Plan a trip to Florence

Getting there

Travelling Europe by train? Just out these Eurail options. Or book a flight from anywhere in Europe using EasyJet.

Where to stay

We stayed at Wow Florence Hostel (If you book using this link I get a small commission at no extra cost to you). It was so bright, clean and colourful! We were even upgraded to a private double room with no extra cost. It is a short walk from the Piazza del Duomo and had some fantastic authentic Italian restaurant recommendations.

Top things to do in Florence

Drink Limoncello at Titto restuarant

Check out the Duomo

Visit the replica of the Statue of David in the Piazza della Signoria

Walk across the Ponte de Vecchio

Visit the Santa Croce

Walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a sunset picnic

Soak up all the art at the Uffizi Gallery

 

Florence

I don’t know what it was about Florence but it just worked for us. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from the moment we got there and generally just had a wonderful time. This amazing stay was kick started with the awesome hostel that we had booked. If you are planning on staying in Florence then please, please do yourself a favour and stay at Wow Florence Hostel.

Our first night in Florence was one for the books! We went to a restaurant just down the road called Titto which the hostel had recommended. It was such a refreshing evening after countless touristy restaurants in Rome. This establishment was so authentically and traditionally Italian. You could taste that the pasta was made freshly on site and the waiters and waitresses were so quirky and fun. They were all so incredibly hospitable and friendly and the evening ended with us sharing limoncello (an Italian lemon liquor) with all of the staff. What a fun night to remember!

Our first full day in Florence began bright and early and was a walking tour guided by Rick Steve in his trusty Audio Europe App. We were ready to go after an amazing buffet breakfast at our hostel (They even had a pancake making machine! You literally just pressed a button and some pancakes were freshly made for you. How cool?)
We walked through the relaxed city admiring the beautiful sites including the darling of Florence, the Duomo:

the replica of the Statue of David in the Piazza della Signoria:

and the Ponte Vecchio:

We had a delicious lunch of Calzones at the beautiful Piazza San Spirito before having a look at the lovely Santa Croce.

That evening we walked up to the Piazzale Michelangelo to have a sunset picnic with a view. And oh my, what a beautiful view it was!

The next day we fully immersed ourselves in the artsy side of Florence, home to the many great Renaissance artists. We went to the Uffizi Gallery where we spent a few hours absorbed by the incredible works of world-famous artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo Di Vinci, Raphael and Botticelli.

We only really had a day and a half in Florence as we spent the rest of our second day in Pisa. But in my opinion it was the perfect amount of time. It is a small city, but has such an amazing feel about it. It is relaxed, authentic, at night the streets are filled with groups of friends just sitting around and chilling and it is such a lovely Italian city. My favourite memory of the city was enjoying a really delicious gelato sitting on a bench on the Piazza del Duomo at night. Florence treated us really well and I really enjoyed our time there.

Planning a trip to Italy? Why not check out my blogs on Verona, Rome, Venice, Pisa and Cinque Terre?