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Aerial View of Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore at Sunset - Firenze - Italy

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City breaks in Florence

As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence is a celebration of art, culture and la dolce vita. With museums and medieval churches packed with must-see masterpieces, incredible architecture throughout and crowd-pleasing cuisine as standard, the Tuscan capital is everything you could want in a city break.

Split by the River Arno, you’ll likely spend most of your time on the north bank – the historic heart of the city – checking off Florence’s big hitters (first stop, the Duomo). But the less touristy south bank, known as Oltrarno, has its own attractions – think buzzy bars, hip restaurants and boutique hotels.

For art lovers, the city is in a league of its own. Florence has more than 70 museums and countless Renaissance artworks, including paintings by Botticelli and sculptures by Michelangelo. Don’t limit yourself to old masters, though. Check out Museo Novecento’s collection of contemporary Italian art and delve deep into the city’s past at the Archaeological Museum.

Away from the museums, you won't be short of picture-perfect views during your Florence city break, thanks to its dreamy domes, terracotta rooftops and medieval bridges. Admire its best angles from a rooftop bar or hillside piazza, or cruise the Arno aboard a traditional barchetto – Florence's answer to the Venetian gondola.

And let’s not forget the food: alongside traditional Tuscan cuisine, Florence has an increasingly dynamic dining scene. Get your fill of home-style fare at old-school trattorias, blow the budget at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or just stroll the cobblestone streets with a scoop of gelato.

Leave room in your suitcase, too – Florence is a shopping hotspot. For leather goods, handmade jewellery and artisanal perfumes, shop at tiny boutiques in the Santa Croce and Santo Spirito neighbourhoods.

Popular city breaks to Florence

Rosary Garden

4.6

Excellent

  • Florence, Tuscany Area, Italy
  • 24 April 2025
  • Bed & breakfast
  • Stansted

Prices from

£389 pp
View deal

Machiavelli Palace

4

Very Good

  • Florence, Tuscany Area, Italy
  • 24 April 2025
  • Self-catering
  • Stansted

Prices from

£431 pp
View deal

Caravaggio

4.3

Excellent

  • Florence, Tuscany Area, Italy
  • 24 April 2025
  • Self-catering
  • Stansted

Prices from

£475 pp
View deal
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.

Last-minute Florence city breaks

Machiavelli Palace

4

Very Good

  • Florence, Tuscany Area, Italy
  • 10 March 2025
  • Room only
  • Luton

Prices from

£376 pp
View deal

Hotel Centrale

4.5

Excellent

  • Florence, Tuscany Area, Italy
  • 10 March 2025
  • Bed & breakfast
  • Luton

Prices from

£461 pp
View deal

Silla

4.5

Excellent

  • Florence, Tuscany Area, Italy
  • 10 March 2025
  • Bed & breakfast
  • Luton

Prices from

£457 pp
View deal
Prices and availability shown can change. Always check pricing with the provider before booking.

When to go to Florence

April, May, September and October are the best months to visit Florence. Spring highs in the early 20Cs mean sunshine, festivals and al fresco dining, while the mercury hovers around the mid-20Cs in early autumn. These are popular months, so be prepared to queue at major attractions and pay more for hotels.

Florence sizzles in summer, when temperatures can reach a hot and humid 31C. The summer season also brings high prices and huge crowds, so it may be best to avoid these months. Bear in mind that many restaurants shut in August too, when locals head off on holidays.

The city is quieter between November and February and hotel prices generally reflect the reduced demand, meaning it’s a great time to pick up a cheap Florence city break. Attractions such as the Uffizi and Pitti Palace also offer discounted tickets. Winter weather is quite mild, with average highs of 12C and rainy days alternating with fine ones.

What to do in Florence

With unrivalled art and architecture, it’s no wonder travellers routinely fall for Florence. Get your culture fix in the city’s legendary museums and galleries, and take time to appreciate the beauty of its riverside setting, lush gardens and fantastic food culture.

Piazza del Duomo

Crowned by a red-tiled cupola, Florence's Duomo needs no introduction. Admire its marble exterior then climb the 463 steps to the top of the frescoed dome to get right into the details. The sweeping panoramas from the outdoor terrace are just a bonus here.

