We spent 3 days in the birthplace of Renaissance and totally enjoyed our time there. Below is our experience in this remarkable city. Needless to say, we missed a lot. I just hope that our experience will help your trip research.

The Weather

We arrived in Florence in the second week of May. In the early morning, it was 15-18 Celsius or 58-64 Fahrenheit degrees. In that weather, a light jacket or a pullover was sufficient. However, it got significantly hotter between 10AM and 4-5PM. If you don’t plan to come back to your accommodation, I’d suggest to have layers so you’d have flexibility. I can’t imagine how hot it would be between June and August.

Where To Stay

We stayed two blocks from Duomo and 15′ of walk from the train station Santa Maria Novella. If you traveled to Florence by train and planned to go to another city by train as well, I’d recommend you try to do the same. Some pavements in Florence are small. If you arrive during the day, there are a lot of people walking around. So it’s not easy to drag luggage on the pavements or the streets. On top of that, there is a lot of construction around the city. If you live too far away from the train station, it will be quite painful to move around with bags. There is Uber, I believe. However, I saw a lot of people carry luggage on the streets of Florence. So my guess is that Uber is too expensive and it’s not worth it.

What To Do

Duomo

Duomo is a magnificent building. We walked across it many times during our 3-day stay and never got bored of it. The building is just spectacular. It is even better at night and early in the morning when it’s cooler and less crowded.

We climbed both the Dome and the Clock Tower. In my opinion, you only need to climb the Dome. The Clock Tower is pretty much the same with more stops in between. The interior of the Dome is great and the view of the city is fantastic.

While we were at the Monastery, there was still construction. As a result, there was not much to see.

We did not enter the Cathedral. We figured that since we already saw the inside of the Dome, we lost the interest. The biggest reason, though, is that there was ALWAYS a frighteningly long line in front of the Cathedral. I kid you not. The building opens at 10AM, and we saw a long line at 9:40AM already. We decided to spend our time somewhere else.

Uffizi

A magnificent collection of art works. Buy tickets in advance and allocate a few hours to enjoy!

Cappelle Medicee

I credit my wife for finding Cappelle Medicee. We were not impressed with the display on the first floor. However, the sculptures and the Chapel on the second floor were outstanding and really worth seeing.

Churches

My wife and I love walking around and seeing churches, whether it’s planned or random. These are the ones we liked:

• Basilica of The Most Holy Annunciation
• Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti
• Chiesa dei Santi Simone e Giuda
• Bargello Museum

Self-guided Vespa Tour To Chianti

After much deliberation and consideration, we decided not to go to Siena. Instead, we wanted to go out of our comfort zone by renting a Vespa and doing our own tour. If you are traveling from America and have a driver license, go to AAA to get an international driving permit. It will allow you to rent a 125cc Vespa in Italy. I brought my permit, my driver license and a photo of the first page of my passport. If you need more power, then you will need a special motorcycle license. We rented a Vespa from Vespa Hangar. We were lucky to have an available vehicle despite no reservation. If you know you want to get a Vespa, book in advance.

When you rent a Vespa, it’s important to take a close look at the vehicle and take as many photos as possible. This is for your benefits. If there are scratches and dents, you will want them documented so you won’t have to be responsible.

We set the destination as Panzano in Chianti. SR222 is a very scenic route. That will give you a chance to experience Tuscany and how beautiful it is.

Beware that when you ride a Vespa, you will be constantly under pressure from faster cars. I rode close to the right hand side of the road and waved them through.

What To Eat

• Vivoli Gelato: hands down the best affogato we had in Florence
• Ben Cafe: it’s located in a quiet small corner 5′ walk from Duomo. The best coffee and pastries we had in town
• La Strega Nocciola: excellent gelato near Duomo
• Edoardo il Gelato Biologico: another excellent gelato shop near Duomo. We only went to gelato shops that have gelato in stainless steel pots. No mountains of ice cream with a lot of color
• Gustapizza: very good pizza across the river
• Baldovino Bistrot Pizzaria Restaurant: we had great dinner here
• Paolo e Francesca: good coffee and very local
• Osteria Vecchio Vicolo: good food, but pricey
• Mercato Centrale: a lot of options. We had some good seafood there, but we didn’t think it was particularly cheaper than other restaurants
• All’ Antico Vinaio: the food is not bad, but a portion is a lot for one person

Tips

• Get up early to see the Duomo. It also looks fantastic at night and it’s quite safe to walk around that area. We never felt unsafe, but stay vigilant and alert!
• If you plan to do any day trip from Florence, book in advance and really do your homework. For instance, when we looked into a trip to Siena, we didn’t like the prices and the timetables of the bus or train there. That’s why we opted for the Vespa trip.
• If you ride a Vespa, remember to set “avoid highway” on your map app.
• If you rent a Vespa, you are expected to return it with a full tank of fuel. It’s hard to find a station in the city. So on your way back, fill it at a station you can find.
• Don’t go to restaurants with a view of Duomo. They are expensive. Walk a little further and you will find cheaper options with even higher quality. Ben Cafe, which I mentioned above, is an example.
• Don’t bring a backpack or a handbag to Duomo or other attraction. You will be asked to store it before entrance. So, help yourself avoid unnecessary trouble.