How to Plan a Trip to Florence
Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, and its influence is still obvious throughout the city. Artwork is abundant, even on the streets of Florence with outdoor sculpture galleries showcasing brilliant works. Florence is also home to many renowned art galleries, including the Accademia, which houses Michelangelo’s David, and the Uffizi. Follow these steps to plan what will surely be the trip of a lifetime.
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Instructions
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Travel and Hotels
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Decide how to reach Florence. Options include plane, train and car. Florence is a short train ride from many other Italian cities, including Rome, Venice and Milan. By train, you arrive at Santa Maria Novella station. This station is in the city center, so you can walk to many hotels from the station. Taxis are also available if your hotel is further from the center of the city or if you don’t want to lug your bags through the streets.
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By plane, arrive at Amerigo Vespucci Airport. From the airport, you can get to the city by bus, train or taxi. If you choose to travel to Florence by plane, be sure to get the best price by going to an online booking site, such as Expedia or Orbitz. If you have some flexibility, consider flying into Rome and traveling by train to Florence for more flight options.
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Decide where in the city to stay. Consider staying in the central area of Florence, within walking distance of the Duomo.
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Research hotels online and in guidebooks. Read as many hotel reviews as possible, using travel websites such as TripAdvisor. Look for hotels with bonuses, such as free breakfast or Wi-Fi.
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Search for the best hotel rates by checking the hotel’s website and travel sites such as Expedia, Orbitz and Venere.
Activities and Attractions
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Start your tour of Florence at the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo. Brunelleschi's dome is the symbol of Florence. If you’re up for the 463-step climb, you can see amazing views from the top of the Duomo.
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Stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, over the Arno River. The Ponte Vecchio is home to numerous shops, mostly specializing in gold jewelry. Look for the “prince’s passageway” that the Medicis used to escape across the river.
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Tour the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi is one of the city's most famous museums for paintings and sculptures. It houses many renowned works, including masterpieces by Giotto, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and Fra Angelico. Make sure to view the Duomo from the Uffizi’s balcony.
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Visit the Bargello to view its Renaissance sculptures, including masterpieces from Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo and Cellini.
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Visit the Medici Chapel in San Lorenzo Church to see the extravagance of the Chapel of the Princes. This grandiose, octagonal chapel is entirely faced with marble, gold and jewels. It holds the remains of the Medici family.
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Stop at the Accademia to view David. Although the Accademia is a small museum, it’s worth a visit just to see David. The original “Renaissance Man,” Michelangelo’s David far exceeds one's expectations. Although a copy of David stands outside the Uffizi, it is worth venturing to the Accademia to see the real thing, in all its splendor.
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Visit Santa Croce Church. The interior of Santa Croce is a museum in itself. It holds the tombs of Michelangelo, Machiavelli and a monument to Dante. There are also several 14th century frescoes worth viewing.
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Spend some time people watching in the Piazza della Signoria. This is also a great place to see copies of famous sculptures. A copy of David stands near the spot where Michelangelo intended it. There are also copies of the Rape of the Sabines and Perseus in this square.
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Tips & Warnings
Reserve your tickets to the Accademia and the Uffizi several days in advance to avoid the long waits to get into these museums. Most hotels will make reservations for you.
Florence is known for its leather goods. You can find good deals on leather jackets, gloves and purses throughout the city.
The heart of the city is off limits to non-resident cars. The police have cameras set up in the central zone that will capture your license plate. The car rental companies don’t interfere, so you could end up with a hefty fine.
