Curator’s statement
I spent seven days in Florence in May with my family and left feeling like we’d barely scratched the surface. That’s the thing about Florence: it’s a city that gives you more the slower you go. The weather was spectacular, the food was extraordinary at every single meal, and we did something we’d never done on any trip before that turned into one of our favorite memories. Seven days felt both long and not nearly enough.
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Where to stay in Florence, Italy
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Things to do in Florence, Italy
Florence Walking Tour and Galleria dell’Accademia
The best way to start any trip to Florence is on foot with a good guide. A walking tour of the historic center gives you the context that makes everything else richer: the architecture, the history, the neighborhoods. Pair it with a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David, which is one of those experiences that is more powerful in person than any photograph can prepare you for.
Uffizi Gallery
One of the greatest art museums in the world, housed in a Renaissance building on the Arno. The Botticelli rooms alone are worth the visit.
Day trip to San Gimignano and Siena
One of the best days of the whole trip. San Gimignano is a medieval hilltop town and Siena’s Piazza del Campo is one of the most beautiful public squares in Europe. As soon as you get to San Gimignano, go straight to Gelateria Dondoli on the Piazza della Cisterna, arguably the most famous gelateria in the world. Yes, there will be a line. Yes, it is completely worth it.
Day trip to Pisa and Lucca
Pisa is more than the Leaning Tower, though the Tower is genuinely impressive up close. Lucca is the hidden gem of the two: a beautifully preserved walled city that feels completely off the tourist circuit despite being so close to Florence.
Family photo session at Giardino delle Rose
This was something we had never done on a trip before and it turned into one of our favorite memories of the whole journey. We booked a family photo session at the Giardino delle Rose, a beautiful rose garden just above the Oltrarno with sweeping views over the Florence skyline. Florence is so extraordinarily beautiful that it makes every photo spectacular, and having professional images from the trip is something I’d recommend to any family traveling together. Reach out to me and I’ll connect you with the right photographer for this experience.
Explore the Oltrarno
The neighborhood on the south side of the Arno is Florence at its most local: artisan workshops, neighborhood trattorias, quieter streets, and a pace that’s completely different from the tourist center. Cross the Ponte Vecchio and spend a morning here. There, I felt like I actually lived in Florence for a few hours.
Places to eat & drink in Florence, Italy
La Divina Pizza
Florence is not the first city that comes to mind for pizza, but La Divina proved me wrong completely. The Lussuria is spectacular: order it without hesitation and don’t plan anything too demanding for the hour after.
Osteria Pastella
The absolute highlight of every meal we had in Florence. The truffle pasta is extraordinary, and what makes it even more special is that the cook prepares it right at your table: shaving fresh truffle over the pasta in front of you, filling the whole space with that unmistakable aroma. One of those dining moments you won’t forget.
Marione
A trattoria with real warmth and authenticity, the kind that’s getting harder to find in a city as visited as Florence. The local wines are excellent and the atmosphere makes you want to stay for hours. Order the house Chianti and settle in.
Il Parione
The freshness of the ingredients here stands out immediately. Everything tastes like it arrived that morning, which in Florence it probably did. Save room for dessert: the tiramisu is one of the best I’ve had anywhere.
Osteria del Porcellino
Wonderful food, great service, and an atmosphere that feels genuinely Florentine. The house Chianti is the move here: ask for it and drink it with whatever you order. You won’t regret it.
Trattoria dall’Oste
A classic Florentine trattoria that does exactly what it promises: honest, well-executed Tuscan cooking in a no-frills setting that locals actually go to. The kind of place that reminds you why Italian food is so beloved around the world.
Need to know
May is an ideal time to visit Florence: the weather is warm and sunny without the intense heat of July and August, and the city feels alive without being completely overrun.
Seven days is the right amount of time to see the major museums, do a couple of day trips, eat well, and still have room to wander without an agenda.
Book the Uffizi and the Accademia well in advance, both sell out weeks ahead.
Florence is very walkable, but comfortable shoes are essential: the cobblestones are beautiful and unforgiving in equal measure.
If you want help arranging any of the experiences in this guide, from the family photo session to the day trips and museum visits, reach out to me and I’ll take care of everything.
Travel Advisor
Alexandra Caritg
Alexandra Caritg
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For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Florence page.