15 Curated Things To Do in Florence for Immersive Travelers

Let me guess. You have at least five other tabs open on things to do in Florence.

Nothing wrong with that, just trying to let you know that I get it. We’re all tired of these blog posts sending people to do the exact same things in the same city.

I’ve also noticed many of the guides available only tell you what you should do in Florence, but never why those things matter.

I grew up doing mass tourism, and I can confidently tell you that you’ll forget about Palazzo Vecchio five minutes after you get home if you went to see it just because.

The entirety of Florence is touristy, so I’m not even gonna try and win points on hidden gems.

But as someone who vigorously explored Florence, its culture, and its history during my 10 days there, I can convince you with reasons to see the coolest sights in the city, like the Duomo Complex Basilica di Santo Spirito, and more.

So for once, get ready to compile your own list of what to do in Florence, not because everybody else is doing it, but because its cultural context is of interest to you!

Top Cultural Sights and Activities in Florence

As a cultural traveler, history, architecture, way of life, and food are the most important aspects I love exploring when in a foreign country.

The list you’ll find is an honest representation as how I myself travel.

While some people prefer to learn about the places they visit as they’re visiting, I find that knowing basic history and fun facts of something before the trip makes me so much more excited about visiting.

This is why I’m hell-bent on sharing what I’ve learned with you now, before you go!

A small disclaimer before you get surprised: The Uffizi Gallery is not on this list, as I never got to go inside on this trip and cannot speak honestly from my own experience.

1. Let a Local Walk You Around the City

Most people are not lucky enough to have an extended period of time in Florence.

If you’re one of most people, you’ll want to save yourself some time getting to know the city by letting a local introduce you to it.

I learned more about the Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Duomo) history and its stunning marble façade on this walking tour than I did in the Duomo Museum.

Don’t get me wrong, the museum is amazing. But a city tour can sometimes be that impactful.

I got to know Florence as well as I did in that little time, thanks to the grounding I got from this.

Finding out that the painted white spot behind Brunelleschi’s Dome isn’t the optimal selfie spot was one of the perks.

👉 Secure your spot on the same walking tour I did and get a head start on your trip!

2. Visit the Florence Duomo Complex

You can’t be in Florence and not visit the Duomo.

Built in 1296 to replace the old city cathedral, Santa Reparata, Santa Maria del Fiore is now the 3rd largest cathedral in the world.

Its massive dome is the first of its kind, and the church remained without it for nearly a century before someone was able to achieve the feat.

Much of the demolished old cathedral from the 5th century has been excavated under the cathedral and is open to the public. And seeing the old ruins underneath that grandiosity was one of the most emotional moments I had in Florence.

With so many moving parts to plan (and many of them that book out months in advance), knowing what’s included in the experience and how everything works is imperative.

Check out my ultimate guide to visiting the Duomo Complex, so you don’t miss out!

👉 Secure your spot for the dome climb here! 👈

3. Go Truffle Hunting With a Local

Truffle hunting is a Tuscan tradition, which is why you’ll always see a truffle something on the menu at restaurants in Florence. Why not join in on one of those?!

Historically, people used pigs because they were so good at sniffing out the truffles.

But over time, they realized that pigs were too smart to wait for the people. As soon as they found the truffle, they’d eat it, and the people would have to wait for them to poop it out.

Take bus 319A from out to meet the guide a few kilometers north of Florence. There, you’ll get to learn more about the tradition, watch the dogs finding truffles, then enjoy a freshly-made truffle pasta for lunch!

👉 Book a time to go hunt for truffles with a local! 👈

4. Eat All the Tuscan Food

Italian food looks very different depending on the region you’re in, and food in Tuscany was easily one of the coziest cuisines I’ve ever had.

Its dishes from Cucina Povera not only utilize the simplest ingredients, but are insanely heart-warming to have, especially when it’s cold out.

Among the many Tuscan dishes I got to tried, I especially loved Lampredotto, Tagilierini al tartufo, Zuccotto, and of course, Bistecca alla Fiorentina! (It’s impossible not to love the steak once you’ve tried it!)

If you don’t have enough time to hit the many amazing restaurants and try all of the above, I recommend joining a walking food tour.

You can read about my experience on this food tour, or book yourself a spot on this one I would have loved to go on instead.

5. See the Original David by Michelangelo

If you’re not familiar with biblical tales, David was a young shepherd who defeated the giant Goliath using nothing but a sling and five stones.

Sculptures of him had been made multiple times, usually of him after defeating Goliath.

