Things to Do in Firenze

A 14th-century grain market turned church, with stunning Gothic architecture and original statues of patron saints on its exterior niches.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10am-5pm; closed Mon

💡 Check the upper floor for the museum (small fee) which holds the originals; the interior is quiet and free, perfect for a break from crowds.

The 13th-century town hall's courtyard and ground floor are free to enter. You can see the fountain of Putto, the first courtyard frescoes, and the grand staircase. Paid ticket needed for upper floors.

🕐 Courtyard: daily 9:00–19:00 (free entry same hours as building)

💡 Use the free official app for audio guide of the courtyard (download before going). Go mid-week morning to avoid queues. The free area includes a small museum shop with good postcards.

A 15th-century church designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, with a plain facade and serene interior. Houses a wooden crucifix by Michelangelo and works by other Renaissance artists.

🕐 Monday–Saturday 09:30–12:00, 16:00–17:30; Sunday 09:30–12:00

💡 It's free, but the real draw is the piazza outside – a local square with a daily market and cheap trattorias. Visit on a Sunday morning for the small flea market. The church closes at noon on Sundays for mass, so go before 11:30.

The main Franciscan church and burial place of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli. Free entry only for prayer or Sunday mass, not tourist visits. The piazza outside is lively and free.

🕐 Mon–Sat 9:30–17:30, Sun 14:00–17:30 (services free, tourist hours paid)

💡 If you time it right, slip in during a service—enter quietly and stay respectful. Otherwise, the paid ticket (€8–10) is worth it for the frescoes by Giotto. Avoid weekends for crowds.

The cathedral's exterior and interior are free. Climb the dome (paid) for skyline views.

🕐 Daily 10:15–16:45, closed Sundays and holidays

💡 Avoid queues at midday; visit before 10am or after 4pm.

A Romanesque monastery with a beautiful marble facade, set above Piazzale Michelangelo. The interior has stunning mosaics and a peaceful crypt.

🕐 09:30–13:00 and 15:00–19:00 daily

💡 Combine with Piazzale Michelangelo on a single walk. The monks chant Gregorian plainsong at 17:30 daily — sit in the choir stalls for the full effect.

An open-air sculpture gallery with pieces like the copy of Michelangelo's David and Cellini's Perseus, plus the Palazzo Vecchio facade.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Visit on a weekday morning to avoid crowds and get clear photos without tour groups blocking the statues.

The cathedral square is free to enter and admire the Duomo's facade, Giotto's Campanile, and the Baptistery's bronze doors. No ticket needed to walk around the outside or sit on the steps.

🕐 24 hours (cathedral exterior); interior: Mon–Sat 10:15–16:45, closed Sun except for services

💡 Go early (7–8am) to avoid crowds and get clear photos. The free Museo dell'Opera del Duomo is also worth a visit for original sculptures, but check times.

A vast square on a hill south of the river, offering the best panoramic view of Florence's skyline, including the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.

🕐 Always open

💡 Go just before sunset to avoid crowds and watch the city light up. Bring a bottle of wine if you want to sit on the steps.

A panoramic terrace across the Arno, offering classic postcard views of the city.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Go at sunset; bring a bottle of wine. The bus 12 from Santa Maria Novella gets you there cheaply.

A large square on a hill south of the river, built in 1869 as a terrace with panoramic views of Florence's skyline, including the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, and hills beyond.

🕐 Open 24 hours

💡 Go just before sunset on a weekday to avoid crowds. Bring a bottle of wine and sit on the steps – locals do this regularly. The uphill walk from Ponte Vecchio takes about 20 minutes.

A panoramic terrace offering the best view over Florence's skyline, including the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. Up a steep hill but worth the climb.

🕐 Always open

💡 Go just before sunset to watch the light change; bring a bottle of wine and sit on the steps with the locals.

A two-floor market: ground level has fresh produce, meat, and cheese; upstairs is a bustling food hall with affordable eats. Free to wander.

🕐 Ground floor: Mon-Sat 7am-2pm; upstairs: daily 10am-12am

💡 Skip the touristy stalls outside; head upstairs for a cheap lunch of tripe panino or pasta at the counter.

A two-level food market: ground floor with butchers, bakers, and produce; upstairs with a lively food hall selling affordable Italian dishes.

🕐 Ground floor: 07:00–14:00 Mon-Sat; Upstairs: 10:00–23:00 daily

💡 Get a 5-euro panino with lampredotto from the ground-floor vendors, then take it upstairs to sit at the communal tables.

A huge covered market in San Lorenzo with cheap local food on the ground floor: panini, cheese, olive oil, wine samples. The upper floor is a food hall but you can browse for free.

🕐 Ground floor: Mon–Sat 7:00–14:00; Upper floor: daily 10:00–00:00

💡 Buy a €1 glass of wine at a stall and nibble free bread. Best time is late morning (11am) when stalls are busy but not chaotic. Avoid the touristy leather market outside—it's overpriced.

A bustling food market on two levels—ground floor for raw produce, upper floor for casual eats (not free).

🕐 Ground floor Mon–Sat 07:00–14:00; upper floor daily 10:00–23:00

💡 Walk the ground floor for free tasting of olive oils, cheeses, and meats. Avoid the overpriced upstairs food court.

A two-floor market in the San Lorenzo district. Ground floor has fresh produce, meat, cheese, and bread stalls since 1874. Upper floor is a modern food hall with affordable eats.

🕐 Ground floor: Monday–Saturday 07:00–14:00; Upper floor: Monday–Sunday 10:00–22:00

💡 Skip the ground floor for shopping unless you're cooking – prices are tourist-marked. Go upstairs for a cheap lunch: a plate of pasta or a pizza slice costs about €7. Arrive at noon to beat the queue.

A double-decker market: ground floor for fresh produce and pasta, upstairs for affordable food stalls like truffle pasta and lampredotto.

🕐 Ground floor: Monday-Saturday 7:00-14:00; Upper floor: Daily 10:00-22:00

💡 Eat lunch upstairs (pasta plates around €10) then walk through the ground floor for cheaper snacks like pecorino cheese and cured meats at the deli counters.

Florence's sculpture museum housed in a medieval fortress, featuring masterpieces by Donatello, Michelangelo, and Cellini. Often overlooked by tourists.

🕐 Tue-Sun 8:15am-1:50pm; closed Mon

💡 Free entry on the first Sunday of each month; arrive early to avoid queues. The courtyard is a hidden peaceful spot.

A huge panoramic terrace on a hill offering the best view over Florence's red rooftops, the Duomo, and the river Arno. Accessible by a steep walk or bus. Free admission.

🕐 24 hours, daily

💡 Walk up at sunset around 7pm (check time). Bring a snack and water—no cafe up top. Avoid the souvenir sellers; prices are inflated. Bus 12 from station gets you close.