Pocket Rough Guide Florence (Rough Guides)

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However, chances are you won’t need to use public transport during your Florence itinerary! The best way to see this city is by walking around. The narrow streets and cobbled lanes are most easily accessible by foot, and you will enjoy all of the sights and happenings around you this way. Renting a bicycle in Florence is another fun and efficient way of getting around! Whether you are keen to teach English online or looking to take your teaching game a step further by finding a job teaching English in a foreign country, getting your TEFL certificate is absolutely a step in the right direction. Being a Responsible Traveler in Florence Go on a free walking tour in Florence: Whilst technically you could do this yourself if armed with the proper guidebook or travel guide for Florence (nudge, nudge), reaching out to a local expert would also be good. The people at Florence Free Tour offer four walks per day in both English and Spanish.Go on a free walking tour in Florence: Whilst technically you could do this yourself if armed with the proper guidebook or travel guide for Florence (nudge, nudge), reaching out to a local expert would also be good. The people at Florence Free Tour offer four walks per day in both English and Spanish. Florence is full of incredible museums, and the Palazzo Pitti is definitely one of the best! The palace was built in the 15th century, and it has a fascinating history. The enormous building has been home to some of the most influential characters in the history of Florence!

While eating out in the city is expensive, the good thing about Italy is that you can get pizza and pasta for reasonable prices. A filling meal at a casual Italian restaurant won’t cost more than 15 EUR. You can get a small personal pizza for about 10 EUR or less. Take a free walking tour– This is a great way to learn the history of the city, see the main attractions, and fill in your day without spending a lot of money. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end! See the chapel of Santa Maria de Firenze: Whilst many of the facilities at Santa Maria de Firenze require paid-entry, the main chapel is still free to enter. From the inside, you will be able to see the marvelous fresco of the dome still. The first floor houses the Palatine Gallery – an impressive display of the Medici’s collection of paintings. The Imperial Apartments are also found on this floor. The main hurdle when staying in Florence is that it can get expensive! If you want to stay somewhere a little bit more removed from the hustle and bustle (and a bit more affordable), consider the San Marco neighborhood. This residential area is still a short walk to the city centre, and it offers some great Florence points of interest.Covering Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Fiesole and more, the practical Places section provides all you need to know about must-see sights and the best places to eat, drink, sleep and shop. This town offers incredible views out over the valley of Florence and the Arno River. Take some time to explore the little town for a bit of an insight into life in the Tuscan countryside. The main piazza of the town has a fair amount going on, with some great tours departing from here. You could visit an interesting Roman theatre or see the San Francesco Convent. Insiders Tip: The market can get really busy during normal eating hours, so try to arrive at a different time if you want to avoid the crowds. Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous in Italy. The city is full of life and endless sunshine. Read more about The Best Time to Travel to Italy.

The metro station at Scandicci has a large parking lot where you can leave your car overnight. If you’re spending three or so days in Florence, park your car here and then take the tram into the city. Trust me, you won’t need a car in Florence, ever. Chinese takeout is around 6-10 EUR for a noodle or rice dish, while a meal at a Thai restaurant is around 10-15 EUR. For a fun experience while in Florence, take a paddling tour down the Arno River. Depending on what appeals to you, you could choose to kayak, go on a boat, or even a stand-up paddle tour! For something completely unique, river rafting tours are also available.The main (and possibly only) way to get around this city is on foot. Most things to see are all located within a relatively compact area, making them easy to reach through walking. Staying somewhere central is very important to your Florence itinerary!

Travel on foot– Public transportation in Florence isn’t quite as necessary as in other European cities because most attractions are within walking distance. Skip the bus and walk if you can. You’ll save a few euros. Day Two: Uffizi Gallery | Ponte Vecchio | Mercato Centrale | Museo Stibbert | Window Shopping | Basilica of Santa Croce | Piazza Della Signoria One cannot visit Florence without experiencing the iconic Arno River. This river stretches for 240km before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea, making it a highly important river in Italy! There are people that travel to Florence just for this establishment. The sandwiches at All’antico Vinaio are legendarily delicious. This place is so well-regarded that it was actually voted one of the most reviewed restaurants in the world. So it goes without saying that you’ll need to arrive early if want to eat here. 5. See everything at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Couchsurf! – Couchsurfing is the best way to save on cash when it comes to accommodation since most of the time you’re crashing for free. Staying with a local host is also a great chance to experience a more authentic side of the city and to visit hidden Florence.

I’ve chosen the ideal daily structure, added times, routes to get there and suggestions on how long you should spend at each spot. Of course, you can add your own spots in, swap things around, or even skip some places. Use this itinerary as inspiration instead of a fixed plan to get the most out of your trip! 3 Day Florence Itinerary Overview Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together. The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge, built in 1345 as the city’s first bridge across the Arno River. Today, it’s the only surviving historic bridge in Florence, as all the others were destroyed in World War II. The bridge is lined with shops selling gold and silver jewelry. It’s closed to vehicular traffic, making it a fun place to stroll around. 4. See David Buy cheap booze at the shops: Drinking in public is legal in Italy and everyone does it. You’ve never really been to Italy either until you’ve drank a Moretti on some church steps. SafetyWing– Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.

The sweet smells of Santa Maria Novella’s pharmacy: Pop in for a moment to get a whiff of the tonics and tinctures at the church’s private pharmacy. This place has been creating remedies for over 400 years! The pretty Piazza della Passera lies at the heart of what is known as Florence’s artisan quarter, and is home to hole-in-the-wall Gelateria della Passera where Cinzia Otri has won many awards for her creations that include classics - coffee, chocolate, almond and so on - along with more creative numbers such as Mojito and Fatal Attraction, a yoghurt and apricot mix garnished with glazed apricots and white sesame seeds.A scene of the plague in Florence in 1348 described by Boccaccio, by Baldassarre Calamai (1787-1851). Photograph: Dea Picture Library/De Agostini/Getty Images What’s more, not all the properties are expensive. Some budget hotels such as the two-star Alessandra have been around for years. And they’ve been joined by a new breed of small, design-conscious B&Bs — such Canto degli Scali on the Via delle Terme, and BBH, just south of the Church of Santa Maria Novella — that are a boon to culture-vultures on mid-range budgets. LifeStraw– My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe. The Prince: The groundbreaking essay about socio-political dynamics as outlined by the original master manipulator, Niccolo Machiavelli. To this day, The Prince is still one of the most relevant pieces of literature concerning politics and how to take advantage of them. Machiavelli was born and died in Florence during the era of the Florentine Republic.