Michelangelo, however, chose to portray him in a state of intense concentration before the fight, with the sling and a rock in his hands.

Honestly, I am a cultural traveler, but sculptures have always ranked lower on my priority than the local way of life. I actually almost left this one off my list.

If that’s what you’re thinking, do not! I’m dead serious.

I went in thinking it was just another sculpture, but because it was David, I had to see it once. I ended up hanging around for roughly an hour just admiring the details.

Every muscle down to the veins in his hands was perfect. He looked like a person turned to stone. If he weren’t 17 feet tall, I would’ve believed he was.

The museum (Galleria dell’Accademia) gets crowded, so I recommend going first thing in the morning for the best experience. All entry tickets are timed and sell out fast.

👉 Grab your timed-entry ticket to see David! 👈

6. Visit Florence’s Most Important Churches

You can’t skip the Duomo, that much is clear, but there are roughly a hundred churches in the city. It would be a waste not to see some of those other ones!

My top three picks are Basilica di Santo Spirito (where Michelangelo studied anatomy for his art), Basilica di San Lorenzo (the oldest church in Florence), and Basilica di Santa Croce (tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, and more).

I’ve made a list of the churches that left the most impact on me, so you can pick and choose which ones you want to visit if you’re limited on time.

7. Enter Palazzo Vecchio Through an Escape Route

Palazzo Vecchio is the city’s town hall, sure.

But it’s also been the seat of government since the 13th century, first occupied by the Signoria of Florence during the republic, and later by the Medici family during the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

Instead of going into the museum like other tourists, skip all the lines and enter through a secret passage built by Walter VI of Brienne when he ruled over Florence.

With this special guided tour, you’ll also get to see parts that are inaccessible to the public, like Francesco I de Medici’s hidden study, where he hid his treasures.

Make sure you leave an hour or two free after the tour time, so you can explore the rest of the museum on your own as well. I sadly only had half an hour, so I had to rush through everything. Don’t be like me!

👉 Book the special tour with skip-the-line entry! 👈

8. Stroll Across Ponte Vecchio

I won’t be surprised if I get hate for this, but Ponte Vecchio is overrated.

Don’t get me wrong, it is so special for being the only medieval-age bridge that survived the WWII bombings, hence the oldest bridge in the city. And it’s a pretty sight.

But do you need to walk on it? Not necessarily. It honestly felt like walking on another alleyway in the city, just packed with jewelry shops instead.

I’d say do it just to get to cool things on the other side of the river, but don’t make extra effort just because.

Since I mentioned jewelry shops already, here’s a bit of background.

After the Medici grand dukes had moved from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, they had to walk this bridge often to get between two places. So they banned butchers, and brought in goldsmiths to keep things pleasant 😅

If you’re looking to buy quality jewelry, Ponte Vecchio is the place.

Just avoid going into the shops with a hundred sparkly necklaces on display. Those are the ones made to fool tourists, see? Pick the quiet ones with classily minimal displays.

For the best view of the bridge itself, go to the next bridge, either Ponte Santa Trinità or Ponte alle Grazie.

9. Visit Palazzo Pitti

Designed in the mid 15th century by Filippo Brunelleschi (yes, the dome guy) for the Pitti family, the palace was later sold to the Medici family about a century later.

It then became the new seat of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

Between its art galleries and royal apartments, you could literally collapse trying to see everything in this magnificent building.

This is why I recommend exploring its famous Palatine Gallery with a guide, who can lead you through the most important highlights in two hours.

10. Relax in the Boboli Gardens

Right behind Palazzo Pitti is the Boboli Gardens, a massive Renaissance garden the Medici family used in their down time.

Also called an “outdoor museum,” you’ll also find Renaissance statues and fountains in the garden.

Although there are guided tours of these gardens paired with the Pitti Palace right in front of it, I highly recommend visiting it on your own time.

That’s what the locals do, too! It’s where they go to relax on a weekend.

I blocked out a full afternoon on my last day for the garden, and positively felt like I had left reality and reappeared in The Secret Garden. I can’t imagine having half the fun I did if I had gone with a guided tour.

11. Watch the Sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo

This is one of the more popular things among tourists to Florence, but for good reason.

Those gorgeous shots of Florence’s skyline with the Duomo, with golden afternoon lights reflecting off it, were all taken from this very hilltop square.

But I’ll add a few things I discovered on my way up there to make your time more memorable.

While enjoying a stroll through the quiet San Niccolò neighborhood, stop at the otherworldly jewelry museum owned by Alessandro Dari, a Florentine master goldsmith.