Pop into the Museo dell’Opera to learn how Filippo Brunelleschi constructed his architectural masterpiece, and wander among medieval and Renaissance sculptures. Another lung-busting climb to the top of the Campanile di Giotto (Bell Tower) offers views of the cathedral itself.

Uffizi Gallery

Home to the world’s most magnificent collection of Renaissance art, one of Italy’s most visited museum is a showstopper. Work your way through all the masters, including da Vinci, Caravaggio and Giotto, and linger in the hall dedicated to Botticelli (where you’ll find iconic The Birth of Venus). And don’t forget to look up at the frescoed ceilings throughout the 16th-century building.

Need a break between masterpieces? Head to the rooftop café for lunch with a view.

Palazzo Pitti

Across the Ponte Vecchio, on the south bank of the Arno, this sprawling 15th-century palace was once home to the powerful Medici clan (and later the Lorraine and Savoy families). The main gallery is filled with works by the likes of Raphael and Rubens, while upstairs you can view impressionist art, historical costumes and the opulent Royal Apartments.

Behind the palace buildings, stroll among marble statues, fountains and artificial grottoes in the Boboli Gardens.

Basilica San Miniato al Monte

To gaze upon the Florentine skyline at sunset, hike up to this 11th-century Romanesque church on the south bank of the Arno. While most tourists stop at Piazzale Michelangelo, with its bronze replica of David, continue up the steep steps and you’ll be justly rewarded.

Check out the church’s soul-stirring frescoes and glittering gold mosaics, then drink in the golden hour views – minus the crowds. If you’re lucky, you might even hear the monks chanting their evening prayers.

Mercato Centrale

With a roaring trade in fresh produce since 1872, Florence's central market is a great place to pick up cured meats, cheeses, olives and truffles. After browsing the stalls, head up to the mezzanine level for lunch or dinner at one of the street food-style stalls.

Enjoy handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza and burgers made with Tuscany’s famous Chianina beef – or try the local speciality, tripe-stuffed panini! There are also salads, soups and a smattering of vegan eats.

Where to stay in Florence

For families

Sant’Ambrogio is a quiet, family-friendly neighbourhood and around a 15 minute walk east of the Duomo, the city's medieval heart. It has a local feel, with good-value trattorias and a popular food market where you can pick up picnic supplies.

On the western edge of the centro storico (historic centre), the area between Santa Maria Novella and the river is great for families, and has a great mix of hotels to suit all budgets. Parco Delle Cascine, Florence's largest park and dotted with playgrounds, is an easy tram ride away.

For food and drink

San Lorenzo’s Mercato Centrale is a foodie hotspot, thanks to its fresh produce stalls, contemporary food hall and sleek cookery school. You’ll also find plenty of family-run trattorias serving earthy Florentine cooking, along with affordable hotels and stylish boutique hotels in this neighbourhood.

Across the river, Oltrarno is the city’s bohemian district. Santo Spirito and San Niccolò have a plethora of neighbourhood restaurants and wine bars away from the tourist throngs, especially around Borgo San Jacopo and Piazza Santo Spirito. Hotels match the cool vibe, with eclectic guesthouses, small palazzos and boutique hotels.

For nightlife

Oltrarno’s hip Santo Spirito neighbourhood has the city’s best nightlife. Piazza Santo Spirito is lined with bars serving Italian wines, while the surrounding area has craft beer pubs, cocktail bars and the odd venue with live music or DJ sessions. Prices are generally cheaper than across the river, too.

On the eastern edge of the historic centre, Santa Croce has a lively aperitivo scene in the streets surrounding its art-filled church (where Michelangelo is buried). There is a good selection of hotels too, with something for most tastes and budgets.

For culture

If you’re a culture buff, base yourself by the Duomo and stroll to many of Florence’s top sights, including the cathedral, Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio. Heading south towards Piazza della Signoria, the tangle of medieval streets are brimming with hotels for all budgets. It pays to be choosy though, as some cheaper hotels trade off their central location.

A 10-minute walk north, the less touristy San Marco district has the Accademia Gallery, which is home to Michelangelo’s David, and the monastery of San Marco where you can admire Fra' Angelico’s frescoes. Hotel options range from affordable boltholes to elegant palazzos.

Good to know

Flight time

2 hrs

(from London)

Currency

Euros (€)

Language

Italian