13 Things Tourists Should Never Do In Florence

Filled with art, architecture and fabulous cuisine, Florence is universally known to be one of the most magnificent city in the world. Given the abundance of treasures in the historic city centre and that time is precious, knowing what to avoid in Florence can be as important as knowing what to see and do.

Don’t Stay With The Herd

Florence is a small and walking city and can be visited in a day but not in a group of many people. The best thing you can do here, if you want to discover also non-touristic places, is to get a map, walk on your own and get lost for a bit.

Don’t Drive In The City

Don’t Wear High Heels Or Your Flip-Flops

Obviously you can buy Italian high-heeled shoes, but seriously don’t wear them while touring the city. Florence’s narrow streets with cobblestone sidewalks are very challenging. On the other hand, don’t wear your flip-flops either. Make a little effort and remember that you’re not at the beach, you’re visiting a city of art.

Meet The David

While there are replicas of The David in Florence (the most famous is in front of Palazzo Vecchio), the original statue is located in the gorgeous Accademia Gallery. Nothing compares to see the Michelangelo’s marble masterpiece in person, so arrange online for the tickets to skip the queue outside and go straight to see The David.

Don’t Mistake The Language

Think Italian is similar to Spanish? Wrong. Very wrong. These two languages of Latin origins have similar words but are different. You can’t use the words “gracias” (thanks) or “por favor” (please), instead of “grazie” and “per favore”, you’re not in Sevilla or Madrid.

Don’t Wait In Line

The best thing to do to avoid lines is to book tickets online. Except for a couple of months in the winter, tourists in Florence spend a lot of time in queues, sometimes you wait for two or three hours before entering the Uffizi. Be smart: don’t forget to book ahead online for tickets for the museum for a small fee. Once in Florence, you will bypass the queue.

Bardini Garden, not Boboli

While Boboli Garden is the most famous garden in Florence, the views of the city are better from Bardini. This smaller garden is filled with flowers, statues, fountains and there are only few tourists. This is one of the coolest place to admire Florence’s panorama away from the crowds, even better than the touristic Piazzale Michelangelo.

Shop at Central Market

The huge food market is the place to be for those who want to buy something typical. Central Market located in San Lorenzo neighborhood has been recently renewed and hosts restaurants and bars, and is the perfect shopping place if you’re looking for wine, olive oil and Tuscan gastronomy.

Don’t Dine In The Tourist Spots

Avoid the touristic restaurants and wander down the narrow streets to find cafes and wine bars frequented by locals. The best neighborhood to find excellent Tuscan food is Oltrarno, the area on the left bank of the Arno river. The food is better and prices are more wallet-friendly.

Go Free

Don’t schedule every second of your trip and make sure to leave time for relaxing and unexpected moments such as festivals, free night at museums, gastronomy events, etc. The city’s tourism offices maintain lists of current free openings and events.

Don’t Drink A Cappuccino While You’re Eating

Remember: Italians don’t drink cappuccinos at lunch or dinner. Cappuccino is gorgeous but is only for breakfast. Don’t make the mistake to order it with a plate of pasta. Forget it and opt for a mineral water or an Italian wine.

Palazzo Vecchio Tower

If you are up for a good climb and breathtaking vistas but mostly if you hate the lines, the best option is to avoid the Duomo and go straight to Old Palace that offers spectacular views.

For Gorgeous Sunsets Reach Ponte Santa Trinita

Ponte Vecchio is undoubtedly the most famous bridge of Florence, but for those who are into amazing sunsets, Ponte Santa Trinita is way better. Just one bridge to the west of Ponte Vecchio, Santa Trinita offers terrific views over the famous old bridge. Romantic, beautiful and without crowds, this bridge is the perfect place for the last moments in Florence.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.