I was first pulled in by the light, magical tunes that filled the block when I was walking by. I did not regret going in at all!

Right next to the square itself on the hillside is Giardino delle rose, a beautifully-designed botanical garden, with mostly roses.

I knew I wasn’t gonna see flowers in full bloom (if I see any at all) since I visited in November. But I imagine it’ll be stunning if you’re visiting in the right season!

12. Get a Glass of Wine from a Buchetta del Vino

Buchette del Vino, called wine windows but literally mean wine holes, are strictly a Tuscan thing.

Back in the Renaissance era, the Medici family allowed other noble families in the region to sell wine tax-free directly to consumers through these little windows.

They’re just big enough to slip a fiasco bottle through.

The windows were proven especially useful during the many plagues Florence went through, but many permanently closed after the great flood of 1966.

During Covid-19, these out-of-use windows came back to life, and became as popular as they are today among tourists.

Note when I say they’re popular among tourists. You’ll see countless of these windows across the city, but not all of them are authentic, so it’s important to know how to spot the real ones.

An original buchetta del vino has to live in a prestigious building and is only slightly taller than a wine glass. Pietrabianca and Babae are two of the legit wine windows.

There’s always a menu nearby. Decide what you want, ring the bell, order the wine, and pay, all through the window.

Some places will also ask if you want a “to-go” glass or “to-return” glass. A to-go glass is usually high-quality plastic, and there’s always a basket or tray for “to-return” ones.

13. Eat Gelato

There are only a few cities in Italy that claim the invention of gelato, and Florence is one of them.

Sometime in the second half of the 16th century, the architect Bernado Buontalenti was tasked with creating a unique dessert for a Medici family event.

He blended snow, milk, cream, egg whites, and sugar, revolutionizing the sorbet that had been popular since Roman times into a creamy treat.

Which brings me to another tip on eating gelato in Florence. Don’t leave without trying Crema Buontalenti, a Florentine flavor recreated in Buontalenti’s memory. Badiani is where you go for this.

My other favorite gelateria is Perché No…?!, so close to the main tourist track, yet criminally underrated.

14. Head Out to Tuscany for a Wine Tasting

While it sounds insanely basic to join a wine-tasting tour to Tuscany, it’s touristy for good reason, isn’t it? Can you be in the first official wine region in the world and not taste wine if you’re a drinker?

I really enjoyed this afternoon-to-evening tour to Chianti, with two family-run heritage wineries and eight tastings in total.

Needless to say, the ride back was especially fun and hilarious, as our guide Raf taught me to say in Italian, divertentissimo!

Before you book, read my honest review and make sure it’s the right kind of tour for you. Oh, I forgot to mention, there was a golden retriever on this tour! Her name is Gemma and she loves butt rubs! 😍

🍷 Book your spot to join the Tuscany wine tour 👈

15. Pick Up Thoughtful Cultural Souvenirs at Signum

I don’t know about you, but I’m so tired of the standard souvenir shops, where you see magnets, gold keychains, sad postcards that are nothing but photos you could have taken yourself, the list goes on.

Before you leave Florence, if you want to bring back a more unique souvenir, with touches of Florentine history and way of life, there’s no better place than Signum.

• Hours of Operation: 9:30 AM – 7:30 PM daily
• Address: Borgo dei Greci, 40-red, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

Just like a handful of other good things in Florence, I found this place by accident while exploring the quieter alleys around the city.

It’s a little hole-in-the-wall shop selling all kinds of stationery and handmade memorabilia.

And yes, you can get the prettiest design postcards here, too!

Here’s an Efficient Itinerary You Can Follow

Not sure how to put this all together for your time in Florence? How about starting with my sample 3-day itinerary? It’s culture-forward, of course, with a good mix of the top sights and hidden gems!

Still looking for somewhere to stay in Florence? I have a guide that helps you decide which neighborhood suits your trip best. Don’t forget to check my Italy cultural travel tips before you land!

Check out my Italy Cultural Travel page for guides on Bologna if you’re going there too!

Get Ready For Your Trip to Italy

Below are resources to help you get ready for your trip. Don’t forget to check visa requirements.

• Get flights and rental car packages at great deals
• Stay connected in Italy with this eSIM
• Must-have Apps: City Mapper, AppTaxi, WhatsApp

Grab My Trip-Planner Template

To help streamline your planning process, I’ve decided to share the template I’ve created and have personally used to plan my own trips. You can grab a copy of it for free below!

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