17 Best Things To Do in Florence

Small in size, but truly rich in charm and cultural heritage, Florence is home to gems such as the Duomo, Michelangelo's David, the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. It can be visited in two days or enjoyed over the course of a week, which I recommend you take the time to explore Florence in 15 incredible ways.

When Stendhal, the famous French author, visited Florence in 1817 he had no idea that the vertigo he suffered from not being able to assimilate the sheer beauty of this Italian city would develop into a syndrome diagnosed as 'Florence Syndrome' or 'Stendhal Syndrome'. This is the evocative capacity of Florence, capital of the beautiful Tuscany and Renaissance city par excellence, which should be visited at least once in a lifetime.

And if there is a maximum representative of this beauty and splendour, it is the Piazza del Duomo, located in the historic centre of Florence, declared a World Heritage Site, which is the most famous enclave of the city. It encompasses the marvellous architectural ensemble formed by the Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo, the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Giotto's Bell Tower. Book a tour of the Duomo of Florence and don't miss any detail.

Considered one of the best museums in Florence andthe world, the impressive Uffizi Gallery houses a huge collection of works of art, 1,500 in total, spanning the history of classical art from Greece to the 18th century.

You will need 4 hours on average to visit the entire complex, although you can choose to admire only the highlights, such as Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's Doni Tondo or Titian's The Venus of Urbino.

A good way to organise your visit to the Uffizi Gallery is to book a guided tour or at least a fast-track ticket to the Uffizi Gallery to avoid the endless queues at the entrance of the most visited museum in Florence. There are different prices available for the Uffizi Gallery; check them out so you can adapt your budget and not miss out on this jewel of a museum. Here are some options:

• Uffizi Gallery tickets, from £27.
• Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens in Florence (5-day pass), from £44.
• Guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, from £58.
• Private guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, from £105.

The Duomo is one of the most important buildings in the city, being one of the largest Christian temples in the world and highly prized artistically for its exquisite white marble façade and its extraordinary Brunelleschi Dome which you can climb to get spectacular views of the city.

The interior of the Duomo Cathedral and, above all, its dome receive millions of visitors a year so it is advisable to book a fast-track ticket and even a tour to discover the full history of the Duomo and its outbuildings. The prices to visit the Duomo of Florence are totally affordable, so you have no excuse. Here are some options for your visit:

• Tickets for the Cathedral and Brunelleschi's Dome, from £50.
• 1-hour guided tour of the Duomo of Florence, from £35.
• Guided tour of the Duomo with access to Brunelleschi's dome, from £80.
• Tour of the Florence Duomo with access to the Cathedral, from £127.
• Private tour of the Duomo complex, from £126.

The undisputed symbol of the city of Florence, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the must-see sights in Florence. It is one of the key stops of all city tours such as the bike tour of Florence. Today full of jewellery shops, this bridge was originally occupied by the city's butchers and is one of the best and most famous examples of bridges with hanging houses in the world.

For years and as you will see, thousands of padlocks have hung from its structure, left by couples who have vowed eternal love in this romantic enclave. I personally am a born sunset hunter and I can assure you that the faint light of the setting sun reflected on the Arno is magical.

Located in the rich historical centre of Florence, you will find the second most visited museum in the city, the Accademia Gallery. Among the jewels of art in the Galleria dell'Accademia, stands imposingly Michelangelo's authentic David, the quintessential Renaissance work, standing 5.2 metres tall.

Long queues are guaranteed, so be sure to secure a ticket or book a guided tour to enrich your visit to the Galleria dell'Accademia. Here is some information about the prices of the Accademia Gallery and the opening hours so you can organise your visit. And bear in mind that you can opt for:

• Guided tour of the Accademia Gallery and Michelangelo's David, from £42.
• Private tour of Michelangelo in Florence, from £137.

Next to the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria is Florence's most famous square and one of its main attractions.

It is a veritable open-air museum made up of historic buildings, including the Palazzo Vecchio and its incredible Sala del Cinquecento, unique monuments, such as the Fountain of Neptune, and magnificent sculptures, with the Loggia dei Langi and its Perseus with the head of Medusa or those of Hercules, Cacus and Michelangelo's David, a replica of the original which, don't forget, you will only find in the Galleria dell'Accademia.

At night, this square fills with atmosphere, with dozens of Florentines and tourists admiring the beauty of its sculptures. Enjoying a pizza sitting on the steps of the square while several musicians provide the atmosphere of the Florentine night is a unique (and very cheap!) experience. An ideal plan after touring Florence or after enjoying a pizza cooking class.

We all like to climb to the highest point of a city to see its panoramic view and take the best souvenir photos. Well, that place in Florence is the Piazzale Michelangelo, a viewpoint a bit far from the centre that you can reach on the Florence tourist bus.

Besides the views, which are especially beautiful at sunset, in this square designed in homage to Michelangelo you will be able to admire replicas of some of his greatest sculptures, such as the David and the four statues of the Medici Chapel.

If you need a moment of relaxation amidst the endless works of art that Florence has to offer (remember what happened to Stendhal, I've warned you), this is the place to be: the Boboli Gardens.

Book a guided tour of the Boboli Gardens or tickets for the Boboli Gardens in Florence and enjoy an oasis behind the Pitti Palace, a marvellous Renaissance garden full of surprises along the way, from an amphitheatre to fountains, grottoes and sculptures that will make your walk a truly delightful experience.

