What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Florence, Italy.
Photo: dominickvietor / Pixabay
Florence is an Italian city of 360,930 people, and many of its main sights are in one area, the Centro Storico. Here you find the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio and the Bargello. Cross the Ponte Vecchio to reach the Oltrarno, home to the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens and many artisans. For views, go up to Piazzale Michelangelo in San Niccolò. The best months to visit are April, September and October.
Plan for more than a quick visit. The Uffizi alone takes 3–4 hours. The Duomo and the Pitti Palace with the Boboli Gardens each take half a day. Add the Accademia, Santa Croce and the Medici Chapels, at 1–2 hours each.
Centro Storico
This is one of the world's great art museums, with Italian Renaissance paintings by Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael. Book a timed ticket in advance, because queues without one can be very long.
Centro Storico
The cathedral complex includes Brunelleschi's Dome, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistery and the Duomo Museum. Climbing the dome gives close views of its frescoes and the city, but it involves many narrow steps and needs booking. Skip the climb if you dislike tight spaces.
San Marco
Most people come to see Michelangelo's David, which is far more impressive in person than in photos. The rest of the museum is small, so book a time slot and do not plan a whole morning here.
Centro Storico
The old town hall still works as Florence's city hall, and its state rooms are richly decorated. The square outside and the Loggia dei Lanzi work as a free open-air sculpture gallery.
Centro Storico / Oltrarno
This medieval bridge over the Arno is lined with small jewellery shops. It gets very crowded in the middle of the day, so walk across early in the morning or in the evening.
Oltrarno
The former Medici palace holds several museums, including a large collection of paintings in grand rooms. Behind it, the Boboli Gardens have terraces, statues and fountains, which make a good break from indoor sights. The gardens are hilly, so wear comfortable shoes.
Santa Croce
This large Franciscan church holds the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, plus frescoes by Giotto. It is usually calmer than the Duomo.
Centro Storico
Housed in a medieval fortress-like palace, this museum has the city's best Renaissance sculpture, including works by Donatello and Michelangelo. It is often much less crowded than the Uffizi or the Accademia.
San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo was the Medici family church, and the Medici Chapels behind it contain tombs with sculptures by Michelangelo. The area around it has a big street market and the San Lorenzo Central Market for food.
San Niccolò
This hilltop square gives the classic view over the Duomo, the river and the rooftops. It is a steep walk up from the river, and it is busiest at sunset. For a quieter view, continue up to the church of San Miniato al Monte.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C / 2°C | 11 days (74 mm) | 6.1 h/day | 3.7/10 |
| February | 13°C / 3°C | 11 days (91 mm) | 7.0 h/day | 5.0/10 |
| March | 15°C / 5°C | 10 days (79 mm) | 8.7 h/day | 6.6/10 |
| Best month: April | 19°C / 7°C | 10 days (75 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| May | 23°C / 12°C | 14 days (104 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 7.2/10 |
| June | 28°C / 16°C | 8 days (55 mm) | 13.1 h/day | 7.2/10 |
| July | 32°C / 19°C | 4 days (24 mm) | 13.9 h/day | 4.5/10 |
| August | 32°C / 19°C | 6 days (43 mm) | 12.5 h/day | 4.2/10 |
| Best month: September | 26°C / 15°C | 9 days (111 mm) | 10.6 h/day | 8.0/10 |
| Best month: October | 21°C / 12°C | 12 days (114 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| November | 15°C / 7°C | 12 days (132 mm) | 6.5 h/day | 5.8/10 |
| December | 12°C / 4°C | 12 days (104 mm) | 5.6 h/day | 4.0/10 |
Highs reach just 10.6°C with 10.5 rain days; cold and damp weather gives Florence its lowest score of the year, 3.7.
Highs climb to 12.7°C but rain still falls 10.6 days; score rises to 5, an ok month for sightseeing without crowds.
Highs of 15.3°C and fewer rain days, 10.2, bring a good score of 6.6 as spring weather starts to settle in.
With highs of 19°C, 9.9 rain days and 10.6 sun hours, April scores 8, the best month for mild, comfortable touring.
Highs reach 22.5°C but rain jumps to 13.9 days and 104mm; still a good month, scoring 7.2, with warm afternoons.
