10 Things To Do in Florence over a Weekend

The glorious capital of Tuscany boasts probably the greatest collection of Renaissance art and architecture in the world. The extraordinary wealth of creativity in tiny, exquisite Florence sits within such a compact area that a new treasure is unveiled at every step, so although a two-day stay barely scratches the surface, you can still get a taster of its bountiful treasures. And while you’re there, don’t neglect its buzzing markets, high-end shopping and award-winning restaurants. Here are the top things to do in Florence over a weekend – but a word of advice: up to 16 million people visit every year, so do book your Florence hotel well in advance.

With roughly 48 hours in Florence, you can save time and money on things to do in Florence by buying a sightseeing card ahead of time. Planning an art-filled stay? The Florence Pass gives priority entrance to the Uffizi and Accademia galleries, where waiting times are notoriously long.

A stay at Cerretani Hotel Firenze - MGallery Collection puts you right in Florence’s historic centre. Get settled and then orientate yourself with a meander around its cobbled streets; the cathedral looks simply magical when softly illuminated after dark. And as one of the best things to do in Florence is dine out, take your pick of cosy trattorias serving Chianti and pasta with wild boar ragù.

An imposing medieval fortress on the outside, the interior of the Old Palace was transformed into a lavish home fit for the Medici clan – who ran Florence with an iron fist for centuries – in the 1540s. Among all the opulence, look out for Eleanor of Toledo’s ornate suites and her private chapel swathed with biblical frescoes, the glittering Room of the Lilies and works by Vasari and Michelangelo in the Salone dei Cinquecento. If you have a head for heights, scramble up the landmark 95-metre Arnolfo Tower for vistas over terracotta rooftops to the Tuscan countryside.

• Piazza della Signoria, 50122
  
• Adult tickets from €10
• Open Mon-Wed, Fri–Sun 9am-5pm

A place of pilgrimage for art lovers, this spellbinding gallery in the historic HQ of the Medici court is full to bursting with work by Renaissance leaders, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. However, it’s Botticelli who really steals the show; in a room dedicated to his works, you’ll find the stunning triumvirate of The Birth of Venus, La Primavera and the Adoration of the Magi – seeing these alone makes a trip to Florence worthwhile.

• Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, 50122
• Adult tickets from €25
• Open Tue-Sun 8:15am-6:30pm

Now turn your attention to Florence’s showstopper: the magnificent cathedral soars above the city, its striking marble façade adorned with multi-coloured geometric patterning. Constructed in a deliberate show of political power to be the (then) largest church in Europe, it has an interior of austere grandeur enlivened by jewel-coloured stained-glass windows and frescoes. Be sure to check out the Last Judgement series plastering the interior of the majestic dome, which was designed by Brunelleschi in an engineering marvel not yet outdone. Buy tickets online to climb 463 steps to its top for fantastic views over the city – simply one of the best things to do in Florence.

• Piazza del Duomo, 50122
• Open Mon–Sat 10:15am-4:15 pm
• Entry to the cathedral is free

Burial place of many Florentine rulers, this elaborate chapel is laid out to plans by Michelangelo. It also houses some of his very best works: the sublimely fluid marble sculptures of Dawn, Dusk, Day and Night adorning the ornate sarcophagi of Medici grand dukes.

• Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini 6, 50123
  
• Wed-Mon 8:15am-6:50pm
• Adult ticket €9
• 5 minutes' stroll from the cathedral

The basilica adjoining the Medici Chapel was once the Medici family place of worship. It is a suitably extravagant homage to peerless Italian creativity, featuring Donatello’s bronze pulpits, a sweeping sandstone staircase by Michelangelo and paintings by Pietro Annigoni – the latter a rare example of 20th-century art in a Florence church.

• Piazza di San Lorenzo, 9, 50123
• Open Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm
• Adult ticket €9
• Next to the Medici Chapel

A top thing to do in Florence is browse the laden stalls at the city’s fragrant food market, a paradise for food lovers that buzzes with gourmet goodness. Sample cured salamis and freshly baked pane Toscano (saltless bread), or pick up souvenirs of Tuscan olive oil and balsamic vinegar to take back home.

• Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 50123
• Open Sun-Thur 9am–11pm; Fri-Sat 9am-midnight
• A 3-minute walk from San Lorenzo

Usually recognised by the long queues waiting outside, this gallery houses possibly the world’s most flawless sculpture: Michelangelo’s incomparable David. Other standout pieces by this Renaissance genius include his haunting, unfinished Prisoners, with figures seemingly struggling to escape their marble carapace. Less well known, but certainly worth a peek, are the rare Stradivarius violins from the private Medici collection.

• Via Ricasoli 58/60, 50129
• Open daily 8:15am-6:50pm
  
• Adult ticket €16

Behind its serene 19th-century façade, Santa Croce is a Gothic masterpiece and burial place of some of Florence’s most famous – and infamous! – characters. Sculptors Michelangelo and Ghiberti, astronomer Galileo and Machiavelli – author of The Prince – all have their final resting places among the swirling frescoes and stained glass.

• Piazza Santa Croce, 16, 50122
• Open Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm; Sun 12:30pm-5:45pm
  
• Adult ticket €10
• A 15-minute stroll from the Accademia along Via del Proconsolo; stop off at heavenly Erboristeria De Herbore for scented soaps and essential oils.

Traditional things to do in Florence include crossing the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge over the River Arno. For centuries it has been the centre of jewellery making in the city, and its narrow alleyway is lined with the wonky, wooden façades of shops still busily producing silver and gold filigree work, rings studded with precious stones and unusual pieces by contemporary artisans.

• Florence 50125
• 10 minutes along the Lungarno from Santa Croce; once over the bridge, turn first left to Via de’ Bardi 39 and the best panini in Florence at Amici di Ponte Vecchio Firenze.

Take a deep dive into the sybaritic lifestyle of the Medici dynasty at this vast Renaissance-era palace complex, now housing five world-beating museums showcasing artworks, jewellery, decorative arts and fashion squirrelled away by the political elite of Florence over several centuries. If you’re time-poor, focus on the first-floor Palatine Gallery for its incomparable collection of paintings by Raphael, Titian and Rubens, all displayed in a fabulously OTT baroque setting. On the same floor, the sumptuous decadence of former Royal Apartments gives you a glimpse of the lifestyle enjoyed by its residents!

Make your final stop of the day a breather in the Boboli Gardens (open daily 8:15am-around sunset, adult ticket €10). This formal park behind the Palazzo Pitti is chock-full of sculptures, fountains, follies and stately cypress avenues – and as it lies on a hill above the city, you’ll have spectacular views over the cathedral’s landmark dome.

• Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125
• Tue-Sun 8:5am-6:30pm
• Adult ticket €16

If reading about things to do in Florence has inspired you to seek out more beautiful and cultured Italian cities, how about discovering the iconic sights of Rome or exploring historic Milan?