Another of the most visited places in Florence, partly because of the great atmosphere it exudes, is the Piazza de la Santa Croce, in the heart of the historic centre of the city. Rectangular in shape, the square is guarded by majestic palaces and a statue of Dante Alighieri.

Its church is popular for housing the tombs of illustrious figures such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galiei, Machiavelli and Lorenzo Ghiberti, and is known as the Pantheon of Italian Glories. Without being as popular as the Piazza del Duomo, for me, its intimate atmosphere makes it very special so I recommend you to book a guided tour of the Basilica Santa Croce to know in detail all its history.

Don't make the mistake of overlooking the beauty of the Baptistery's details. Although the size and spectacular nature of the Duomo and its dome are usually the focus of a visit to the square, this architectural landmark has some details that are well worth booking a tour of the Baptistery.

Directly opposite the Duomo, you will find Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise: one of the most acclaimed works of the Renaissance, it depicts Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac in the Old Testament. Today, the original doors are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, which I also recommend.

The Medici Chapel might go unnoticed if you are not looking for it, but its interesting interior is well worth a visit.

Highlights include the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, and the Chapel of the Princes, an octagonal room lined with marble and semi-precious stones where the remains of some of the most illustrious members of the most famous and powerful dynasty of patrons in Italian history are laid to rest. Be sure to book tickets for the Medici Chapels and discover it.

Leonardo Da Vinci is probably the most famous Italian in history. In the city of Florence there is a museum dedicated to him.

Visiting the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in Florence is to immerse yourself in the figure of the artist, but it is also a fun time if you go to Florence with children. I recommend you book tickets for the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in advance so you don't miss out.

Florence's exceptional location makes a visit to the city a unique opportunity to discover other wonders that Italy has to offer. Florence is located in the beautiful region of Tuscany, with idyllic villages, colourful hills and miles and miles of vineyards. This is probably the best eating and drinking region in Italy, so a trip to Tuscany's vineyards from Florence is a must.

The good thing is that this region is fully prepared to welcome visitors from Florence, so there are several tours and excursions organised from Florence that will save you from having to rent a car or spend time researching for the best itinerary. Don't forget to check out the food tours in and around Florence as they can be a perfect option for your visit to Tuscany.

If there is one region in Italy that enchanted (and surprised me in equal parts), it was Cinque Terre. This area is made up of five small villages linked together along its coastline with picturesque colourful houses and wonderful beaches. Although it has become very fashionable in recent years, the fact that it is close to other popular areas such as Tuscany and Pisa makes it a little more off the beaten track and gives it a special charm.

If you want to get away from the cultural and artistic itinerary of the city of Florence and spend a pleasant day in nature, don't hesitate to take an excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence. But booking an excursion to Cinque Terre is not the only option to go, you can also get to Cinque Terre from Florence on your own and make your own travel itinerary.

While the Tuscan countryside is one of the most popular destinations for visitors arriving in Florence, Pisa is a pleasant little town to visit with even a half-day organised excursion from Florence.

There are several options (in fact, some of them even take you to visit other charming towns like Lucca or San Gimignano), so I recommend you to read my article about excursions to Pisa from Florence to choose the one that best suits your time and budget. They are listed below:

• Excursion to Pisa, from £33.
• Excursion to Pisa and Lucca, from £56.
• Excursion toPisa, Siena and San Gimignano, from £64.

As you may already know, Florence's location on the map allows you to visit a large number of sights with very little travel time. And if there are organised tours that take you there and back in a day, you have no excuse for not visiting the surrounding area. A popular option is to get to Venice from Florence, but it's not the only one.

With a population of just 55,000, Siena has always been a city of historical and cultural importance. With cobbled streets and buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, walking around the city is like travelling back in time. If you are curious and want to know more about Siena and how to organise your excursion there, I'll leave you a link to my article about excursions to Siena from Florence and I'll also give you some options:

• Excursion to Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti, from £57.
• Excursion to Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano from Florence, from 64.
• Excursion to Siena, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni, from £67.
• Excursion to San Gimignano, Siena and Monteriggioni, from £71.

Although at first sight it may seem a cliché, touring Florence aboard a tourist bus with free stops will allow you, on the one hand, to enjoy the views of its streets comfortably seated, but also to move from one point of interest to another comfortably without having to worry about public transport. Don't hesitate and book your ticket for the Florence sightseeing bus.

After taking note of all that awaits you in this wonderful Italian city, you're probably wondering when is the best time to visit. The most popular time is summer, but there is also plenty to do in Florence in winter and even more so if your visit to Florence coincides with Christmas. In terms of months of the year, travelling to Florence in February, March, August, September, October, November and December are the most popular choices for tourists.

I do not advise you to spend less than three days in Florence, but perhaps your travel plans do not allow it, so here is a guide of what to see if you are going to spend two days in Florence or even what to see in Florence in one day. In the latter case, I also advise you to book your transfer from Florence airport in advance to save time.

Do you have more days? Perfect; spending four days in Florence, five days in Florence or seven days in Florence will give you the opportunity to get to know the city in depth, but also to make an excursion to its surroundings, so don't think about it.