15 Best Things to Do in Florence for First-Timers

Florence is one of those cities that has a way of completely overwhelming you in the best possible way. It’s the birthplace of the Renaissance, and you can feel that history everywhere you look! There’s so much to see, so much to eat, and so much packed into every single street that knowing where to start can feel impossible.

But don’t worry, I’m here to help! This guide focuses on the best things to do in Florence for first-timers, so you can make the most of your trip without spending half of it figuring out where to go next.

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Best Things do Do in Florence for First-Timers

1. Piazzale Michelangelo

Even if you have only one day in Florence, you still cannot skip Piazzale Michelangelo! You get the most amazing panoramic views of the Duomo, the river, and the bridges from here, so it’s a great first stop to get your bearings before exploring on foot.

The walk up from the center takes about 30 minutes and finishes with a short climb, but it’s well worth the effort. Go in the morning if you want it quiet and calm, or head up for sunset when there’s live music and a real buzz in the air. Just keep in mind that sunset gets busy, so arrive early to grab a good spot!

One little thing I love: the bronze statue in the middle of the square is a replica of Michelangelo’s David, so you get a sneak peek before seeing the real one at the Accademia.

2. Duomo Complex

Nothing quite prepares you for your first glimpse of the Duomo! The green, white and pink marble facade is so detailed it almost doesn’t look real, and it towers over the surrounding piazza in a way that stops most people in their tracks.

Climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome is one of the best things to do in Florence, especially if this is your first time visiting. It’s 463 steps with no elevator, but the reward is a close-up look at the cathedral’s frescoed interior on the way up and a sweeping view over Florence at the top. You’ll need to reserve a time slot in advance for this, so plan ahead!

The complex is made up of more than just the cathedral and the dome though. There’s also Giotto’s Bell Tower (this gives you the best view of the Duomo), the Baptistery, the crypt of Santa Reparata and the Opera del Duomo Museum.

If you want to see everything, the Brunelleschi Pass is the one to get since it’s the only pass that includes the dome climb. As I mentioned, you have to book a time slot for the Duomo climb but your ticket will be valid for 3 days after to visit all the other attractions.

For more context, I also highly recommend booking a guided tour.

3. Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi holds the most important collection of Renaissance art in the world, and there’s something special about seeing it all in the very city where it was created. Even if galleries aren’t usually your thing, this is the one to make an exception for!

Most people make a beeline for Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Primavera, and rightly so, but the rooms are filled with works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and Caravaggio too. You’ll likely recognize far more of them than you expect.

You’ll need at least 2-3 hours to visit all the rooms, but if you’re really into art, you can easily spend half a day here. I recommend booking your tickets in advance because this is one of the busiest museums in Italy!

4. Food and wine tour

A food and wine tour is one of the best things you can do early on in Florence. You get to taste your way around the city with a local guide who knows exactly where to go, which takes all the guesswork out of finding good food in a place you don’t know yet.

There are lots of options out there, but the one I recommend is the Florence Sunset Food & Wine Tour. You start with a Prosecco toast, taste four different Tuscan wines, learn how to make a proper negroni and try a bunch of local specialities, with gelato to finish.

I suggest scheduling the tour on your first day if you can! Your guide will give you loads of tips on where to eat and drink for the rest of your trip, which is honestly worth the price of the tour on its own.

5. Accademia Gallery

Most people come to the Accademia Gallery for one reason, and his name is David! Michelangelo’s masterpiece stands over five meters tall, and no photo really prepares you for the scale and detail of it in person.

David steals the show, but the gallery has more to offer than just the headline act. Michelangelo’s unfinished Prisoners line the same corridor, half-carved figures that look like they’re fighting their way out of the marble, and there’s a collection of Renaissance paintings and a museum of musical instruments tucked away too.

You won’t need as long here as you would at the Uffizi, an hour or so is plenty. As with everything in Florence, book ahead. The Accademia is one of the most visited spots in the city and the walk-up queues are not worth your time.

6. Ponte Vecchio

Florence’s most famous bridge has been standing since the 14th century, and it’s the only one in the city that survived World War II intact. Walking across it is a rite of passage on any first visit, even if you have to share the space with plenty of other people doing the same.

