Piazza Santo Spirito
sightThe Oltrarno's unofficial square. Brunelleschi's 1440s basilica facing south over the piazza. Morning farmers market (Monday-Saturday 07:00-13:00), evening aperitivo at Pop Café or Il Santino.
In Oltrarno →Things to do in Florence
11 editorial picks across 2 neighborhoods — named restaurants, sights, bars, cafés, parks, and shops. Every entry lifted from our deep-dives, not an AI list.
— 4 picks
Sights & landmarks in Florence.
The monuments, museums, and photo spots actually worth the queue.
Pitti Palace + Boboli Gardens
sightThe 1458 Medici palace with five museums (the Palatine Gallery's Raphael + Titian collection is the must-see) and the 45-hectare Boboli Gardens behind. Combined ticket €16; allow half a day.
In Oltrarno →Piazzale Michelangelo
sightThe panoramic terrace above Oltrarno — the postcard photograph of Florence's skyline. 20-minute walk up via the rose garden (Giardino delle Rose), best at sunset.
In Oltrarno →Basilica di Santa Croce
sightThe Franciscan basilica (13th-century, façade 1863). Tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini. Giotto frescoes in the Peruzzi and Bardi chapels. Don't miss Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel in the cloister. €8.
In Santa Croce →— 3 picks
Where to eat in Florence.
Editor-picked restaurants from the neighborhood deep-dives — no tourist traps.
Trattoria Sostanza
restaurantSince 1869 — candlelit, two-servings-a-night, petto di pollo al burro (chicken breast in butter). Cash-only historically, but cards accepted since 2022. Booking two weeks ahead essential.
In Oltrarno →Il Santo Bevitore
restaurantSan Frediano's benchmark modern trattoria — the winelist is serious (300+ Tuscans), the pasta is handmade daily, and the tables are small. Reservations a week ahead.
In Oltrarno →Trattoria Cibreo
restaurantFabio Picchi's Santa Croce institution — the trattoria is the cheaper sibling of his Cibreo Restaurant, runs the same kitchen, no pasta, just the essential Tuscan peasant dishes. Lunch only, cash or card.
In Santa Croce →— 4 picks
Shops & markets in Florence.
Souvenirs that aren’t embarrassing and the markets worth an hour.
Via Toscanella artisan quarter
shopNarrow 13th-century street still full of working Florentine artisans — Castorina (wood carving since 1895), Lorenzo Villoresi (custom perfumery), and a handful of small leather workshops. Visits welcome during open hours.
In Oltrarno →Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio
shopThe local farmers market the tourists don't find. Indoor market + outdoor stalls, 07:00-14:00 Mon-Sat. Less expensive than the Mercato Centrale; more like how Florentines actually shop.
In Santa Croce →Scuola del Cuoio
shopLeather-working school in the Santa Croce cloister since 1950. Original Florentine-leather techniques still practiced; the shop sells the school's output. Good bags start €300 and last generations.
In Santa Croce →Piazza dei Ciompi antiques market
shopThe antique market dates to the 1950s — now held the last Sunday of each month at Piazza dei Ciompi, with 50+ stalls of vintage furniture, jewellery, old Florentine prints.
In Santa Croce →— FAQ
Planning Florence.
- What are the top things to do in Florence?
- We've listed 11 named places across 2 neighborhoods on this page — every one a real editorial pick, not an AI-generated suggestion. The grouped sections above (sights, food, bars, cafés, parks, shops) let you pick by intent. If you only have one day, work the "Sights & landmarks" list top-to-bottom.
- How many days do you need in Florence?
- Three full days is the honest floor for a first visit to Florence — enough to cover the essential sights without a march, plus two meals per day in different neighborhoods. Five days lets you add day trips. Anything less than three and you're queuing instead of experiencing.
- Are guided tours in Florence worth booking?
- For major sights with skip-the-line value (Vatican, Colosseum, Alhambra-tier queues) yes, almost always. For neighborhood walks — usually no, our free deep-dives cover the same ground in more honest detail. The CTAs on this page go to Expedia's tours inventory if you want to compare.
- What's the best neighborhood to base yourself in Florence?
- Depends on your trip style — our /hotels/florence page ranks the neighborhoods by price and vibe. Generally: central for first-timers, residential-adjacent for return visits, canal/waterfront if the city has one.
- Are these recommendations updated?
- Yes. Every named place on this page is sourced from our neighborhood deep-dives, each of which carries a "last verified" date. We re-check openings, prices, and closures at least twice a year and flag anything that's changed.