In Tuscany lies the cultural metropolis of Florence. A city that attracts and inspires not only art lovers from all over the world. On a city trip to Florence there is something to discover at every turn.
Anyone strolling through Florence will be amazed by the beautiful buildings. In the city where numerous artists, philosophers and scientists have lived and worked, you will discover their traces everywhere. For example, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) with its impressive dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, is a landmark of the city and a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture.
When visiting the city’s numerous museums, you will come across works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Sandro Botticelli, for example. Dante Alighieri and Niccolò Machiavelli have also left their mark on the city. The world-famous Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’Accademia are home to some of the most important works of Italian art.
The cuisine of Florence and Tuscany is known for its simplicity and the quality of its ingredients. Typical dishes include “Bistecca alla Fiorentina”, a large T-bone steak of Chianina beef, traditionally grilled over charcoal and served crispy on the outside and pink on the inside. “Ribollita”, a hearty soup made from bread, beans, cabbage and other vegetables, reflects the rural roots of Tuscan cuisine. Pappa al Pomodoro”, a tomato and bread soup, is another simple but delicious dish. The region is also known for its olive oils and wines, including the world-famous Chianti.
For culinary explorers, the Mercato Centrale offers a variety of local specialties, fresh produce and artisanal goods. In the surrounding streets and on the Ponte Vecchio, there are numerous stores offering everything from high-quality jewelry to traditional handicrafts.
The city also offers numerous green retreats, such as the Boboli Gardens, which invite you to relax. Piazzale Michelangelo is the perfect place to catch a panoramic view of the city, especially at sunset.
Discover Florence sights
Florence is a city that you simply must have seen. Fortunately, the most important sights in Florence are located so close together on foot that you can combine them during a city walk.
By bus we drive once across the city to the most beautiful viewpoint over Florence, Piazzale Michelango.
We hadn't really expected that a Christmas market would already be open in Florence when we visited at the end of November. Therefore, we were even more pleased that we discovered the small wooden houses on the Piazza Santa Croce.
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Florence travel information
Arrival
By plane
The small Florence airport “Amerigo Vespucci” is located about 5 kilometers outside the city. Here some of the well-known airlines land with their planes.
From the airport, you can take the T2 streetcar to the city center at a reasonable price. During the day, it runs every 5 minutes. There is also the possibility to take a shuttle bus to the main station.
Pisa airport is about 80 kilometers away. The flight connections there are usually cheaper and you can reach Florence well by train.
By train
Stazione Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the main train station of Florence. It is located near the old town.
The city is connected to Rome and Bologna by the high-speed line, and trains stop here about twice an hour. From Vienna and Munich night trains go to Florence.
By bus
There are some direct bus connections from German, Swiss and Austrian cities.
By car
Florence can be reached via the Italian A1 highway. Those arriving from the Brenner Pass must expect highway tolls of over 30€ until the city is reached.
Coming from Lucca take the Autostrada A11, from Pisa and Livorno toll-free expressways lead to Florence.
On the way in ...
By car
Driving in the historic center is allowed only for residents with special permission. Cameras monitor this and violators face heavy fines. You can easily recognize the area by the traffic signs: ZTL stands for “Zona a Traffico Limitato” (traffic-calmed zone).
There are some times when it is allowed to enter the ZTL. The access control system is equipped with electronic boards and so you can see these times quite well:
- ZTL not active (green) —> access allowed,
- ZTL active (red) —> access prohibited.
ZTL times (closure of the city center for private vehicles):
- Monday-Friday 7.30-20.00
- Saturday 7.30-16.00
- Sunday the ZTL is not active.
- From the 1st Thursday in April to the 1st Sunday in October, the ZTL – in addition to the above times – is extended to the night hours (23-3h) of Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
If you check into a hotel in the center, you can ask for a “Targa”. With it you are allowed to drive 30 minutes in the city center. However, this time span is very tight and is often barely enough to find the hotel in the street labyrinth, check in, drop off suitcases and drive the car out of the zone again.
Day visitors should use the Park&Ride parking lots on the outskirts of town. But beware, the car must not be left here overnight!
By public transport
There is a well-developed bus network and a streetcar in Florence. Tickets can be purchased in advance at tobacconists, newsagents and bars with the word ataf on the door. The price is 1,50€ for 90 minutes, the ticket must be validated in the vehicle. On the bus, you can also buy a ticket from the driver, but not always. In this case, however, it costs 2.50€ and you have to pay in cash, as there is no change.
On foot
The city center can be explored very well on foot.
By bike
There is an extensive bicycle network in the city. The inner city area is relatively flat and so the bicycle is a good mean
Parking
On the outskirts of the center there are over a dozen offers of Firenze Parking. From there you can reach the center by bus or a longer walk.
If you prefer to park close to the center, you can look for a place in a garage. These are with about 30€ per night, however, often 3x as expensive as the more distant parking spaces.
On street parking is allowed for visitors only in the blue marked parking spaces. The price is about 1,-€ per hour (8-20 o’clock) and the parking tickets must be taken from the machine.
Best time to visit Florence
Florence is located in a valley, which in summer leads to a phenomenon called “afa” – a sweltering heat intensified by high humidity and a lack of breeze.
Spring (March to May)
Spring is one of the best times to visit Florence. Temperatures are mild, averaging between 10°C and 22°C. The rainy days are moderate with around 8 to 10 days per month.
Summer (June to August)
Summer is the hottest in Florence. Average temperatures range between 18°C and 35°C, with heat waves often occurring in the peak summer months of July and August. Rainy days are relatively rare at 4 to 6 days a month, which means there is plenty of sunshine.
Autumn (September to November)
Autumn offers a pleasant cool down after the summer heat with temperatures dropping from 25°C in September to around 10°C in November. Rainy days increase, especially in November, which is considered one of the wettest months.
Winter (December to February)
Winter in Florence is relatively mild with average temperatures between 1°C and 13°C. Although it is the coolest time of the year, temperatures rarely fall below freezing. Rainy days are around 7 to 9 days per month.