Florence was the second stop of our Italy trip in October 2024, between Naples and Venice. We were there on 10 and 11 October.
A very beautiful city, very pleasant to walk in, with very good vintage shopping.
Florence overview
When: 10 and 11 October 2024.
How long we stayed: two days.
How long I would stay: three to four days. My only regret is not having spent more time there.
Where to stay in Florence
We stayed in an Airbnb a little outside the centre, and it was really lovely.
Best things to do in Florence
Sunrise at Piazzale Michelangelo
The best moment of our stay. We went up for sunrise, with the view over the whole city, and we even got a rainbow.
Good to know: Piazzale Michelangelo is free and open at all hours. From the Ponte Vecchio, count about twenty minutes on foot, uphill, or take bus 12 or 13. On the way up, the Rose Garden and the San Niccolò steps give you the same view with fewer people. At sunrise you have it almost to yourself.
The Duomo
Santa Maria del Fiore and Brunelleschi's dome, the biggest masonry dome ever built.
Good to know: entering the cathedral is free, but you queue. Everything else, the dome climb, Giotto's bell tower, the baptistery, the crypt and the museum, works with a combined pass from the Opera del Duomo. The dome climb needs a reserved time slot, and slots go fast: book online well ahead.
The Ponte Vecchio
The old bridge lined with goldsmiths' shops, the only bridge in Florence that survived the war.
The Boboli Gardens
The Renaissance gardens behind the Pitti Palace, with terraces, fountains and views over the city.
Good to know: the gardens are paid, and the ticket is usually combined with the Pitti Palace. Allow one to two hours: it climbs, and the best views are at the top.
The museums we skipped, and what they cost
We did not do the Uffizi or the Accademia, but if you have more than two days, here is what you are dealing with.
- The Uffizi: 25 euros full price in 2026, plus a booking fee of about 4 euros online. Since January 2026 there is a 16 euro ticket for entry from 4pm. Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed Mondays, last entry 5:30pm.
- The Accademia, for Michelangelo's David: 16 euros, about 20 with the booking fee, entry every 15 minutes, closed Mondays.
- The Bargello, for sculpture, is quieter, cheaper and rarely needs booking.
- Free entry to the state museums on the first Sunday of the month, which also means the longest queues of the month. Locals avoid it.
The rule: book the Uffizi and the Accademia weeks ahead, or go late in the day.
Vintage shopping
Not one shop in particular: there are many vintage shops in the centre, and the selection is really good. Give yourself an afternoon to go through them.
Where to look: the streets around Santa Croce and Via dei Neri, and the lanes of the Oltrarno on the other side of the river, where the workshops are. Florence has been a leather and tailoring city for centuries, and that is what you find second hand here: coats, bags, belts, silk.
Where to eat in Florence
I honestly do not remember our addresses well enough to recommend them.
How many days in Florence?
Three to four days. With two, I left with the feeling of having rushed it.
Florence FAQ
How many days in Florence?
Three to four days.
When should you go up to Piazzale Michelangelo?
At sunrise. The view over the whole city is the same, and you have the place almost to yourself.
Do you need to book for the Duomo?
The cathedral itself is free, but the dome climb needs a combined ticket with a reserved time slot, booked in advance.
How much are the Uffizi and the Accademia?
25 euros for the Uffizi in 2026, 16 for the Accademia, plus about 4 euros of booking fee each. There is a 16 euro Uffizi ticket after 4pm.
Do you need to book the museums in Florence?
For those two, yes, weeks ahead in high season.
Where to stay in Florence?
We stayed in an Airbnb slightly outside the centre, which was quieter and cheaper.
Read next
More from Italy:
- Burano travel guide: coloured houses, lace and a spritz
- Cefalù travel guide: a day trip from Palermo
- Lake Como travel guide: Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio
- Naples travel guide: dirty, intimidating, and very good for street photography
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