17 Best Things to Do in Florence

Small in size but rich in charm and cultural heritage, Florence is home to gems such as the Duomo, Michelangelo's David, the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery. You can visit it in two days or enjoy it for a week, during which time I recommend you take advantage of 15 incredible ways to explore Florence.

When Stendhal, the famous French author, visited Florence in 1817, he did not know that the vertigo he suffered from being unable to take in the sheer beauty of this Italian city would become a syndrome diagnosed as 'Florence Syndrome' or 'Stendhal Syndrome'. Such is the evocative power of Florence, capital of beautiful Tuscany and Renaissance city par excellence, which must be visited at least once in a lifetime.

And if there is one place that best represents this beauty and splendour, it is the Piazza del Duomo, located in the historic centre of Florence, a World Heritage Site and the city's most famous landmark. It encompasses the marvellous architectural complex formed by the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the Duomo, the Baptistery of San Giovanni and Giotto's Bell Tower. Book a tour of Florence's Duomo and don't miss a thing.

Considered one of the best museums in Florence andin the world, the impressive Uffizi Gallery houses a huge collection of works of art, 1,500 in total, covering the history of classical art from Greece to the 18th century.

You will need an average of four hours to visit the entire complex, although you can choose to admire only its most outstanding works, such as Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo's Doni Tondo, or Titian's Venus of Urbino.

A good way to organise your visit to the Uffizi Gallery is to book a guided tour or at least get a fast-track ticket to the Uffizi Gallery, which will save you from the endless queues at the entrance to Florence's most visited museum. There are different prices available for the Uffizi Gallery; find out about them so you can adapt your budget and not miss out on this gem of a museum. Here are several options:

• Tickets for the Uffizi Gallery, from £35
• Guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, from £51
• Private guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery, from £109

The Duomo is one of the city's most important buildings, being one of the largest Christian temples in the world and highly prized artistically for its exquisite white marble façade and its extraordinary dome by Brunelleschi, which you can climb to enjoy spectacular views of the city.

The interior of the Duomo Cathedral and, above all, its dome receive millions of visitors a year, so it is advisable to book a fast-track ticket and even a tour to discover the history of the Duomo and its adjoining buildings. The prices for visiting Florence Cathedral are very reasonable, so there's no excuse not to go. Here are several options for your visit:

• Tickets for the Cathedral and Brunelleschi's Dome, from £49
• Guided tour of the Duomo with access to Brunelleschi's dome, from £9
• Tour of Florence Cathedral with access to the Cathedral, from £132
• Private tour of the Duomo complex, from £137

An undisputed symbol of the city of Florence, the Ponte Vecchio is one of Florence's must-see attractions. It is one of the key stops on all city tours, such as the Florence bike tour. Now lined with jewellery shops, this bridge was originally occupied by the city's butchers and is one of the best and most famous examples of bridges with hanging houses in the world.

For years, as you will see, thousands of padlocks have been left hanging on its structure by couples who have sworn eternal love in this romantic enclave. I am personally a keen sunset hunter and I can assure you that the soft light of the setting sun reflected on the Arno is magical.

Located in the rich historic centre of Florence, you will find the city's second most visited museum, the Accademia Gallery. Among the artistic gems in the Accademia Gallery, Michelangelo's authentic David stands imposingly, the quintessential Renaissance work, 5.2 metres high.

Long queues are guaranteed, so make sure you get a ticket or book a guided tour to enrich your visit to the Accademia Gallery. Here is some information about the Accademia Gallery's prices and opening hours so you can plan your visit. And keep in mind that you can choose between:

• Guided tour of the Accademia Gallery and Michelangelo's David, from £32
• Private tour of Michelangelo in Florence, from £149

Along with the Duomo, Piazza della Signoria is Florence's most famous square and one of its main attractions.

It is a veritable open-air museum composed of historic buildings, including the Palazzo Vecchio and its incredible Sala del Cinquecento, unique monuments such as the Fountain of Neptune, and magnificent sculptures, with the Loggia dei Langi and its Perseus with the head of Medusa or those of Hercules, Cacus and Michelangelo's David, a replica of the original which, don't forget, can only be found in the Accademia Gallery.

At night, this square is filled with atmosphere, with dozens of Florentines and tourists admiring the beauty of its sculptures. Enjoying a pizza while sitting on the steps of the square as various musicians set the mood for the night in Florence is a unique (and very inexpensive!) experience. An ideal plan after touring Florence or enjoying a pizza cooking class.

We all like to climb to the highest point of a city to take in the panoramic view and take the best souvenir photos. Well, in Florence, that place is Piazzale Michelangelo, a viewpoint somewhat away from the centre, which you can reach by taking the Florence tourist bus.

In addition to the views, which are especially beautiful at sunset, in this square designed in homage to Michelangelo you can admire replicas of some of his greatest sculptures, such as David and the four statues from the Medici Chapel.

If you need a moment of relaxation among the endless works of art that Florence has to offer (remember what happened to Stendhal, you have been warned), this is the place to go: the Boboli Gardens.

