Travel Guide: Florence and Tuscany
Tuscany. Where do I even begin? The land of lush, rolling hills, eye-catching architecture, and matchless wines—it’s hard to put into words just how incredible it was. Speaking of wines, this guide is best enjoyed with a glass of red, preferably from Chianti, Italy!
After 5 days in Praiano on the Amalfi Coast, we made the 6-hour drive up to Florence, stopping in a few of the quaintest Tuscany towns along the way like Montepulciano and Arezzo. When we finally made it to Florence, I was instantly charmed by its ravishing Renaissance beauty.
Picture-perfect Montepulciano
Where to Stay in Florence
We stayed 3 nights in an Airbnb in the Santa Croce neighborhood, which turned out to be an ideal location. Upon arriving in Florence, we returned our rental car to the airport, so we wanted to stay in an area easily accessible to all the hot spots. It was located right by the Piazza di Santa Croce and the Basilica di Santa Croce where Michelangelo and Galileo are buried.
Piazza di Santa Croce
Our Airbnb was at the very top of an old apartment building, snuggled among shops and restaurants. It was a bit of a trek to get to our unit—we had to meander up stairs, take an elevator and go through multiple doors, but the view from our windows was worth it! We could see the Basilica di Santa Croce and hear the church bells chime. It was surreal. I will say, I’m glad we were staying in this apartment in October since there was no air conditioning, and from reading reviews on Airbnb, it got very hot up there during the summer.
The charming view from our Airbnb
I’d definitely recommend staying in the Santa Croce area. It was within walking distance to all the main attractions—Piazza del Duomo, Ponte Vecchio Bridge, Piazzale Michelangelo, Gallerie Degli Uffizi, Galleria dell'Accademia, etc. Plus, it had plenty of amazing restaurants and felt less crowded and touristy than other parts of Florence.
Depending on what you’re looking for, a few other areas to consider staying in are:
Centro Storico: Ideal for touring Florence’s hotspots, but also more crowded and expensive.
San Niccolò: Cute neighborhood near Piazzale Michelangelo with gorgeous views of Florence.
Oltrarno: Trendy area with vibrant cafes, artwork, and antiques. Lots of locals live here.
San Lorenzo: Relaxed area near the Mercato Centrale and the University of Florence.
Santa Maria Novella: Conveniently located by the train station, but not as quaint of an area.
Where to Eat in Florence
Okay, now for my favorite part—the food! Two of the best dishes I had during our entire Italy trip were in Florence. The first was a pear ravioli from La Giostra, a renowned restaurant lined with photographs of famous patrons (including Elton John). The second was a pappardelle with wild boar ragu from Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco, a highly rated, authentic Tuscan restaurant featured on Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy. Wild boar is a classic Tuscan dish that everyone should experience!
Pear ravioli at La Giosta that I still dream about
Both of these restaurants were suggested by food bloggers I follow, and I’m so glad we tried them. We had a reservation at La Giostra, which I strongly recommend making, and we got lucky with an open table at Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco. The service at both establishments was top-notch, and we couldn’t have enjoyed the food (and wine!) more.
Pappardelle with wild boar ragu—a must-try in Tuscany
Other favorite eateries in Florence were All’Antico Vinaio—a must-try bakery with ginormous sandwiches piled with meat and cheese (be prepared to wait in line here!) and Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio—a market in Santa Croce, perfect for morning pastries and coffee, meats and cheeses, and fresh fruit.
Tantalizing sandwiches from All’Antico Vinaio
For bars and nightlife, we ventured to La Terrazza, an upscale rooftop bar overlooking the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. Drinks were expectedly expensive but delicious, and the atmosphere was relaxing. For something a little more upbeat, we really enjoyed The Lion’s Fountain, an Irish pub that attracts many college students. We went earlier in the night and sat at a little table outside after adding our names to the sharpie-covered walls inside!
A few other bars and restaurants on my list that we didn’t get to were:
What to Do in Florence
Florence, and its surrounding countryside, are filled to the brim with stunning scenery and excitement. And depending on your interests—art, wine, shopping, or nature—you’re sure to find something to satisfy. Definitely don’t limit yourself to Florence when visiting northern Italy—although Florence on its own is spectacular, Tuscany has SO much more to offer!