What makes Ponte Vecchio so distinctive is the row of shops built right onto it, hanging out over the river on both sides. They’ve been occupied by goldsmiths and jewellers for centuries, and many of the window displays still sparkle with the kind of pieces you can only dream of affording.

For the best photos, you’ll actually want to be off the bridge looking at it, not on it. Head to one of the neighbouring bridges like Ponte Santa Trinita, especially around golden hour when the whole thing glows above the Arno.

7. Wine windows

Ordering a glass of wine through a hole in the wall is hands down one of the most fun things to do in Florence and it’s very unique to the city.

You’ll find quite a few little arched hatches called buchette del vino all around Florence, and a handful of bars and cafes still use them to pass drinks out to the street.

The easiest way to find them is to search “buchette del vino” on Google Maps. Ristorante Matteoni, Osteria Belle Donne and BABAE are three good ones to start with, where you can actually be served through the window rather than just look at it.

They date back to the 1600s, when wealthy families sold wine straight from their cellars this way. Most fell out of use long ago, but a few were dusted off during the pandemic and have stuck around since.

8. Pasta cooking class

Spend a few hours making pasta with your hands and you’ll never look at a plate of tagliatelle the same way again! You’ll roll out the dough, shape it, then sit down and eat the results, usually with a glass of wine in hand.

Taking part in a pasta cooking class is a nice way to slow down halfway through a busy trip. Instead of rushing between sights, you spend the time with a small group and a local who actually knows what they’re doing, picking up a skill you can take home.

When you book, just check what’s on the menu. Some classes stick to one type of pasta, while others throw in sauces, starters or even tiramisu, so it’s worth picking one that matches what you actually want to learn.

9. Piazza della Signoria

Right in the middle of the action, Piazza della Signoria is the square you’ll find yourself crossing again and again during your time in Florence. It’s been the political heart of the city for centuries, and these days it doubles as a sort of open-air sculpture gallery you can wander through for free.

Keep an eye out for the Loggia dei Lanzi, a covered corner of the square packed with statues you can walk right up to, and a replica of Michelangelo’s David marking the spot where the original once stood.

The square is also home to Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s striking old town hall with its tower looming over everything. Loads of people admire it from outside without ever going in, which is a shame, because the interior is just as impressive!

The Hall of the Five Hundred in particular is worth the ticket, a vast room covered top to bottom in frescoes.

10. Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens

Palazzo Pitti doesn’t get talked about as much as the Uffizi or the Accademia, but I actually rate it as one of the most impressive sights in Florence!

This enormous palace was once the main Medici residence, and today it’s split into several museums covering everything from Renaissance paintings to royal apartments dripping in gold and frescoes. You could easily spend a couple of hours in here and still not see it all.

Once you’ve had your fill of the palace, the Boboli Gardens are right out the back. They stretch up the hillside in a maze of paths, fountains and statues, and while they’re nice to wander through, the main payoff is the view over Florence once you get higher up.

A combined ticket covers both, so you can take them at your own pace. There’s a fair bit of ground to cover between the two, so opting for a guided tour might be the best option here if you don’t want to feel lost.

11. Giunti Odeon Cinema

Giunti Odeon is a gorgeous old cinema and bookshop in one, just off Piazza della Repubblica. It’s the kind of spot you can pop into for ten minutes between other sights and come away really glad you did.

The main room is the draw here, with high ceilings, lots of original detail and a huge screen. You can walk in, have a browse and look around for free, so there’s no need to commit to anything to enjoy it.

If you do fancy seeing a film, they show some in their original language with Italian subtitles on certain nights. Just check the schedule online first, as those showings aren’t on every day.

12. Medici Chapel

If the queues at the Uffizi and Accademia have worn you down, the Medici Chapel is a refreshing change. You can usually buy a ticket on the spot and walk straight in, and 30 to 60 minutes is all you need, so it slots neatly into a busy day without any advance planning.

What you get for that short visit is a lot, though. The chapel was the burial place of the Medici, the family who effectively ran Florence for generations, and the New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo from the ground up.

He also sculpted the four reclining figures here, known as Night, Day, Dawn and Dusk, which rest across the tombs. Seeing a space he shaped as both architect and sculptor is what makes this one worth squeezing in!

