Florence is a bustling Italian city that draws you in with culture, food and incredible things to do. We spent a brief two days in Florence, spending our time ‘enjoying the vibe’ of the city rather than trying to ‘do everything’ and exhaust ourselves during our short stay. Take a look at the gallery of highlights, and a few of the moments we will remember long after our stay.
A few moments from Florence
The glimpses of the Duomo everywhere you walk: The Duomo is iconic Florence! You see it in photos, movies, postcards, games and more! Towering above the other buildings, you regularly catch a glimpse as you wander the streets, reminding you that you’re in Florence!
- Key Tip: Looking to climb the Duomo? Book your tickets in advance! We arrived hoping to snare a few tickets for the following day and were dismayed to find a 4-5 day wait time for tickets.. lesson learned.
Listening to the incredible buskers and musicians: We had been informed of the local talents that grace the streets of Florence, and the reviews were spot on! Incredibly talented musicians perform throughout the city, providing beautiful moments that don’t cost a cent.
A sandwich from All’antico Vinaio: this busy, incredibly popular sandwich shop is a Florence institution. So popular now, there’s 3 shopfronts and lines that run up the street. However, don’t be deterred by the crowds, they move quickly, and the wait is worth it. We were treated to the biggest sandwiches we have ever seen, with prices ranging between 7-11 euros.
Coffee at Ditta Artigianale: A coffee shop for coffee lovers in Florence. A great place to stop and take a break from the heat and sightseeing. The iced coffee and home-brew tea were some of the better ones we’ve had in Italy.
A wine at Osteria Nuvoli: This unassuming wine and cicchetti bar offered great local vibes. The owners and staff were friendly and brought the energy. Pro tip: order a coppe (a cup) of wine not a glass, as it’s half the price and a very similar amount of wine. The locals will order the coppe, and the tourists get sucked into the glass.
Sitting the impressive piazza’s: have a rest, have a coffee, have a wine! The piazza’s of Florence are impressive. We were happy to pay the ‘tourist tax’ to sit and enjoy a wine and drink in the amazing vibes.
Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo: This popular Florence view point offers a stunning view of the city. However, it does get very busy in the evenings. The sunset is incredible here, however we recommend you either get there early, or if wanting to arrive around sunset, possibly stop half way where there’s less people.
Mercato Central: this bustling market offers a range of meats, fish, cheese, wine, prosciutto, pasta, fruit & vegetables, and much much more. It is an excellent stop for a quick (and relatively cheap) lunch, or to grab some supplies for a picnic (in the Boboli Gardens like we did). Note: in the evenings, the best part of the market (downstairs) closes, and the upstairs opens offering take-away food. We found the atmosphere and the food much better during the day.
Note: Florence is an incredible hub of art, culture and history. For lovers of these things, Florence would be an absolute dream. We decided against visiting a number of these key attractions due to our limited time and priorities for our brief stay.
WANT TO SEE MORE TRAVEL MEMORIES?
Take a look at some more highlights, tips and advice from our travels in Italy! Check it out here!
Interest in heading down to Tuscany? Check out our road trip here!
See some highlights and great tips from our time in Venice! Have a look here!
Check out further highlights from our time in the Europe! Take a look!
Keen to take a look at further travel memories and advice? Take a look here!
Pingback