Florence is exhausting. There, I said it. If you spend your entire trip standing in four-hour lines for a glimpse of a marble toe or shuffling through the Uffizi like a caffeinated zombie, you’re doing it wrong. Don't get me wrong, the classics are classics for a reason, but the real magic of this city happens when you step two inches to the left of the tourist herd.
Honestly, most people treat Florence like a checklist. Cross off the Duomo. Cross off the David. Buy a leather purse that was probably made in a factory three towns over.
You’ve gotta breathe.
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Finding fun things to do in Florence Italy isn't about seeing more; it's about seeing better. It’s about knowing that while everyone is sweating bullets climbing the Duomo, you could be sipping a cold glass of Brunello di Montalcino on a terrace with the exact same view—minus the 463 cramped stairs.
Why the "Must-Sees" are Kinda Overrated
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore is a masterpiece. Obviously. Filippo Brunelleschi was a literal genius who figured out how to build a massive brick dome without it collapsing on everyone’s heads in the 1400s. But standing in that line in the middle of July? That is not fun.
If you want the view, head to Giotto’s Bell Tower instead.
It’s right next door. It’s cheaper. Most importantly, when you get to the top, your photos actually include the Duomo. If you’re standing on the Duomo, you can’t see the Duomo. Logic, right?
Then there's the Accademia. People wait hours for the David. He’s tall. He’s impressive. He has very detailed veins in his hands. But Florence is literally an open-air museum. You can see a high-quality replica of David in Piazza della Signoria for free, surrounded by the Loggia dei Lanzi, which houses original 16th-century sculptures like Cellini's Perseus with the Head of Medusa. You’re standing outside, there’s usually a guy playing a cello nearby, and you didn't spend 20 Euros to do it.
Get Across the River Already
Seriously. Cross the Ponte Vecchio—or better yet, cross the Ponte Santa Trinita to avoid the jewelry shop bottleneck—and get into the Oltrarno. This is the "Left Bank" of Florence. It’s where the actual Florentines live, work, and complain about the tourists.
The Artisan Renaissance
In the Oltrarno, specifically around Piazza Santo Spirito, you’ll find the botteghe. These are tiny workshops where guys are still hammering gold, carving wood, and marbling paper by hand.
- Giulio Giannini e Figlio: They’ve been marbling paper since 1856. It’s mesmerizing.
- Locchi: If you’re into restored glass and crystal, this place is legendary.
- Castorina: Smells like wood shavings and history. They carve incredible baroque frames.
Walking through these streets feels like the 15th century hasn't quite ended yet. It’s quiet. It’s authentic. It’s basically the soul of the city.
Eating Like a Local (No, Not Pizza)
Stop eating pizza in Florence. I mean, you can, but it’s not the local specialty. This is Tuscany. You want meat, bread, and more meat.
If you’re brave, go to a Lampredotto stand. It’s the fourth stomach of a cow, slow-cooked with tomato and onion, served on a bun dipped in broth. It sounds terrifying. It tastes like heaven. Check out the stand at the Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio—it’s much more "local" than the touristy Mercato Centrale.
Speaking of Sant'Ambrogio, go there for breakfast. Grab a caffè and a budino di riso (a little rice pudding tart) at Caffè Cibrèo. You’ll be surrounded by nonnas arguing over the price of artichokes. That’s the real Florence.
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The 2026 Scene
If you're visiting this year, there's some cool stuff happening that wasn't here two years ago. The Vasari Corridor, that secret elevated walkway the Medici used to move between palaces without touching the ground, is finally seeing more regular access after years of renovations. Also, Palazzo Strozzi is hosting a massive Rothko exhibition through August 2026. Seeing modern, brooding American abstracts inside a Renaissance fortress is a trip.
The Best Sunset Isn't Where You Think
Everyone goes to Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset. It’s beautiful, sure, but it’s also packed with bus tours and people selling plastic light-up toys.
Walk ten minutes further up the hill to San Miniato al Monte.
It’s one of the oldest churches in the city, a Romanesque stunner from 1018. If you time it right, you can hear the monks chanting Gregorian hymns in the crypt around 5:30 PM. Then, walk outside. You have the same panoramic view of Florence as the Piazzale, but it’s silent. You can actually hear the city bells.
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Fun Stuff Nobody Tells You About
- The Wine Windows (Buchette del Vino): These are tiny little holes in the walls of old palaces. Back in the day, noble families sold wine through them to avoid taxes. Since the pandemic, they’ve made a huge comeback. You knock on the wooden shutter, hand over some Euros, and a hand emerges with a plastic cup of Chianti. It’s the ultimate adult drive-thru.
- Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella: It’s one of the oldest pharmacies in the world (founded 1221). It feels like a cathedral but smells like expensive soap and ancient herbs. Even if you don't buy anything, the frescoed ceilings are worth the walk-in.
- Stibbert Museum: If you’re tired of paintings of the Madonna, go here. It’s a crazy villa filled with 50,000 pieces of armor. Japanese samurai suits, European knights, Islamic weaponry—it’s weird, eclectic, and totally overlooked.
How to Actually Enjoy Your Trip
The biggest mistake? Trying to do too much.
Florence is small. You can walk across the whole historic center in 30 minutes. The joy is in the "dolce far niente"—the sweetness of doing nothing. Sit in Piazza della Passera. Order a spritz. Watch the local kids play soccer against a 600-year-old wall.
Practical Next Steps for Your Florence Visit:
- Book the Uffizi/Accademia weeks in advance: If you absolutely must go, do not try to "wing it" at the door. You will lose half a day in the sun.
- Get a "FirenzeCard" if you're a museum nut: It’s pricey (around 85 Euros), but it covers almost everything and saves a lot of logistical headaches.
- Carry cash for the markets: Small leather stalls and food stands in Sant'Ambrogio still prefer bills over Apple Pay.
- Wear real shoes: Those cobblestones (pietra forte) are brutal on flip-flops. Your ankles will thank you later.
- Drink the tap water: There are public fountains (nasoni) everywhere. The water is ice-cold and delicious. Stop buying plastic bottles.
Florence doesn't need to be a stressful history lesson. It’s a living city. Treat it like a place to live, not just a place to look at, and you’ll have a much better time. Just remember: bridge, river, Oltrarno, wine window. You’re welcome.