Our 5 favorite things to do in Florence
Over the past 20 years in business, we have visited Florence many times, but we always discover something new each time. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Florence that will get you beyond the usual museums, Accademia, and the Duomo area.
Visit the city's artist quarters.
The artists' quarters in Florence — such as the Oltrarno district— gives a glimpse into a more authentic side of the Renaissance city. The area's cobblestone streets are lined with artisan workshops, where goldsmiths, bookbinders, woodworkers and leather artisans still craft by hand using techniques handed down through centuries. It's a sort of living museum — you can watch art being made right in front of you.
Explore the Vasari Corridor
Recall the Medici era walking the Vasari Corridor, a private passageway constructed to allow rulers movement unobstructed by the public. Elevated above the streets and the Arno River, this hidden corridor connects Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, via the Uffizi Gallery and Ponte Vecchio among other places. You can catch glimpses of Florentine life through small windows once used by Medici to observe their city unseen—a backstage pass to experiencing Florence like its one-time rulers.
Enjoy a coffee or cocktail at Cafe Gilli
Established in 1733, Gilli is the city's oldest café, nestled in the heart of Piazza della Repubblica. Inside, you'll find Murano crystal chandeliers, wood-paneled walls, and intricate frescoes. But best to pick an outdoor table for a front-row view of Florentine life. It's definitely not off the beaten track, but the café's location makes it a fun way to enjoy the city's rhythm.
Visit the Church of Santa Croce
The Church of Santa Croce in Florence is the largest Franciscan church in the world and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Santa Croce pays tribute to Italy's artistic, scientific, and political history – it's the burial site of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Niccolò Machiavelli and Gioachino Rossini, and includes a memorial to Dante Alighieri.
Escape to Fiesole
Fiesole, in the hills above Florence, can be a peaceful escape from the city, with sweeping views of the Arno Valley and the red rooftops of Florence below. The town blends Etruscan, Roman and Renaissance history. And a short uphill walk reveals a panoramic Tuscan vista from the Monastery of San Francesco.
Visit Florence's historical orphanage
Ospedale degli Innocenti, Europe's first institution dedicated to the care of abandoned children, blends Renaissance art and architecture with social history. Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century, the building now reveals centuries of Florence's compassion through touching artifacts such as the tokens mothers left with their children. Ospedale degli Innocenti also houses a gallery, with many works donated to support its charitable mission. The visit offers a moving reflection on childhood, charity, and the city's compassionate spirit during the Renaissance.