How To Travel To Florence, Italy in 2023
Florence, Italy is a major cultural, economic, political, and financial center in Europe. Considered by many academics as the birthplace of the Renaissance, it is home to breathtaking churches, museums, palaces, and iconic masterpieces, including Michelangelo’s David, Ponte Vecchio, and Brunelleschi’s Dome, among many others.
If you are planning to visit this beautiful city, we hope this Florence travel guide will help you plan your trip.
Florence, Italy weather
In general, the people of Florence experience hot summers with light or moderate rainfall and damp, cool winters. The most ideal time to visit Florence, Italy is between June and October if you wish to participate in summer festivals themed around music, art, and dance. However, if you prefer watching iris bloom and exploring popular Renaissance gardens, we recommend visiting Florence around April to May.
Exchange currency in Florence, Italy
Like many other countries in Europe, the currency in Florence is the Euro. It is important to note that many establishments in Florence do not accept travelers cheques, US dollars, and even American Express Euro Cheques. If you happen to find a bank that agrees to cash them, the average conversion rate is 2-4% which is certainly no bargain. Your best option is using local ATMs to obtain Euro and seek information from your local bank to know expected exchange rate and usage fees.
Florence travel restrictions
Because of many different factors, including the pandemic and other Covid restrictions, Florence, Italy’s airport travel restrictions are being updated constantly. To keep informed about any changes in Florence travel restrictions, the Italian Ministry of Health has a dedicated website that contains all the information you need.
Culture in Florence
As a foreigner, you have to be aware of the cultures and traditions in Florence, Italy to prevent misunderstandings and remain respectful when interacting with the locals.
Do’s
- Do be conscious of your clothing choices. Many Italians tend to judge other people based on their clothing choices and they can usually tell if you are a foreigner based on how you dress and present yourself.
- Do cover your shoulders and knees. To enter churches like the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, you have to dress modestly, which includes covering your knees and shoulders.
- Do look after your belongings. Like many other big cities, it is very important to keep your belongings secure to protect yourself from pickpockets.
Don’ts
- Don’t cut up your spaghetti. The most appropriate and respectful way to eat spaghetti at a restaurant is wrapping it around your fork.
- Don’t order a cup of cappuccino after 11 o’clock in the morning. Italians only drink cappuccino in the morning. What you can order instead is a cup of macchiato freddo or caffe macchiato after lunch or dinner.
- Do not wave your hands to hail a cab. The proper way to hail a cab in Florence is to call the radio cab number or go to a cab stand marked by an orange sign.
Organize Florence, Italy travel documents
Make sure you have all the necessary travel documents organized and digital copies secured so you can have a smooth, seamless travel experience.
People from the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Brazil, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, and more can travel to Florence, Italy without a visa, as long as the whole visit is within a period of up to 90 days. Citizens of some countries, however, need a Schengen Visa to enter Florence, including the Philippines, Qatar, Nigeria, Cambodia, China, India, Vietnam, Jamaica, Ghana, Ecuador, Pakistan, South Africa, and more.
To get the full list and other information, visit Schengen Visa Info.
Travel health insurance in Florence
Any travel activity can potentially cause injuries, sprains, and other unexpected accidents. If you have travel health insurance, the rescue, medications, costs of treatment, and recovery costs will be paid for by your insurance company. Although Florence does not legally require tourists to have health insurance, we strongly recommend getting one to protect yourself from unexpected expenses.
Money and credit/debit card
In Florence, you do not have to pay in cash all the time as restaurants, hotels, and shops are well-equipped to handle credit and debit card payments. However, we recommend having at least 50-100 Euros per individual so you can avoid potential worries and rushing in order to locate the nearest ATM. Some of the most popular ATMs in Florence include Chianti Banca ATM, Banca D’Italia ATM, Deutsche Bank ATM, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank ATM, Banca Cambiano ATM, Credit Suisse ATM, and more.
Florence, Italy Itinerary
If you are not sure how many days you need to enjoy your Florence trip, we would say three nights is the minimum. Here is a sample 3 days Florence itinerary to help you plan your trip.
