Lisa Harvey

Small but perfectly formed, Florence is a city that feels stuck in time in all the best ways. When I moved here in 2020, I planned to stay for a summer – but like so many drifters and dreamers before me, I remained, fell in love with Italian life and built my home here. Now, it’s not all about the big hitters. It’s about finding Renaissance frescoes in obscure places, savouring a morning cappuccino and taking evening strolls along the Arno. It’s the low-key aperitivo spots, the lesser-known museums and the age-old trattorias.  What should you not miss in Florence? Don’t worry about trying to tick off all the art or visit every church. Hit the Uffizi Galleries for Renaissance classics (Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Botticelli are among the main stars here), peek inside the Duomo to ogle at its architectural grandeur, and take the short but steep climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a sunset view of the entire city. But in my opinion, the more time you’ve got here, the better. For all things big and small, read on for my list of the best things to do in Florence.  RECOMMENDED:📍 Where to stay in Florence🛍️ The best shopping in Florence🍴 The best restaurants in Florence🏡 The best Airbnbs in Florence🏨 The best hotels in Florence This guide was recently updated by Florence-based writer Phoebe Hunt. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes af

When it comes to Italian food, Florence is where it’s at. This is the birthplace of gelato, bistecca fiorentina, and even vodka pasta, don’t you know? In the heart of the Tuscan hills, this city is known for its meat dishes, from wild boar pappardelle to tripe sandwiches).  But don’t be mistaken, no one goes hungry here – veggies can get stuck into truffle pastas, summery panzanella and hearty soups like ribollita, made from veggies, beans and soaked bread. Here, you can choose from rustic family-run trattorias tucked down cobbled side streets, or more glamorous destinations with flower-covered walls and cellars strewn with fairy lights. Our local writers have scoured every one of them. Read on for the best in Florence.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Florence🍝 The perfect weekend in Florence🏡 The best Airbnbs in Florence🏨 The best hotels in Florence This guide was recently updated by Phoebe Hunt, a writer based in Florence. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

When it comes to art in this Italian cultural capital, there are a few must-sees: Michalangelo’s David and the Uffizi, of course, but what most visitors don’t realize is how many of the best museums in Florence, and the best local art offerings, lie beyond popular choices. Many collections are tucked into Florentine corners that most people walk past without really noticing. Did you know that there is samurai armour on show around town? Or that you can gaze at personal artifacts from orphans that have shaped the city’s past? Or that some of the city’s top shopping destinations actually double as art displays? Grab a gelato, our list of best things to do in town and our rundown of the most awesome local museums and get ready to see Florence like never before. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in FlorenceRECOMMENDED: the best hotels in FlorenceRECOMMENDED: the best Airbnbs in Florence