BEST OF FLORENCE IN 24 HOURS
EUROPEAN CITY GUIDE
TRAVEL
In my opinion 24 hours is just the right amount of time to see the best bits of Florence (I wasn’t that enamoured by it). This post includes all the main sites, a few lesser known ones, as well as sunrise and sunset viewpoints. So book your 1 night stay and use this guide to make the most of your time in the city.
How to get there: Plane or Train
How long to spend there: 1 Day
Wine Windows
Wine windows were once used to serve people wine whilst keeping them outside on the street. Noble families selling the wine used them to keep customers out of their house and they later became essential to keep business going during the bubonic plague. Funnily enough, the little windows had a revival during corona. You’ll soon be seeing these little arched windows on every corner, but not all are made equal. Of the 150 left some have been filled in or repurposed. The ones in use today mostly sell wine, but a few pass scoops of gelato and espresso out to customers.
Tip: One of the more popular ones can be found on Via Santo Spirito next the popular Babae restaurant (they also sell Aperol Spritz through the window)
Arnolfo Tower
Entrance to the tower & gallery is €10 / Entrance to the tower, gallery & museum is €14 (9am – 9pm Fri – Wed)
If like me you want a bird’s eye view of the city, but can’t quite bring yourself to shell out €35 for the Duomo’s roof or brace yourself for the crowds, then climb Torre Di Arnolfo instead. Less than half the price and you’ll still be eye level with the Duomo. You can find the entrance in Palazzo Vecchio next to a replica of Michelangelo’s David.
Cafe La Cité
Admittedly my favourite spot in the whole city and where I spent most of my time. Cafe La Cité is an eclectically designed cafe over two floors of an old studio. Think bookshop/ cosy sitting room with house plants and fairy lights and that’s it. Not to mention they also make great coffees and pastries. It’s an ideal spot to get away from the crowds and enjoy that book you brought along but haven’t started yet. They also have a food menu, which although isn’t homemade it is comfort food.
Tip: A popular hang out amongst students and people needing a co-working space
Piazzale Michelangelo (Sunset Viewpoint)
Yes, it’s always busy, but you’ll see why. On what feels like the top of the city, is a marble public square beneath yet another statue of the city’s favourite naked man. Get here 2 hours before sunset if you want to grab a specific spot or embrace the crowds and find somewhere away from the balcony. From the Piazza you can see the whole of historic Florence, including the Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio.
Tip: If you want almost exactly the same view but no crowds head down to the road directly beneath the square and find the gap in the bushes which perfectly frames the view.
Ponte Vecchio
Unlike its sister in Venice, Ponte Vecchio has been saved from tourist tat stalls and instead has been installed with shops selling ‘high value goods’ such as expensive timepieces and hideously extortionate handbags. While this spoilt it a little for me, the most beautiful views of this famous bridge are from the streets either side.
Tip: If you want a photo of the bridge without crowds visit early in the morning (sunrise) before the shops open and their medieval style shutters are still closed.
Read my blog post on Venice to see how its bridge compares
Giardino Bardini
Entrance is €10 (10am – 6pm Everyday)
If visiting Florence in the Spring or summer consider a view of the city from the Italian Renaissance gardens of Bardini. The hillside garden is home to an orchard, grand villa, wisteria tunnel and cafe with views of the Duomo. It’s a lovely spot to enjoy the sun in peace above the noise of the city.
Tip: Entrance is free on the first Sunday of every month.
Giardino Delle Rose
Another of the city’s grassy viewpoints, except this one is populated with more than 200 types of roses and quirky sculptures. Better yet, it’s free. This is another popular cafe spot with a panoramic view.
Tip: Just outside the higher entrance gate there is a tree-lined road with perfectly framed views of the Duomo.
Gelateria della Passera
It’s hard not to want an ice cream when everyone seems to be holding one. So when you do eventually give in, head over to Gelateria della Passera which sells homemade gelato on the corner of a small but lively square of the same name. I particularly loved the owners hazelnut ice cream and strawberry sorbet which was deliciously fresh.
Tip: The square seems to be a hub of cafes and street food hidden in the backstreets near the river.
Best Views of the Duomo
This one is more for photographers, but I couldn’t not include it! The streets spiralling out from the Duomo perfectly frame the colossal cathedral making it easier to take in. In particular, Via Dei Servi has an impressive view of the cathedral.
Ufizzi Gallery
Entrance is €41 (plus €4 if you book online) (8:15am – 6:30pm Tuesday – Sunday)
The Ufizzi Gallery is famous for its considerable collection of ancient sculptures and paintings reaching back to medieval times. I chose not to go in this time as I was on a budget, but I think its exterior is just as impressive.
Tip: If you want to save as much as possible, buy tickets inside to avoid the booking fee, but queue early as this is a popular option.
The Piglet Market
The Piglet Market or more attractively named in Italian, Mercato del Porcellino, is an outdoor market largely selling leather goods. The star attraction is the bronze boar statue and fountain on the lower side of the square. You’ll notice that the boar’s nose has been rubbed raw by visitors seeking good luck.
Street Art
I never expect to see many street murals in a historic city centre, but Florence has made an effort to dot them around every corner, many covering ugly electrical boxes. Keep an eye out in the side streets near the main piazzas for a few of the faces below.
If you love street art read my blog post on Comic Book Murals in Brussels
Brunelleschi’s Dome (The Cathedral)
If you do find a spare €30, the view from the top of the Duomo is magnificent, or at least I’ve heard it is. Unfortunately neither of the photos below are mine as I spent my spare change on coffees.
