Best Things to Do in Florence: My Top Picks

Florence is the Italy city that felt the easiest for me to love: romantic, walkable, beautiful without trying too hard, and packed with food stops that actually lived up to the hype. For a first trip, I would not try to see every museum and church in one go. Build your days around a few major sights, then leave room for panini, gelato, leather shopping, a wine window, and the kind of random piazza moment that makes Florence feel alive 💃.

If you only have a short visit, these are the best things to do in Florence that I would actually prioritize.

• First-time essentials: the Florence Duomo, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, Ponte Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, and at least one great panini.
• Food stops I would repeat: All’Antico Vinaio, Pino’s Sandwiches, Osteria Pastella, Vivoli, La Carraia, and Babae.
• Book ahead: Duomo access if you want the dome or full complex, Pitti/Boboli if your dates are busy, Osteria Pastella for dinner, and any sunset photoshoot you care about.
• Skip or research carefully: Mercato Centrale if you are expecting a local-feeling food market, and Florentine steak if you have not found a restaurant you really trust.

My ideal Florence day is one major attraction, one great food stop, one scenic walk, and one sunset view. Anything more can start to feel like homework.

Start With the Florence Duomo

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the Florence sight everyone wants to see, and honestly, it deserves that attention. The green, pink, and white marble facade is so detailed in person, and the dome anchors the whole city. Even if you do nothing but stand outside and slowly walk around the complex, it feels like the official “okay, I am really in Florence” moment.

This is also the sight where planning matters most. We visited around Easter weekend, and the lines were insane. Tickets sold out fast, and it was very clear that the Duomo is not something to casually figure out at noon if you care about going inside, climbing Brunelleschi’s Dome, or visiting the bell tower and baptistry.

My advice: decide before your trip whether you want exterior-only photos or full Cathedral complex access. If you want the climb, book early and leave buffer time between entries. If you are not sure which ticket makes sense, use my Florence Duomo guide before committing.

Eat the Panini Florence Is Famous For

Florence is basically the panini capital of the world, and I would make sandwiches part of the plan instead of treating them like a random lunch. Start early if you can. The famous spots get chaotic around lunch, and a good panini is much more fun when you are not hangry in a giant line.

All’Antico Vinaio

All’Antico Vinaio absolutely lived up to the hype for me. I knew it was big, but I did not realize there were literally multiple storefronts on the same block just trying to keep up with demand. The freshly baked bread is what makes the sandwich feel different from a normal grab-and-go lunch.

If you love truffle, order La Beatrice with truffle cream, stracchino cheese, and beef carpaccio. That one was a solid 10/10 for me. We also tried La Paradiso, one of the famous orders, but the pistachio cream was a little too heavy for us.

Pino’s Sandwiches

For something humbler and more neighborhood-feeling, go to Pino’s Sandwiches. Pino himself still makes the sandwiches, and the spot has been a family-owned staple since 1991. We tried the Beegs and the Springtime, and both were delicious: crispy bread, quality ingredients, and sun-dried tomatoes that really stood out.

My honest rating was an 8/10 only because I wished the sandwiches were packed a little fuller. Still, if you are nearby, I would definitely go.

Cross to Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens

When you are ready to get away from the busiest Duomo streets, cross the Arno for Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. This is the Florence sightseeing block that makes the city feel grander and greener. Pitti Palace was where powerful families like the Medici actually lived, and Boboli Gardens feel like their enormous backyard.

I would do these together instead of splitting them across different days. The best move from our visit was entering through a Boboli Gardens entrance instead of starting at the crowded Pitti Palace front gate. You can skip the massive tourist line, avoid the uphill garden trek from the palace side, and enjoy the greenery before moving toward the palace interiors.

For ticket strategy, route ideas, and the entrance tip in more detail, read my Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens guide.

Go to Piazzale Michelangelo at Sunset

If you want to see Florence from above, go to Piazzale Michelangelo. The sunset view is absolutely stunning: the Duomo, the river, the bridges, and the rooftops all laid out in one dreamy skyline. This was one of the highlights of our trip, and I would build an evening around it ✨.

The practical warning: the walk up is steep. We were doing a photoshoot and I was in heels, so taking a taxi up was 100% the right move. If you want sunset photos and do not want to arrive sweaty, budget for a taxi uphill, then walk down after if your shoes can handle it.

For timing, photo spots, and whether the photoshoot is worth it, use my Piazzale Michelangelo guide.

Try a Florence Wine Window

A Florence wine window is one of those tiny experiences that makes the city feel different from anywhere else. Babae was such a fun stop, even as someone who is not the biggest wine person. We went for orange wine through the historic little window, and it was the perfect quick change of pace between sightseeing and dinner.

Keep this casual. Go for the novelty, take a quick photo or video, enjoy the drink, and then keep walking toward dinner or the river. It works best as a short Oltrarno pause, not the entire night.

Save Room for Gelato and Affogato

Florence desserts deserve actual itinerary space. For coffee and ice cream together, go to Vivoli for the pistachio affogato. Everyone and their mom has seen it online, and the line speaks for itself, but my verdict was yes: I would come back despite the wait. The line looked long but moved pretty fast for us, and the affogato tasted just as good as it looked.

For gelato near the Arno, add La Carraia. The kefir and passion fruit flavors were unreal, and it is in such an easy location if you are walking between Ponte Vecchio, the river, and the Oltrarno side.

Make Dinner an Experience

If you want one sit-down meal that feels memorable, my top Florence dinner pick is Osteria Pastella. The truffle pasta was on a whole other level. They bring out an entire cheese wheel and prepare the pasta tableside with freshly grated truffle, and it is honestly kind of mesmerizing. The saffron risotto and Caprese salad were also phenomenal, and the service was 10/10 for us.

Make a reservation ahead of time, especially if you want dinner there rather than an awkward off-hour. If you want a more hands-on food night instead of another restaurant meal, a cooking class or guided food tour can also make sense in Florence.

What I Would Skip or Research More

The one place I would not rush back to is Mercato Centrale. It was a one-minute walk from Massimo Leather, so it was easy to stop in, but the food felt expensive and pretty mid for what we tried. If you are nearby and curious, look around, but I would not plan a whole meal around it unless you already know exactly what stall you want.

I would also research Florentine steak carefully before booking. We tried it at La Bistecca, and honestly, the steak was super tough. That does not mean you should skip bistecca alla fiorentina completely, but it does mean you should choose the restaurant intentionally instead of assuming every famous steak dinner will be worth it.

For a full route, use this with my 2 days in Florence itinerary, Florence food guide, Florence Duomo guide, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens guide, and Piazzale Michelangelo guide.