Must-Do Things in Florence Italy for a Weekend
Florence is the city of art and delicious food. No trip to Florence would be complete without visiting some of its iconic museums and sites. It's a compact city where you can easily travel around on foot to all the popular places (without the troublesome but adorable cobblestone that Rome has). Some of my top things to do in Florence Italy are eat lots of pasta, try all the cool, artsy drinks, and walk outside by the river.
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Where to Stay
Always book fully refundable places; you really can't go wrong in Florence. Some ideal places for affordability are. There's a B&B by the water or a hotel with river views that is affordable and near the public transit station. If you're arriving by the train and have lots of bags, then you should try to stay near the station at a place like this.
1. Local Shopping & Art Scene
This city is rich in culture and art. Whether you're looking for hand-crafted leather items or creative paintings of the local scenery, you can certainly find what you're looking for if you go exploring the streets. We were able to pick up several art pieces to bring home just by walking around and exploring all the offerings. We also got matching leather purses!
2. Galleria dell'Accademia
All around the city of Florence you can find David Statues scattered about of all sizes and colors. However, the original one resides in the Galleria dell'Accademia, which is definitely worth a visit, just make sure to reserve your timed ticket in advance.
3. Climb the Florence Duomo stairs
This was one of the highlights of our trip to Florence. It's a great workout, so eat some pizza and/or carbs beforehand to be prepared for steps you'll have to climb. Make sure to reserve these tickets in advance, as you cannot book them the day of. They often sell out weeks in advance during the summertime. We loved this so much though and highly recommend.
4. Day Trip to Tuscany Vineyards
There are several half-day trips you can take out to Tuscany from Florence; we did this one from Viator and the selection of vineyards were great for us and there were plenty of vegetarian-friendly eats. This is the best option so you can enjoy the wine and not have to worry about driving. The half-day tours are perfect since you can enjoy wine and cheese and then still have the rest of the day to explore Florence.
5. Piazze Michaelangelo
For free, panoramic views of Florence, you must visit Piazze Michaelangelo. The views are the perfect place to see the whole city, especially if you're opting out of climbing up the Duomo. There is a place to eat and enjoy an Aperol spritz at the top of the hill and you can easily access it by walking or by taxi.
6. Explore the town at night and Sip wine at a Rooftop Bar
Finish off the night with experiencing some of Florence's nightlight and rooftop bars. There are countless bars where you can enjoy a glass of wine with a view of the Duomo. We bar hopped around the city center one evening and just enjoyed all the different aesthetics to each place. You can't go wrong with anywhere you see on google maps, so just get lost and see where the evening takes you.
Tips
1. Check out local restaurants and arsty cafes. The food and drinks can also be part of the art scene as well.
2. Book a hotel in the central part of the city to make the most of your time in Florence. You don't want to be spending the majority of your time on a train or bus.
