Florence
Renaissance beauty at saturation point, best absorbed slowly and slightly footsore.
- Best forCouples · Culture seekers · Foodies
- In January10°C · 10 rainy days
- Ideal stay3–4 nights
- Approx. flying time~12h 30m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageItalian
- Local time13:111h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / F / LBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+39
Why go
Florence is small for a city of its reputation, and the centre can be crossed on foot in half an hour. That compression is the point: within a few streets you have Brunelleschi's dome, Michelangelo's David, the Uffizi's Botticellis and a working leather market. The stone is ochre and grey, the streets are narrow and shadowed, and the Arno cuts a bright line through the middle of it.
Two full days covers the headline sights if you book everything in advance; four lets you cross the river to the Oltrarno, take a day in Siena or the Chianti hills, and eat properly. Summer is hot, crowded and expensive. Late autumn and winter give you the same city with room to stand in it, and the museums stay open throughout.
- Ideal stay
- 3–4 nights
- The vibe
- Compact, golden, relentlessly beautiful
From our guides
Watch sunset gild the Arno from Ponte Santa Trinita — not the crowded Ponte Vecchio next door — then climb to Piazzale Michelangelo as the city lights come on. Share a bistecca, split a bottle of Chianti Classico, and accept that every second doorway will upstage your photographs.
Featured in Ten of Europe's most romantic city breaks
Things to do
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Brunelleschi's dome
The climb runs between the dome's two shells to a gallery above the rooftops. Steep, narrow and timed-entry only, so book it first.
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The Uffizi
A vast collection of Renaissance painting housed in the Medici's old offices, with the Botticellis and a long corridor of river views.
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Piazzale Michelangelo
The classic view over the city from the south bank, reached on foot through the Rose Garden or by bus. Come at dusk.
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Oltrarno workshops
The south bank keeps the gilders, cabinetmakers and leather workers, along with Santo Spirito's square and a markedly calmer evening.
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Bistecca alla fiorentina
A thick T-bone from Chianina cattle, grilled rare and sold by weight. It is ordered for two or three people, not for one.
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Boboli and Bardini gardens
Terraced Medici gardens behind the Pitti Palace, with wisteria in April and views back across the terracotta roofs.
Getting there
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Fly to
Firenze (FLR)
Nearest airport to Florence, about 6km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Florence
Florence airport (FLR) is about 20 minutes from the centre on the tram line to Santa Maria Novella station.
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On the ground
Getting around
The historic centre is small, flat and best walked. A tram and city buses cover the outskirts, and cars are barred from the limited traffic zone.
Public transport: Good: fast trains to Rome, Bologna and Pisa, plus a tram line and city buses.
Flights
Los Angeles Florence, Italy
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Roughly 12h 30m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 10°C in January to 31°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in December, with rain on about 16 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
January10° · rain 10 daysCold with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — July and August. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Small hotels in old palazzi, a great many apartments, convent guesthouses and a handful of luxury names. Rooms are often small and the historic buildings have small lifts, or none.
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Best base overall
Santa Croce
Central without being on the Duomo's doorstep, with real bars, the market and the Uffizi within ten minutes. Some streets get loud with student nightlife.
Find stays in Santa Croce -
Best for couples
Oltrarno and San Frediano
Across the river among workshops and small trattorias, near Piazzale Michelangelo for the evening climb. Fewer hotels and more apartments, and the walk back is over a bridge.
Find stays in Oltrarno and San Frediano -
Closest to the sights
Duomo and Signoria
Everything on foot from the door, which suits a short trip. It is the most expensive and most crowded ground in the city, with wheeled suitcases at all hours.
Find stays in Duomo and Signoria -
Best value
San Marco and Sant'Ambrogio
North and east of the centre, with better prices, a good market and a ten-minute walk in. Less atmospheric streets, and quieter at night.
Find stays in San Marco and Sant'Ambrogio
Worth knowing before you book: Spring and September sell out early, museum tickets need booking separately, and city-centre driving is restricted, so confirm parking before arriving by car.
Our picks in this destination
The area · Piazza della Signoria, FlorenceHotel Davanzati
Historic centre · family-run townhouse
A family-run three-star hotel in a historic palazzo minutes from Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio.
View hotel
The area · Santo Spirito, FlorenceHotel Palazzo Guadagni
Oltrarno · Renaissance palazzo boutique
A boutique hotel in a 1505 Renaissance palazzo on Piazza Santo Spirito, with a panoramic loggia terrace over the Oltrarno.
View hotel
The area · Santa Maria Novella, FlorenceGrand Hotel Minerva
Santa Maria Novella · rooftop-pool grand hotel
A grand hotel on Piazza Santa Maria Novella with a rooftop pool and terrace overlooking the basilica's Renaissance facade.
View hotelOr search everything else in Florence by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Book ahead
- The Uffizi, the Accademia and the dome climb all need timed tickets bought in advance. Turning up on the day usually means missing them.
- Timing
- Coach groups fill the centre between ten and four. Early mornings and after seven in the evening are noticeably quieter.
- Etiquette
- Churches enforce covered shoulders and knees, the cathedral included. Carry a light scarf through the summer.
- Pack this
- Shoes that cope with stone paving. The centre is entirely flagstones and cobbles, and you will walk further than you plan to.
- Getting there
- The city is on the high-speed line between Milan, Bologna and Rome, which is faster and far more central than flying within Italy.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Florence?
For warm, mostly dry days, July and August. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 10°C in January to 31°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in December, with rain on about 16 days.
How long should I spend in Florence?
Our suggestion: 3–4 nights.
How do I get to Florence?
Florence airport (FLR) is about 20 minutes from the centre on the tram line to Santa Maria Novella station.
Do I need a car in Florence?
No. Good: fast trains to Rome, Bologna and Pisa, plus a tram line and city buses.
What currency and language are used in Florence?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Italian. Plugs: type C and F and L.
Who is Florence best for?
Best for couples, culture seekers and foodies. In a phrase: compact, golden, relentlessly beautiful.