Phoebe Hunt

Along with Milan, Florence has long been one of the epicentres of the ‘Made in Italy’ movement. And it’s got a bit of everything, from Gucci, Pucci, Ferragamo and the likes to unique independent stores. Florence is as well known for its crafts and textiles as it is for its art scene, so it’s no surprise that this creativity leaks into its threads too. Fancy vintage garms and made-to-order jewellery, custom-made shoes and classic souvenirs? You’re in the right place. Here are the best spots for shopping in Florence. Where is best for shopping in Florence? Close to the Duomo, Via Roma and Via are the big shopping streets, where you’ll find high-end Italian designers and big highstreet brands. Over in the sleepier Oltrarno, the artisan quarters of Santo Spirito, San Frediano and San Niccolo still have independent ateliers, bookshops, artisan jewellers, florists and vintage stores galore.  🏛️ Ultimate guide to what to do in Florence Phoebe Hunt is a writer based in Florence. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

When I moved to Florence five years ago, I was on a mission to try as many trattorias, market stalls, cafes and restaurants as I could. Among lots of good meals, a few great qualities stand out: Small menus, a simple and genuine concept, outstanding seasonal ingredients and a sense of generosity. Read on to discover some of my favourite spots.  How to avoid tourist traps in Florence For such a compact city, there’s a lot on offer in Florence. The problem is in telling which pappardelle with wild boar ragu or salami-stuffed schiacciata sandwich will really make your heart sing, and which is just TikTok fodder? It’s a guessing game, but there are a few clues you can follow. Pasta served from a giant wheel of parmesan? Not a thing. A certain sandwich shop with a queue along the street? Not worth the hype. Touts on the street yelling out with the promise of prosecco on the house? You guessed it. Meander away from the main piazzas to seek out those charming family-run hidden gems, or get a head start by heading straight to the places below.  📍 RECOMMENDED: Discover our ultimate guide to eating in Florence Phoebe Hunt is a writer based in Florence. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

Spring 2025: With longer days and clear blue skies, Florence bursts into life in Spring. The Arno river gushes with snowmelt, wisteria and the fabled Iris Garden are in full bloom, and the city’s many parks and gardens flourish before the intense summer heat hits. Morning markets like Sant’Ambrogio and Mercato Centrale are just as colourful, laden with courgette flowers, artichokes, watermelons and peaches. It’s shoulder season, but there’s plenty to do with jazz concerts, fashion shows, and a new Tracy Emin exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi. Small but perfectly formed, Florence is a city that feels stuck in time in all the best ways. When I moved here in 2020, I planned to stay for a summer – but like so many drifters and dreamers before me, I remained, fell in love with Italian life and built my home here. Now, it’s all about the day-to-day; finding Renaissance frescoes in obscure places, savouring a morning cappuccino and taking evening strolls along the Arno.  How long do I need in Florence?  Come for a weekend or stay for a lifetime, and Florence will continue to surprise and delight you. The city’s historic centre is small, walkable and easy to navigate in two to three days - stroll along the Arno River, cross the Ponte Vecchio bridge, pop into a few churches and museums and you’ve got the gist of it. Linger a few more days, though, and you’ll start to uncover its real magic, from  hidden trattorias and low-key aperitivo spots to day trips out into the impossibly beautiful

There’s a reason Florence is one of the most popular city breaks in the world. It excels in food, art and culture in equal measure, but as the secret is most definitely out, parts of this beautiful city can feel overcrowded with tourists (and the inevitable tourist traps that follow).  So if you’re planning a weekend trip, what you need is local knowledge. And that’s where we come in. Phoebe Hunt is a writer living in Florence, which means she knows where to find the really good stuff: spontaneous wine tastings, food markets, family-run cafés and more. From the must-see tourist haunts to the city’s biggest secrets, here’s our ultimate weekend itinerary.  RECOMMENDED:🍴 The best restaurants in Florence📍  The best things to do in Florence🛏️ Where to stay in Florence🏡 The best Airbnbs in Florence🏨 The best hotels in Florence Phoebe Hunt is a writer based in Florence. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