Book a guided tour of the Boboli Gardens or tickets to the Boboli Gardens in Florence and enjoy an oasis located behind the Pitti Palace, a marvel of a Renaissance garden full of surprises along the way, from an amphitheatre to fountains, grottos and sculptures that will make your walk a truly delightful experience.

Another of the most visited places in Florence, partly because of the great atmosphere it exudes, is Piazza Santa Croce, right in the historic centre of the city. Rectangular in shape, the square is surrounded by majestic palaces and a statue of Dante Alighieri.

Its church is famous for housing the tombs of illustrious figures such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei, Machiavelli and Lorenzo Ghiberti, and is known as the Pantheon of Italian Glories. Although not as popular as Piazza del Duomo, for me, its intimate atmosphere makes it very special, so I recommend booking a guided tour of the Basilica of Santa Croce to learn more about its history.

Don't make the mistake of overlooking the beauty of the details of the Baptistery. Although the size and spectacular nature of the Duomo and its dome tend to take centre stage during visits to the square, this architectural landmark has some details that are well worth booking a tour of the Baptistery.

Directly opposite the Duomo, you will find Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise: one of the most acclaimed works of the Renaissance, depicting Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac in the Old Testament. Today, the original gates are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, which I also recommend.

The Medici Chapel could easily go unnoticed if you're not looking for it, but its interesting interior is well worth a visit.

Highlights include the New Sacristy, designed by Michelangelo, and the Chapel of the Princes, an octagonal room lined with marble and semi-precious stones where the remains of some of the most illustrious members of the most famous and powerful dynasty of patrons in Italian history rest. Be sure to book tickets for the Medici Chapels and discover it for yourself.

Leonardo Da Vinci is undoubtedly the most famous Italian in history. The city of Florence has a museum dedicated to him.

Visiting the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in Florence means immersing yourself in the life of the artist, but it is also great fun if you are visiting Florence with children. I recommend booking tickets for the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum in advance to avoid disappointment.

Florence's exceptional location makes a visit here a unique opportunity to discover other wonders that Italy has to offer. Florence is located in the beautiful region of Tuscany, with idyllic villages, colourful hills and miles and miles of vineyards. This is probably the region with the best food and drink in all of Italy, so you can't miss out on a trip to the vineyards of Tuscany from Florence.

The good news is that this region is fully equipped to welcome visitors from Florence, so there are several tours and excursions organised from Florence that will save you from having to hire a car or spend time researching the best itinerary. Don't forget to check out the food tours of Florence and its surroundings, as they can be a perfect option for your visit to Tuscany.

If there is one region in Italy that I loved (and was equally surprised by), it was Cinque Terre. This area is made up of five small villages linked along the coast with picturesque colourful houses and wonderful beaches. Although it has become very fashionable in recent years, the fact that it is close to other popular areas such as Tuscany and Pisa keeps it away from the crowds and gives it a special charm.

If you want to get away from the cultural and artistic itinerary of the city of Florence and spend a pleasant day in nature, don't hesitate to take a trip to Cinque Terre from Florence. But booking a trip to Cinque Terre is not the only option for getting there; you can also reach Cinque Terre from Florence on your own and put together your own travel itinerary.

While the Tuscan countryside is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Florence, Pisa is a small town that is very pleasant to visit, even on a half-day organised excursion from Florence.

There are several options (in fact, some even take you to visit other charming towns such as Lucca or San Gimignano), so I recommend that you read my article on excursions to Pisa from Florence to choose the one that best suits your time and budget. Here is a list of them:

• Excursion to Pisa, from £35
• Excursion to Pisa and Lucca, from £66
• Excursion to Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano, from £100

As you probably know, Florence's location on the map allows you to visit a large number of places of interest with very little travel time. And if there are also organised tours that take you there and back in a day, you have no excuse not to visit the city's surroundings. A very popular option is to travel to Venice from Florence, but it's not the only one.

With only 55,000 inhabitants, Siena has always been an important city both for its historical heritage and its culture. With cobbled streets and buildings dating back to the Middle Ages, exploring the city is like travelling back in time. If you're curious and want to know more about Siena and how to organise your trip there, here's a link to my article on excursions to Siena from Florence, and here are some options:

• Excursion to Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano from Florence, from 100
• Excursion to Siena, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni, from £69

Although it may seem cliché at first, touring Florence on a hop-on hop-off tourist bus will allow you to enjoy the views of its streets from the comfort of your seat, but also to move from one point of interest to another comfortably without having to worry about public transport. Don't hesitate and book your ticket for the Florence tourist bus.

After taking note of everything that awaits you in this wonderful Italian city, you're probably wondering when is the best time to visit. The most popular time is summer, but there is also plenty to do in Florence in winter, especially if your visit to Florence coincides with Christmas. In terms of the months of the year, travelling to Florence in February, March, August, September, October, November and December are the preferred options for tourists.

I don't recommend spending less than three days in Florence, but perhaps your travel plans don't allow for that, so here's a guide to what to see if you're going to be in Florence for two days or even what to see in Florence in one day. In the latter case, I also recommend booking your transfer from Florence Airport in advance to save time.

Do you have more days? Perfect; spending four days in Florence, five days in Florence or seven days in Florence will give you the opportunity to get to know the city in depth, but also to take a trip to the surrounding area, so don't think twice.