This is a fabulous list of things to do! I’ve been to Florence a couple of times and it seems like there’s always something I missed! I would definitely want to climb Giotto’s Bell Tower the next time so I can see the Duomo from a different angle.

  3. I spent maybe 18 hours in Florence. Definitely not enough and I’d love to go back. So many amazing things on this list and you’ve captured some great photos of the city. Top of my revisit list would be to climb the steps to the top of the Duomo and maybe go on a drive through Chianti. I love me some red wine.

  4. Florence is such a beautiful city! I wish we had more than a day to spend there when we visited. There are so many great things to see and your post really makes me want to go back again. I’d love to see Michelangelo’s David, climb the Duomo, tour the Palazzo Vecchio secret passages, and take a cooking class the most, but all of your ideas sound like a lot of fun. We need to get back there for sure!

    1. I was there 2 days the first time and 5 this time. And, I did a pasta and a pizza class, both were great!

  5. Fabulous list of recommendations! When I visited Florence last, I didn’t accomplish half of what you have listed here. This all makes me want to return and use this post as a checklist 🙂

  6. Fantastic list! I would love to go back to Florence and tick some of these of the list. The last time I was there is was 40 degrees and super busy so unfortunately we spent most of the time at the pool!

  7. Lots of great ideas here, I don’t have any context at all about Florence so many of these things I do not know. Looks like I’ll need to visit that Florence tourism office to get that map and probably research in advance! Looks like Michaelangelos’s David visit, pizza and wine would be the top of my list. thanks for the tips!

  8. So many great ideas here! I spent five days in Florence and didn’t really do anything besides wander around the streets and up to Piazzale Michelangelo. By the end of it I was kind of wondering what all the fuss was about. Now I feel like I missed out on something (granted, I was super broke at the time and anything with admission fees was a no-go, but still).

    1. There’s still quite a bit you can do without admission fees. You really must go back when you can shop the leather market!

  9. This is such a comprehensive list – have you been able to do all of these? I’ve been wanting to visit Florence for quite a while and this list has made me even more interesting. Plus, you had me at Chianti wine and leather markets at the very beginning of your post – sign me up! Are the prices pretty reasonable on leather there?

    1. I did everything I was interested in. I skipped things like the tombs and the science museum. Leather is VERY reasonable in the market, but you must negotiate.

  10. Wow I had no idea there was so much to see and do in Florence! When I was there I didn’t do half the things you listed. I loved walking on the Ponte Vecchio and looking at all the jewelry and of course I ate pizza and gelato everyday. They have such amazing shopping so I spent a lot of my time doing that there. I didn’t climb up the Duomo but I loved looking at it, it has such a unique look almost as if it’s fake! Next time I visit I will make sure to use your list and do everything on it!

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