Florence Italy is a city that holds a special place in our hearts. With great food, incredible history and the jumping off point to some of the best wine regions in Italy this is a great city to base yourself in for endless European summer adventures. We spent over a week here (longer for Kaylee) and we feel like this was the perfect amount of time to get familiar with the area and all it has to offer.
In this blog post we are sharing 10 of the best things to do in Florence Italy including some unique and some FREE tours!
Let’s get into it!
1. Take a Small Group Cooking Class
Florence is known for it’s standout cuisine and they have some very talented chefs and home cooks that are eager to teach you their secrets. Taking a SMALL group class is truly the best decision when it comes to taking a cooking class in Florence. We took a cooking class that was set in an Italian Villa in the Florence countryside with a small group. It included instruction on 3 different types of pasta, traditional bruschetta as well as a complimentary dessert and wine! You get to eat everything that you cooked so come hungry!
You can check out the exact cooking class we took here!
2. Take a FREE Walking Tour
Yes you heard that right.. a FREE walking tour in Florence! There are tours for everyone in your group offered through this website! All tour guides are certified and are very knowledgeable on the city. The tours operate in many different languages and are popular so make sure to sign up ahead of time for the one you want! We did the “Dark Side of Florence..Mysteries and Legends Tour” because we love a good ghost story! But there are also free tours that highlight the history of the city, the architecture and more!
Important to note that white the tour is free, however the tour guides do work for tips so if you loved your tour make sure to tip them a little something to show your appreciation.
You can check out the free tours that are currently being offered here!
3. Take a Guided Wine Tour … With a Driver!
If you are a wine lover, then you NEED to take a wine tasting tour in Tuscany. While it may be enticing to do a tour with a Vespa or Scooter, keep in mind YOU need to drive it! We always recommend taking a small guided tour with a driver so you can truly enjoy the wine and the experience without the worry of driving yourself safely back. We loved this off-road food and wine tour that included a 3 course lunch, a picnic with snacks, visiting and wine tasting at 2 wineries and also visit some historical landmarks along the way.
You can check out this wine tour here!
4. Take a Tour of the Accademia Gallery
Florence is a mecca of art and history! Florence holds some of the most incredible works of art, with its most famous being the Statue of David! The Accademia Gallery has a beautiful display of more than just statues, and we absolutely feel like it is worth checking it out. We enjoy taking guided tours because we feel we truly get the most out of the visit with knowledgeable guides. However, we understand that may not be the case for everyone so we are included Skip the Line Tickets below because this place is VERY popular and we would hate for you to waste your time in Florence standing in a line!
Check out the number one rated guided tour here! (Apparently the Beiber’s took this tour!)
Want to see the Gallery but don’t want the guided tour? No problem! Skip the line with tickets here!
5. See Tuscany From A Unique Perspective.. The Sky!
Tuscany is not only known for it’s wine and food, but also it’s beautiful landscape. Float over the valleys and rolling hills of the San Casciano in Val di Pesa in a Hot Air Balloon to truly get a unique perspective on the area. This one hour hot air balloon ride is an unforgettable experience in Italy and ends with a some sparkling wine once you land!
Check out the hot air balloon ride over tuscany here!
6. Make Your Own Souvenir In a Tuscan Pottery Class
With a small group of 6 people, you will be transported in a private care to Montelupo, the famous town in Tuscany known for its pottery. In this class, an artisan will guide you and teach you techniques traditional to pottery making in the area. You will also get the opportunity to tour a historic workshop! The class includes the shipping fee of your pottery piece directly home to you so you get to travel lighter and have your souvenir waiting at home for you when you return!
Looking for more pottery to take home with you? You will also have the option to purchase some of the pieces made by them master artisans at an additional cost to the tour!
You can check out this unique activity to do in Tuscany here!
7. Eat and Drink Your Way Through Florence
If you are looking for one of the best activities to do in Florence, then you have found it! Florence is known for its incredible wine and their traditional and delicious food! This walking tour takes you to 5 must visit stops in Florence to sample some food and drink some wine. Think wine, cheese, nonna approved dishes, gelato and more!
We love taking walking tours that include a little history, a knowledgeable guide, food and wine! This tour really has it all, and is a great introduction to the city.
You can find out more about this tour here!
8. Visit The Famous Duomo
A visit to Florence wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Duomo! Due to the low lying nature of the buildings, the Duomo towers the centre of Florence and is truly an incredible sight to see. There are multiple different ways to experience this historical building so we are going to share them all!
Take a Guided Tour
A guided tour is a great way to see a historical sight. The guides are always knowledgeable and offer unique perspectives on what you are seeing. We feel this is the best way to truly get the most out of an experience at the Duomo! This tour offers priority tickets to all the sights assosciated with the Duomo. It includes entry to the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral (Duomo), St John’s Baptistery, Duomo Museum, AND Giotto’s Bell Tour if you select that option!
You can find the exact guided tour we recommend here!
DIY Tour
More of a do-it-yourself tour person? We totally understand! If you are looking to gain access to all of the sights and skip the line WITHOUT a guide, then we recommend buying the tickets directly from the Cathedral’s Website. We would recommend the Brunelleschi Pass which gives you access to all the historical sights that allows you to spread out your visit over 3 days.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: If you plan on doing a DIY Tour of the Duomo, then make sure you check the website for closure dates, as certain monuments are closed certain days of the week!
9. Take a Walk Over Ponte Vecchio
If you are walking around in Florence you need to make a stop at the oldest bridge in the city, Ponte Vecchio! The bridge is lined with shops on both sides, perfect for purchasing souvenirs and checking out local goods. The most popular being gold from some of the best goldsmiths in the city!
10. Watch the Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazza Michelangelo is on a hill on the south bank of the Arno River, just east of the center of Florence, and offers a stunning view of the city! It is a bit far to walk to if you are staying in the center of Florence but you can always catch a taxi to get you there. We always recommend visiting at sunset as it offers the best view of the sun behind Florence. There is typically a musician entertaining the crowd as well which adds to the magic!
Bonus points if you grab some wine and snacks to eat on the steps as you watch the sunset!
Final Thoughts on Florence
Florence is a charming city in Tuscany that offers SO much to do! From good wine and great food to incredible art and rich history, there is truly something for everyone here!
We hope you enjoyed this guide on things to do in Florence Italy!
Did we leave something off the list? Let us know your favorite experience in the comments!