What’s the vibe? Vini e Vecchi Sapori feels like stepping into your eccentric aunt’s house. Think peeling yellow walls, questionable and clashing artwork hanging on the walls, sports memorabilia and postcards from devoted diners around the world. The staff are fast, friendly and don’t take themselves too seriously. Locals compete with tourists for the handful of tables here, as it’s one of the few places so close to the centre that still serves great food.  What are the prices like? Very reasonable, especially considering you’re a stone’s throw from Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo and the Uffizi Galleries. Expect to pay around 15 euros for a pasta dish, and somewhere in the twenties for a meat secondo. A customary cover charge - coperto - of 3 euros a head is added to the end bill.  What should I order? The antipasti game is strong here, so load up on crostini with lardo, chicken liver pâté and the unbeatably simple burro e acciughe (butter and anchovy). The paccheri (fat rigatoni) with courgette flower and saffron is Vini e Vecchi Sapori’s most famous pasta dish, but the slow-cooked duck ragu comes a close second. For dessert, nothing beats their house raspberry tiramisu, washed down with a glass of amaro (a herbal digestif). 📍 Discover the best restaurants in Florence

What is it and why is it important? The Duomo is Florence’s central landmark, a piece of architecture so ginormous and complex that it took 150 years to complete. The first stone was laid in 1293, but the technology didn’t yet exist to construct the giant dome, so building work ground to a halt. Eventually, Brunelleschi was tasked with creating the cupola, which is still the largest masonry dome in the world.  Is it worth visiting? Though you can ogle at the Duomo’s impressive red-tiled dome and vast marble façade for free, seeing inside the cathedral complex gives a whole new perspective to Florence’s Renaissance history. If you want to go inside the main cathedral without paying, join a one-hour Catholic Mass on Sunday, but be mindful of worshippers and don’t snap any photos. What does the ticket include? To climb the dome you’ll need a ‘Brunelleschi Pass’, which costs €30 and is valid for three days. This allows you not only to climb the narrow and vertigo-inducing passageways inside Brunelleschi’s Dome, but to access Giotto’s Bell Tower (another hair-raising climb for views over the main Duomo itself), the ornate Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the underground ruins of the ancient Santa Reparata church, upon which the current cathedral was built. You’ll need to wear respectful clothing (shorts below the knee, and shoulders covered) to enter any part of the cathedral.  Where should I eat nearby?  Head to Osteria Nuvoli for platters of cured meats and rustic Tuscan dishes,

What is it?  Palazzo Vecchio, translated simply as ‘old palace’, is a maze of ancient government buildings dating back to the Medici rule over Florence. The outside is somewhat austere, designed to intimidate citizens against uprisings, but inside countless frescoes, marble statues and artworks reveal the Medici’s true wealth. Is it worth visiting? The main attraction is climbing the ancient tower – the tallest in Florence – with views over the Duomo, the river Arno and the rest of the city stretching out beyond. You can wander around the frescoed courtyard for free, but tickets to climb the Arnolfo Tower and visit the museum cost upwards of €12.50.  When should I visit? Time your visit carefully, as Palazzo Vecchio is only open Friday to Monday from 3pm-8pm. If you want to climb the tower, leave a couple of hours to look around the museum and then scale the 223 steps in time for sunset. Where should I eat nearby? Massimo Bottura’s Osteria Gucci overlooks the Palazzo Vecchio if you’re after fine dining by Florence’s most notable fashion house. On the other side of the square, Caffè Perseo does some of the best pastries and coffee in town.  📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Florence

What is it? Often voted the best museum in the world, the Uffizi Galleries are a vast collection of art and sculpture – mainly focused on the Italian Renaissance – housed within the historic Medici offices and just meters from the Arno river. Is it worth visiting?  Even with the recent price hike to €25 during peak season, the Uffizi Galleries are still a non-negotiable when coming to Florence. Where else can you see the works of Leonardo da Vinci in the artist’s home town, and gaze at Botticelli's Birth of Venus in the flesh? Reward yourself with an espresso in the sun on the rooftop cafe, only accessible to Uffizi visitors.  What should I not miss at the Uffizi? However much you love Renaissance artwork, it’s impossible to do the whole Uffizi in one sitting: there are around 10,000 artworks spread over three floors. So our tip? Make a bee-line to the second floor for most of the the big-hitters: unmissable pieces include Caravaggio’s dramatic painting Medusa, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Annunciation, and the famed double portrait The Dukes of Urbino by Piero della Francesca.  Where should I eat nearby? Much-hyped schiacciata from All'Antico Vinaio is just a stone’s throw from the Uffizi, selling huge sandwiches stuffed with truffle, local cheeses, cured meats and more. 📍 Discover more of the best restaurants in Florence