Activities
Things to do in Florence
Walks, classes and workshops for when you have had enough of queues, plus the day trips that make Florence a good base for Tuscany.
Tours and experiences
11 activities
Climbing Brunelleschi's Dome
About 460 steps up between the inner and outer shells of the dome, past Vasari's Last Judgement frescoes, to a terrace above the city. Only the Brunelleschi Pass includes it, the time slot is fixed, photo ID is required, and there is no lift. Not for anyone uneasy in tight spaces.
Boboli Gardens
The Medici's formal garden behind Palazzo Pitti, climbing a hillside of avenues, fountains, grottoes and statues to views over the city and the countryside. Bring water and sensible shoes; it is steeper and bigger than it looks. Combined tickets with Palazzo Pitti are available.
Bardini Garden
A terraced garden on the slope above the Oltrarno, smaller and much quieter than Boboli, with a wisteria pergola that flowers in spring and one of the best views of the city from its belvedere.
Rose Garden (Giardino delle Rose)
A free public garden just below Piazzale Michelangelo, terraced with roses and with a view across the rooftops. Best in May and June when the roses are out; a useful quiet stop on the walk up to the piazzale.
Scuola del Cuoio leather school
A leather school founded after the Second World War in the former Franciscan dormitory behind Santa Croce. You can watch artisans and students at work and buy their goods; prices reflect the quality, and it is a good way to see what proper Florentine leatherwork looks like before shopping at the market stalls.
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
One of the oldest pharmacies in Europe, grown out of the Dominican friars' herb garden at Santa Maria Novella. The frescoed shop rooms are free to walk through; the perfumes, soaps and herbal waters are not cheap, but browsing costs nothing.
Fiesole and its Roman theatre
The hill town above Florence has a Roman theatre, baths and Etruscan walls in a single archaeological area, plus views over the valley from the path up to the convent of San Francesco. Take the city bus from the centre and allow half a day; summer concerts are held in the theatre.
Wine windows walk
Small arched hatches in palace walls, used for centuries to sell wine straight from the cellar. There are well over a hundred in the city; a handful have reopened to serve wine or gelato. A free, self-guided walk around Santo Spirito and the centre; the Buchette del Vino association maps them.
Day trip to Siena
Florence's old rival, a Gothic city built around the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and a cathedral of striped marble. Buses and trains each take about an hour and a half; check the current timetable, as the bus is often quicker. Stay into the evening when the day-trippers leave.
Day trip to Pisa and Lucca
Two cities on the same railway line west of Florence. Pisa's Piazza dei Miracoli takes a couple of hours; walled Lucca rewards a slower afternoon, ideally on a bike along the ramparts. Regional trains take roughly an hour to each; tickets for the Leaning Tower need booking.
Day trip to Chianti
The wine country between Florence and Siena: hill villages such as Greve, Panzano and Radda, olive groves and estates that offer tastings. Public transport reaches Greve but not much else, so most visitors drive or book a small-group tour. Do not plan to drive and taste.
Day trips
Beyond the city
Siena, Pisa and Lucca are each about an hour away by train or bus, and the Chianti hills start at the edge of the city.
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