Day One
Piazza del Duomo
Florence’s Duomo
Campanile and Baptistery
Arno Riverfront
Day Two
Uffizi Gallery
Basilica of Santa Croce
Ponte Vecchio
Piazzale Michelangelo
Day Three
Pisa
Cinque Terre
Siena
Best area to stay in Florence, Italy
Duomo
The Duomo neighborhood is the historic center of Florence, containing most of Florence’s major tourist attractions. It is at the midpoint between the Accademia with Michelangelo’s David to the north and the Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi Gallery to the south. It is halfway between the two churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella. This area is also one of the most hotel-heavy parts of Florence, offering a range from budget-friendly hotels to luxury inns and everything in between.
Here are some of the most reputable hotels in Duomo, Florence.
Budget-friendly: Hotel Costantini
Mid-range: Hotel Alessandra
Expensive: Helvetia & Bristol Firenze
Santa Marco
If you have a tight budget, Santo Marco, Florence is an ideal choice. It’s an ideal neighborhood to stay in for its many street malls where you can buy budget-friendly souvenirs and food. It also has beautiful historic churches, museums, and quiet streets with some hotel gems. It is home to the Accademia, Museo di San Marco, Scarpelli Mosaici, University of Florence Natural History Museum, Basilica di San Marco, and more.
Here are some of the most popular hotels to stay in San Marco, Florence
Budget-friendly: Hotel Panorama Artinside
Mid-range: Florence Hotel Capital
Expensive: Hotel Spadai
Santa Croce
If you want to stay in an area that comes alive at night, then you will love Santa Croce. At night, many people gather around cafes and bars around the Piazza de’ Ciompi and Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio to hang out and enjoy a drink and some live music. It also houses the Museo dell’Opera, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale, and the tombs of Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini, Dante Alighieri, and Michelangelo.
Budget-friendly: Hotel Bodoni
Mid-range: La Maison du Sage
Expensive: Hotel Bernini Palace
Embassy and consulate in Florence, Italy
No one can escape unexpected and unfortunate situations when traveling to a foreign country. If you find yourself in an emergency and need immediate assistance while in a foreign country, seek the help of your home country’s embassy. Knowing your consulate’s contact details and where the nearest embassy is in Florence, you can receive support and various resources for different challenges, including stolen or lost passports, health emergencies, arrests, natural disasters, and more.
Cover your home base by holding your mail
Avoid broadcasting your overflowing mailbox to thieves by putting your mail on hold. If you are from the U.S., submitting a Hold Mail request is easy and free. Simply sign in or create a USPS account, fill in the necessary information, and verify your identity to successfully complete your request online. You can also visit your local post office if you want to submit your request in person.
For more information, visit USPS Hold Mail Service.
Hiring a house sitter
If you are a homeowner or pet owner, having a reliable house sitter to occupy your house is one of the most effective ways to ensure the security of your home and give you peace of mind knowing your house and pets are properly cared for. House sitters and pet sitters can handle day-to-day operations, cleaning, mail, maintenance, and other emergency concerns that may arise.
How to get around Florence, Italy
The center of Florence is designed for walking. However, if you need to get from place to place, Florence has an efficient system of transportation, from public buses to trams to train stations and more. If you are planning to use Florence public transportation and visit museums a lot, you can purchase a Firenze Card to save a few bucks.
A Firenze Card is an 85 Euro card that offers gratis entry to several museums and sights across Florence. It is valid for 72 hours and you can pay an additional 7 Euros to avail of unlimited public transportation. To learn more about the perks of purchasing one, check out their website.
Pack your stuff
Before emptying your closet into your suitcase, ask yourself if the clothes are appropriate for Florence’s activities, weather, and culture. When deciding what to wear, we strongly recommend packing light. Wear lightweight fabrics like linen and cotton to stay cool and comfortable especially during the summer season and make sure to bring more conservative clothing if you are planning to visit any of the well-known cathedrals in Florence.
For a more comprehensive clothing guide, check out this article.
Aside from clothing, here are some of the many essential travel items to pack.
- Filtration water bottle to effectively filter tap water and eliminate the need to buy bottled water.
- Basic packing cubes to organize your clothes, toiletries, and other belongings.
- Digital accessories like a universal power adapter to charge your device and pocket Wi-Fi to stay connected anywhere in Italy.
- First-aid kit for dealing with common medical emergencies.
