Florence City breaks

Florence is often called the “jewel of the Italian Renaissance”. A Florence city break is an encounter with history, art, culture and Italy.

Experience the best of Tuscany in fantastic Florence. The city's rich Rennaisance history is a sight to behold - with its grand chapels and churches, its awe-inspiring galleries and museums, and world-famous architecture. Explore the busy food markets by day, dine at the local trattorias by night, and visit some of the city's famous 'enotecas' (wine bars) - Le Volpi e l'Uva among its most famous.  

Things to do in Florence

The world’s Art capital has so much to offer you! A short stay in Florence is never enough to take in all the splendour of one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. 

In an open-air museum like Florence, it is not difficult to get off the beaten track. Simply cross the Arno and meander around the areas of San Frediano or San Niccolo. There’s no shortage of bars for night owls or spots for your morning coffee. During your Florence city break, what a treat it will be to spend the early morning strolling along via dei Pardi or enjoying a cappuccino on the piazza del Carmine! For a break from the Renaissance, note that the Palazzo Pitti is home to an interesting modern Italian art gallery. 

The best spots for partying 

Florence has a special party area: the Oltrarno. With its hip bars and nightclubs, your nights during a city break in Florence will be action-packed if you fancy some partying.  If you want a cosier ambience, try the enoteche (wine bars) in the Santo Spirito or San Frediano areas. 

Best time of the year to visit

We recommend you plan a city break to Florence for the low season… That way you’ll avoid the masses of tourists. But if you wish to attend a unique event, in June go to the Calcio Storico Fiorentino, a type of Renaissance-style football match, followed by a pyrotechnic show. Truly amazing! 

Things to see in Florence

Take a city break in Florence and be whisked back to the renaissance. Stand in front of some of the finest art and architecture in Europe, explore rich green countryside or just sit and sample the best local cuisine from gelato to crostini di fegato. 

Rambler’s Paradise 

Nestling in Tuscany in northern Italy, and surrounded by rolling green hills and deep river valleys, Florence is ideal setting for walks and rambles in the warm Mediterranean climate. Download self-guided tours or let a local show you the best of the best. 

Passionate about Vineyards 

Florence is proud of its wine heritage. About thirty minutes outside of the city, you’ll find the vineyards where Chianti was first created. We’d recommend taking a day of your city break to explore the vineyards and experience a tasting tour first-hand. 

Traditional Treats

If you have a sweet tooth, head to Gelateria La Carraia, looking over Ponte alla Carraia, it’s a favourite of the locals. All’Antico Vinaio  is great for lunch or breakfast if you’re on a budget city break, with lots of fresh local produce at affordable prices. Buy pizza by the slice throughout the city. We recommend asking a local for their favourite spots.

Beautifully Historic

We’re big fans of the Piazza Della Signoria, an open courtyard that includes a copy of Michelangelo’s David. The original sits nearby in the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze. Delve deeper into this city’s 1000 years of glorious history by heading to one of Florence’s museums, which display masterpieces from Italian greats including da Vinci and Botticelli. If you possess an artistic flair head to the Uffizi; one of the oldest art museums in Europe, it has an incredible collection of artworks dating back to the 16th Century that you can’t see anywhere else.

Public transportation

During your city break in Florence, take special advantage of the historic centre, partly accessibly only to pedestrians. If you would like to discover the rest of the city, you can take the bus and the tramway. For exploring the surrounding countryside, try car-sharing, which is widely available.  4 – What is the cost of living?