13. Fontana del Porcellino

Here’s a quirky little tradition to tick off while you’re in the center! The Fontana del Porcellino is a bronze fountain shaped like a wild boar, and legend says that rubbing its snout and dropping a coin into the water below means you’ll come back to Florence one day.

You’ll find it under the arches of the Mercato Nuovo, a covered market where stalls sell leather bags, souvenirs and the like. The boar’s nose is worn shiny gold from all the hands that have touched it over the years, so it’s easy to spot even with people gathered around.

It only takes a couple of minutes to stop by, but it’s a fun one to seek out, and the market around it is worth a quick browse while you’re there.

14. Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

This is one of the oldest pharmacies in the world, and it looks nothing like a normal shop. It was started by Dominican friars in the 13th century, and with its frescoed ceilings and old wooden cabinets, it feels more like a museum than somewhere you’d pick up soap.

The shelves are full of perfumes, skincare and herbal products, a lot of them still made to the original recipes. It’s not cheap, but even a small soap or bottle of rosewater makes a really nice souvenir to take home.

You don’t have to buy anything to go in, though. Plenty of people just pop in to have a look around, and there’s no entrance ticket so it’s definitely one of the best free things to do in Florence!

15. Tuscany day trip

If your schedule allows for it, set aside a day to get out of the city and into the Tuscan countryside. Florence makes a brilliant base for it, with rolling hills, vineyards and medieval towns all sitting within an easy hour or two of the center.

A guided day trip is the simplest way to go, especially on a first visit. Popular routes take you out to places like Siena, San Gimignano and the Chianti wine region, and going with a tour means you can sip your way through a few tastings without worrying about who’s driving.

You won’t have time to see all of Tuscany in a single day, but even a quick taste of it adds a completely different feel to your trip. After a few days surrounded by art and architecture, the open countryside is a really nice way to round things off.

Where to Stay in Florence

Florence is wonderfully compact, so wherever you stay in the historic center you’ll be within easy walking distance of the main sights. Here are a few places to consider across different budgets, all in or right next to the center.

• Tivoli Palazzo Gaddi Firenze: A luxurious five-star hotel set in a 16th century Renaissance palace, just a short walk from the Duomo. The rooftop terrace with Duomo views and daily aperitifs is the real showstopper here.
• Hotel De Lanzi: A classic mid-range option tucked on a side street right behind the cathedral. Some rooms look straight onto the Duomo or Giotto’s Bell Tower, and you genuinely can’t get more central than this.
• B&B La Terrazza Sul Duomo: Just steps from the Duomo, this charming little B&B is best known for its rooftop terrace with panoramic views over the cathedral and the city. A great pick for couples.
• Hotel Bellavista: A budget-friendly choice just a couple of minutes from Santa Maria Novella train station, which is handy if you’re arriving by train or planning day trips. It also has a terrace with views over the city.

Where to Eat and Drink in Florence

Florence is a dream for food lovers, and half the fun of visiting is eating your way around the city between sights! These are some of my favorite spots to eat and drink, from quick bites to sit-down dinners with a view.

• All’Antico Vinaio: The most famous sandwich shop in Florence, and for good reason. The schiacciata sandwiches are huge, cheap and delicious, just be ready to queue.
• Mister Pizza: With two locations around the city, this was hands down one of the best pizzas we had on our entire Italy trip.
• Osteria Pastella: Come here for the showstopping tagliatelle flambé, finished tableside in a wheel of Parmigiano. Book ahead, it gets full fast.
• Osteria del Fiore: A lovely spot right on Piazza del Duomo serving Tuscan classics and homemade pasta, with outdoor tables looking straight at the cathedral.
• Signorvino Firenze: Part wine shop, part restaurant, with a great selection of Italian wines and a terrace overlooking Ponte Vecchio.
• Vivoli: One of the oldest gelaterias in the city, and the place to try an affogato. Go for the pistachio version if you want my personal recommendation.
• Caffè Gilli: A historic cafe on Piazza della Repubblica that’s been around since 1733. Perfect for a coffee or an aperitivo in beautiful surroundings.
• Move On – Italian Pub & Record Store: A laid-back pub and record store rolled into one, right next to the Duomo so you get amazing views with your drink.
• View on Art Rooftop Cocktail Bar: On top of Hotel Medici, this rooftop bar has unbeatable Duomo views and is a great spot for sunset drinks.