Hotels in Florence

Bursting with adventure, Florence in Italy is every traveller’s dream. After all, it’s never been a question of what you can do in Florence, it’s a matter of how you can fit it all in your itinerary. From exploring its historical sights like the Ponte Vecchio, admiring the architecture of the Piazza Duomo, and watching the sunset view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo, you will never run out of things to do.

How to Get There

When heading to Florence, travellers arrive in the Amerigo Vespucci Airport also known as the Peretola. This airport is four kilometres away from the centre and there are a lot of options to get there: the taxi, the bus, and the train.

If you choose to take a taxi, you will immediately find one once you exit the arrivals terminal. It should cost you a base fare of €22 with an additional €1 per baggage you have. The travel time would vary depending on the traffic, but it should be about 15 minutes.

The bus service called the Vola in Bus is another option that takes about 20 minutes to reach downtown and it stops at the Santa Maria Novella Train Station. The bus operations start at 5:30 AM and departs every 30 minutes until 8:30 PM and then every hour starting 11:45 PM to 1:00 AM. The one-way ticket is worth €6 and this can be purchased inside the bus. You can also save by purchasing a roundtrip ticket for €10, but these can only be bought in the Sita Bus Station at the Santa Maria Novella Train Station or from tabacchi (tobacco) shops.

Lastly, the train is the newest option to get to the city. You can easily view their schedule on their website, but normally it has an interval of 10 minutes. You can take it immediately from the Florence Airport (FLR) T2 Line up to the Florence Train Station (SMN) and the ticket should cost €1.50.

Getting Around

Florence is easy to explore, with you being able to see a lot just by stepping out into the street. It’s why walking is the most recommended option to go around the city since you’ll be able to see a handful of quaint shops and restaurants as well as the city’s famous architecture.

If walking tires you, you can easily get around via bus. A ticket would cost €1.50 and these are readily available in convenience stores. Taxis are also an option, but it’s the most expensive way since meters start at €3 on weekdays and Saturdays and higher on Sundays especially at 10 PM to 6 AM.

Top Things to Do

As a bustling city, Florence has attractions and activities for any kind of traveller, whether you’re into history and art, food, and shopping.

To start, the main attraction for everyone would be the Piazza Duomo. Built during the Renaissance, the church is known for its impressive architecture. It houses several art and relics that are a must-see for every tourist. Its bell tower also has a picturesque view of the city.

The Palazzo Pitti, the grand palace of the Medici family, is also a must for art and history buffs since it contains several heirlooms and artwork that they collected. While exploring the grand palace, you can also take a stroll in the Boboli Gardens, known for its beautiful arrangement of statues, fountains, and hidden mazes. It also houses an amphitheatre and multiple museums since it’s 11-acres big. The Uffizi Gallery is also another stop for travellers since it’s home to a lot of artworks by Renaissance painters like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

As for those wanting to take a bit of Florence home with them, you can explore the Gucci Garden. Created by Alessandro Michele, this museum-boutique sells a lot of designs that can only be seen there. The ground floor is where you can find the chic Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, a restaurant known for its impressive menu created by the renowned celebrity chef.

For smaller and unique trinkets, make sure you also visit the Oltrarno, the city’s best-kept secret. This part of the city is known to be the hippest since you’ll be able to see the current happenings in the contemporary art scene. You can observe artisanal workshops here too such as bookbinding, making crystal and glassware, and lute making.

What to Eat

For a city so rich in culture, you also absolutely cannot miss its cuisine. Particularly, Florence’s gelato is famous even in the country. Home to Venchi and several smaller artisanal gelato shops, the city is known for the quality and interesting flavors that are made by hand.

Meanwhile, the restaurant La Casalinga is known for its traditional Florentine food. Make sure to try the crostini and lingua less con salsa. Pizzeria Santarpia, one of the best pizzerias in the city serves authentic Neapolitan pizzas with ingredients sourced with care from different parts of the country to create classics like Margherita and Marinara as well as other creative dishes. Wine is also a staple in the city with many boroughs to enjoy it in.

Where to Stay

With all the sights and activities Florence has to offer, of course, you would like to save time by being near all of it. Being a hotspot for tourists, there has been a growth in the number of hotels and hostels situated in certain parts of the city.

As a quick guide, it has been recommended that Santa Maria Novella is a good place for families with hotels such as Casa Howard Guest House and Hotel Universo. San Marco is also a good neighbourhood to stay in, recommended for foodies, culture vultures, and older travellers. It is also suggested for people on a budget since homey B&Bs such as the Piccolo Hotel and Hotel Miceli - Civico 50 is around the area.

On the other hand, Santa Croce is an ideal spot if you want to experience the city’s artisanal shops and restaurants.

Travel Tips

• Maximize your day by going to scenic tours on non-peak hours.

• Remember that taxis are never hailed in Florence. You can get one in a taxi rank.

• Check if the museum you want to visit has a timed ticketing service so you can avoid long lines.

• Most importantly, locals always say you should get lost in the city. More often than not, you’ll run into Florence’s hidden gems that would make your trip all the more worthwhile.