Highs hit 28.3°C with only 8 rain days and 13.1 sun hours; a good score of 7.2 for sunny, drier days.
Highs of 32.3°C and heavy sun, 13.9 hours, make July hot; just 4.1 rain days but heat drags the score to 4.5.
August stays hot at 32.1°C with 6.1 rain days; intense heat keeps the score at 4.2, an ok but sweaty month.
Highs ease to 26.4°C, rain rises to 9.1 days and 111mm, yet September scores 8, tied for the best month.
Highs of 21.4°C with 11.7 rain days and 114mm of rain still bring a strong score of 7.7, among the best.
Highs drop to 15.4°C with 12.4 rain days and 132mm, the wettest month; the score falls to 5.8, an ok time.
Highs reach just 11.9°C with 12 rain days and only 5.6 sun hours; cold, dim conditions give a low score of 4.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Italy →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers
A lively area to the east of the centre, around the large basilica and square of the same name. It is close to the main sights but feels more local, with many bars, wine shops and the Sant'Ambrogio food market nearby. Streets near the bars can be loud late at night, so ask for a room away from the square.
Good for couples, repeat visitors, artisans and food
The area across the river from the centre, known for craft workshops, the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens and relaxed evenings in Piazza Santo Spirito. It feels more like a working neighbourhood and less like a museum. Piazza Santo Spirito gets noisy on warm nights, and some streets towards the hills are steeper.
Good for train travellers, day trips, practical stays
This area sits next to the main railway station and the Central Market, which makes arrivals and day trips to other Tuscan towns simple. There is a wide choice of places to stay, and the Duomo is a short walk away. The streets right around the station can feel busy, scruffy and less pleasant at night.
Good for couples, quiet, views
A small, calm corner on the south bank, below Piazzale Michelangelo and the city walls. It has a village feel, a few good bars and restaurants, and quick access to viewpoints over the city. The drawback is the walk: it is further from the station, and the routes up to the viewpoints are steep.
Good for families, longer stays, quiet
A mainly residential district east of the historic centre, with wider streets and a more everyday Italian rhythm. It is quieter than the centre and has its own train station. You will need to walk a fair distance or take a bus to reach the main sights, and there is little to do in the evenings.
A thick, bone-in T-bone steak grilled rare over charcoal. Locals order it to share at dinner, often in trattorias across the historic centre.
A sandwich made from the fourth stomach of a cow, slow-cooked and served in a bread roll. Market stalls and street carts sell it as a quick lunch.
A thick bread and vegetable soup made with cannellini beans, kale and stale bread. It's a winter dish, often reheated and eaten the day after it's made.
Toasted bread topped with a chicken liver pâté, usually served as a starter before a main course in traditional Tuscan restaurants.
A simple tomato and bread soup flavoured with basil and olive oil. Families often cook it at home using leftover bread.
A flat, oily bread similar to focaccia, sold in bakeries and eaten plain or filled with cold cuts as a snack throughout the day.
Florence is only okay in August, with a score of 4.2 out of 10. Daytime highs reach 32.1°C and there are 6.1 rain days, so heat is the main issue rather than rain. Sun hours stay high at 12.5, which adds to the heat during sightseeing hours.
July rates as okay, scoring 4.5 out of 10. Highs hit 32.3°C, the warmest of the year, though rain is rare with only 4.1 rain days and 24mm of rainfall. The heat, not wet weather, is why July scores lower than spring or autumn.
April, September and October are rated best, each scoring 7.7 to 8 out of 10. April has highs of 19°C and 10.6 sun hours. September reaches 26.4°C with 10.6 sun hours, and October cools to 21.4°C with 8.2 sun hours. All three avoid the summer heat and winter cold.
Two to three days cover the main sights. The Uffizi Gallery takes 3–4 hours, the Duomo half a day, and the Pitti Palace with Boboli Gardens another half day. Smaller stops like the Accademia, Bargello, Santa Croce and Medici Chapels each take 1–2 hours, so a third day lets you see these without rushing.
January is rated the weakest month, scoring 3.7 out of 10. Highs only reach 10.6°C and lows drop to 2.2°C, with 10.5 rain days and just 6.1 sun hours. It's the coldest, dampest and darkest month on the climate record.
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