Florence is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region. It is home to many masterpieces of art and architecture made during the Renaissance period.
While I was in Rome, I decided to do a day trip to Florence. I've always wanted to go to Florence but with limited time in Italy, I could only do a day trip. I know there are lots more to see and explore in the Tuscany region but maybe that will be for next time.
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| View of Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore with the Duomo |
Florence was absolutely stunning. The city itself is like a work of art, and every street and corner is beautiful. It should be on any Europe travel bucket list.
How to Get to Florence from Rome
By Train
This is the most convenient way to get to Florence from Rome. This was also the mode of transport that I used. I got my Trenitalia tickets via Omio. You can get the tickets at the station, but I would recommend booking in advance since it's cheaper. I paid €45 for roundtrip tickets.
The train ride starts at Termini station in Rome and is about 3.5 hours long one way with no transfers. Make sure to be on the platform 15 to 30 minutes before departure. Get off at Santa Maria Novella station in Florence. From there, the city center is just a 5-minute walk away.
By Bus
This is the cheapest way to get to Florence from Rome. A roundtrip bus ticket would only cost you €10 to €12. You can also book your bus tickets through Omio.
By bus, it would take roughly the same time to get to Florence. However, the ride is only until the terminal at Villa Costanza. From there, you have to take a tram going to the city center. The tram ride takes about 30 minutes. This is why I prefer going by train even though it's more expensive.
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| photo taken on Ponte Vecchio |
Florence Day Trip Itinerary
If you only want to see the major sights in the Florence city center, then one day is more than enough. Here is the perfect one-day itinerary in this beautiful city.
Basilica of Santa Maria Novella & Piazza di Santa Maria Novella
Start at Santa Maria Novella train station and walk 450 meters to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, which is the first great basilica in Florence. Right across the church is the Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. It's surrounded by lots of cafes and restaurants.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
From Piazza di Santa Maria Novella, walk 500 meters to the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, more commonly known as Florence Cathedral. This is considered the most important landmark in Florence. This Gothic-style church was designed in 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio and was completed in 1436. The dome was engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.
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| the facade of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore |
Entrance to the cathedral is free but there are long queues. Depending on what month you plan to visit Florence, expect to stand in line for at least 30 minutes. But is it worth it? Definitely! The inside is every bit as beautiful as the outside.
I was amazed by the work done on this cathedral. Every detail and every crevice was perfectly made, and I would recommend not missing out on this.
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| inside the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore |
The Duomo is an iconic part of the cathedral, but you have to purchase a ticket to enter. The ticket costs €18 which includes entry to other areas such as the Bell Tower, Crypt, Baptistery, and Museum. I've read that there were beautiful views when you go up the Duomo, but I decided to skip it because I discovered another viewpoint. This one, I think is much more magnificent which brings us to the next one...
Tosca & Nino at La Rinascente
Hidden in a luxury department store called La Rinascente is a restaurant called Tosca & Nino. This is only 260 meters away from the cathedral. This restaurant is the perfect stop for brunch or lunch. I would recommend going between 10am and noon because this place can get packed in the afternoon and evenings.
Once you enter the department store, go to the highest floor and look for the restaurant. Then ask for a table in the rooftop area. If you're lucky, you'd be able to get a table overlooking Florence. And I think this is where you get the best views, with the cathedral and the Duomo as the highlights.
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| overlooking views from Tosca & Nino |
If you do plan to eat here, expect to spend more than €15. I spent about €27 here on a generous serving of lasagna and a glass of wine.
Ponte Vecchio
After a nice lunch, get ready to do more walking and head on to Ponte Vecchio. This is a medieval stone closed-spandrel arch bridge over the Arno River. This is the only bridge that was spared from destruction during World War II. Now it's a shopping area with jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers on both sides of the bridge.
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| Ponte Vecchio |
Palazzo Pitti
From Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace is only 350 meters away. This is a large complex of galleries and museums that house important collections of paintings, sculptures, and other pieces of art. A ticket to the palace cost €10. If you want to combine the palace and the Boboli gardens, it's €14. Expect to spend a couple of hours here.
Uffizi Gallery
From Pitti Palace, walk back to Ponte Vecchio, turn right at the end of the bridge, and head to Uffizi Gallery. This is one of the oldest museums in the whole of Europe. Tickets to the gallery start at €16, but I would recommend booking in advance and paying extra to avoid long queues at the entrance. You can book your tickets and guided tours here.
If you want to visit just one museum in Florence because honestly, museum tickets are pricey, then choose Uffizi Gallery. This museum houses famous artworks by Michelangelo, da Vinci, and Botticelli. It even houses the intriguing Medusa piece by Caravaggio.
Piazza della Signoria
After taking in all that art, head to Piazza della Signoria, which is just a couple of minutes away from Uffizi Gallery. It is considered the heart of Florence. Built during the second half of the 14th century, this square was used for public meetings and ceremonies.
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| Piazza della Signora |
This square is located in front of Palazzo Vecchio, which is the town hall of Florence and is the most important historic government building in the city. Adjacent to this building is the Loggia dei Lanza - an impressive mini gallery of sculptures created by some of the greatest artists in Italy like Cellini and Donatello. The best part about this gallery is that entrance is free.
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| Loggia dei Lanza |
Piazza della Signoria also features the Fountain of Neptune. This iconic fountain was designed by Baccio Bandinelli and created by Bartolomeo Ammannati.
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| Fountain of Neptune |
Basilica of Santa Croce
From the square, walk 400 meters to the Basilica of Santa Croce. This structure is a Franciscan church and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. This was also the resting place of Michelangelo, who died in Rome in 1564. He was buried here beneath a monument designed by Giorgio Vasari.
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| Basilica Santa Croce and Piazza di Santa Croce |
In front of the church is Piazza di Santa Croce, surrounded by several restaurants and shops.
Florence is famous for its leather goods. If you're looking to buy a nice leather bag, I would recommend doing it in Florence and going to Real Leather J&S located in front of Piazza di Santa Croce. It's a small store that sells leather goods. Everything here is made in Italy using authentic leather, and they are affordable starting at €25.
Although you will see cheaper bags being sold on the streets for €15, I would not recommend them. Those are not made from real leather. They are also made in China which explains why they're cheap.
While walking around, do make a stop at any gelato shop and buy a scoop or two. I won't recommend a particular shop because gelato is really good anywhere in Italy.
Other Tour Options in Florence
DIY walking tours can be daunting especially when you're in an unfamiliar city, which is completely understandable. So if DIY tours are not your thing, here are more convenient ways for you to see and experience Florence:
- Florence Hop On Hop Off Panoramic Bus Tour - This is a great option if you want to get around Florence hassle-free. You can hop off attractions of your choice. This also includes a free audio guide so you can learn more about the city as you go around.
- Small Guided Tour with Entry to the Duomo and Secret Terraces - If you prefer touring with a guide, this is the perfect option for you. This tour gives you fast-track access to the Duomo and the Secret Terraces.
- Florence & Pisa Full Day Tour from Rome - If you want to make the most of your trip with less hassle, you can book a tour package that includes both Florence and Pisa from Rome. These packages include transportation and full guided tours in these cities.
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