Find cheap flights to Florence

There’s no bad time to go to Florence as many of the city’s attractions are indoors, but if you go during summer, it will be busy and hot. Temperatures rise to 86 – 88 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can be humid. In August, many of Florence’s residents take a holiday and flee the city, and some attractions will close. The shoulder seasons of spring and fall are much more comfortable but are again busy with crowds of tourists. Book your flights and accommodation ahead of time to avoid disappointment. You might plan a visit during winter because you can find good deals on flights and rooms with fewer tourists arriving in Florence between December and February. Temperatures of between 33 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit are not exactly frigid, but you should pack a warm coat, hat and gloves for wandering around the city.

Florence is extremely walkable, as its historic center is very compact compared to other major European cities. Parts of it are even pedestrian only. When your feet need a break, you can use the local buses, as do many of the locals, or hail a taxi. Your rental car might be useful for trips outside of the city but will be more of a hindrance within Florence.

Buses

City bus and tram routes cover all the major sights in Florence. You can buy single ride or multi-ride tickets at any authorized sales point (anyone with an ATAF sticker on their shop windows) and they cost €1.20 EUR for a single ride, with a 4-ride ticket costing € 4.70 EUR. If you purchase a ticket from your bus driver it will cost more, usually €2.00 EUR.

Taxis

You can hail a taxi at the train station or find them outside of most tourist attractions. If can’t find one, just call for a ride. Flag drop is €3.30 EUR Monday – Saturday, €5.30 EUR on Sundays and holidays, and €6.60 EUR between 10 pm and 6 am. The scatto (per-unit charge) is €0.10 EUR, but the units vary depending on how long the ride takes, and there are charges for bags that are large enough to go in the trunk.

Things to do and places of interest in Florence, Italy

Florence is a popular destination for art aficionados, with its magnificent galleries and museums full of works by the masters, but there are plenty of interesting things for everyone to see and do here. Here are a few of the highlights you should make time to visit, when you travel to Florence, Italy.

• Tour the Uffizi Gallery where you can admire amazing works by many revered painters. Uffizi is widely considered one of the world’s best galleries, and worth seeing even for those who are not normally art lovers.
• At the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Piazza Duomo, you can find some of the most famous masterpieces of art and architecture from leading artists of the Italian Renaissance, such as Donatello, Ghiberti, Giotto, Brunelleschi and Michelangelo.
• Hang out and do some people-watching in the Piazza della Signoria, a gorgeous open square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio, once the home of the ruling Medici family. In the middle of the piazza, you’ll see a circular marble plaque that marks the spot where the monk Savonarola was burned at the stake in 1498.
• Dine al fresco – many of Florence’s restaurants have outdoor patios where you can enjoy your meal with a view of piazza, palazzo or river.
• To get away from the tourist crowds and see a bit of real life in Florence, cross the river and visit the bohemian Piazza Santo Spirito, where you’ll find a proper street market as well as bars and restaurants full of locals.
• If you come in late June, take in the St John the Baptist celebrations. The city celebrates with historic dress parades, medieval football matches, boat races, bonfires, a night marathon, and fireworks.

Tips and tricks for visiting Florence, Italy

You can buy a Firenze Card to get into museums, and it includes unlimited bus travel on ATAF buses for the 72 hours that the Firenze Card is active. You must get the special bus ticket when you buy the Firenze Card, and stamp this bus ticket the first time you get on a bus.

Many of Florence’s galleries and museums see enormous lines every day. If you would rather spend your vacation doing something other than standing in line, you can pre-book your entrance to the best of them here.