One of the prettiest views from San Gimignano
A few of our favorite day trips and activities in Florence and beyond were:
Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, and Winery Day Tour: This was one of my favorite days of our entire trip! We traveled by bus to some of Tuscany’s most scenic towns, learned so many interesting facts from our tour guide, and sampled mouthwatering foods and wines from an organic winery.
San Gimignano: This small walled city within Siena was part of our Tuscany tour, but it deserves a mention of its own. After indulging in world-renowned (literally!) gelato at Gelateria Dondoli, we climbed to the top of a hilltop park called Rocca di Montestaffoli for a jaw-dropping view.
Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo: This is an absolute must! The view of Florence with the setting sun was breathtaking. Wear sneakers, as it’s a bit of an uphill trek, arrive early to get a good seat, and don’t forget to bring a bottle of wine to enjoy.
Ponte Vecchio Bridge: You’ll definitely want to walk along this bridge lined with vendors overlooking the Arno River.
Piazza Del Duomo: This is where you’ll find the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore—the famous cathedral in Florence with the iconic red dome. We didn’t tour the inside since the line was extremely long, but its gothic architecture was mesmerizing. I couldn’t stop taking pictures!
Walking along the Arno River: All of the tan, yellow, and cream-colored buildings lining the river were so photographic. We walked along here multiple times, and there were so many spots that would’ve been perfect for a picnic.
Montepulciano: We stopped in this medieval town on the way to Florence—it was peaceful with striking stone buildings and cobblestone streets. We sat outside and ate lunch at a quaint restaurant before continuing on our journey.
Walking along the Arno River—I could do this everyday
I will mention that we didn’t tour any art museums in Florence. If we had had more time, we would have checked out Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell'Accademia and Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery, but we prioritized seeing the various towns of Tuscany instead. If art is important to you, then definitely add the museums to your list!
And if you’re interested in gardens, you might want to check out Boboli Gardens, an Italian-style garden complete with fountains that was originally designed for the Medici family. Although we didn’t tour this, I’ve heard great things about it.
Aperitivo with a side of sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
We loved exploring Pisa and, of course, seeing the Leaning Tower!
When to Visit Florence
As I mentioned briefly before, October was the perfect time to visit Florence, temperature-wise. It wasn’t too hot or too cold, and we lucked out with gorgeous, sunny weather our entire stay. Early fall was also an ideal time, crowd-wise. There were definitely plenty of tourists still buzzing about the city, but I imagine it wasn’t nearly as crowded as it would’ve been during the peak summer months.
If you’re traveling to Florence and Tuscany during October, be sure to bring a sweater or light jacket since the mornings and evenings can get a little chilly. It’s also the start of the rainy season, so bring a rain jacket and umbrella, too, if you have room!
Wandering the adorable streets of San Gimignano
How to Get to Florence
Depending on where you’re coming from, you can either drive or take the train to Florence. We chose to drive since we were already renting a car to get to the Amalfi Coast, and we wanted to stop in towns along the way to Florence. I would highly recommend doing this since it’s much easier to visit towns off the beaten path with a car.
If you don’t want to bother renting a car, the high-speed train system in Italy is wonderful and very easy to maneuver to and from major cities. We took this from Florence to Rome for the final stretch of our trip, and it was completely seamless, not to mention fast! I’d recommend booking tickets ahead of time so you don’t have to buy them at the station—it’ll save you time and stress. Plus, they can sell out, so secure yours in advance! I purchased ours online from ItaliaRail.
Having a car in Florence itself isn’t necessary since it’s such a walkable city, and parking can be stressful and expensive. However, if you’re wanting to visit various towns in other parts of Tuscany, a car will be very helpful. There are also plenty of day tours, like the one we booked through Viator, which can be a great way to get to experience all Tuscany has to offer.
Each place we visited in Tuscany became my new favorite. From the vivid greens of endless wineries and olive groves to the memorable meats and pastas and distinctive architecture, my senses were overwhelmed in the best way. I can’t recommend a trip to Florence and its neighboring towns enough!
Stay tuned for the final stop of our 10-day Italy adventure—the Eternal City, Roma!
Missed my Amalfi Coast guide? Read it here!
Ciao for now!